Herbal Remedies for Jet Lag

Many travelers have experienced the dizziness and disorientation of jet lag. Several days of a vacation can be ruined while the body readjusts. The process can be sped up greatly, however, with the use of herbal remedies.

Jet lag symptoms include a general disoriented feeling, insomnia and loss of appetite due to the body's internal clock attempting to compensate for a change in time zones. It can sometimes take days for the body's internal clock, which is located in the brain, to adjust itself.

The following remedies cannot cure jet leg, but they can help the body process the readjustment period more efficiently. Certain herbs that help with adaptation, such as St. John's Wort or echinacea can be taken up to two weeks before travel to help both mind and body adapt with minimal stress. There are herbs and plants, for example lettuce and hops, that will help mitigate insomnia without the side-effects of sleeping pills.

Even without herbs, there are several things one can do to help with jet lag:

Diet: Eating light and simple meals on the flight will help. Do not eat any foods heavy in fat or spice.

Drink: Drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration. Drinking alcohol, however, will actually make jet leg worse. While it might be relaxing at the moment, alcohol also dehydrates.

Sleep: Do not nap on the day of arrival and get a good night's sleep prior to the flight.

Different herbs help in different ways, and therefore have different requirements for usage.

Siberian Ginseng: This can be used as a tonic to blunt the effect of long-distance travel. Taking a tincture or a decoction of the dried rhizome will strengthen the adrenal glands, which will in turn mitigate the physical symptoms of the confused internal clock. Ginseng has the added effect of fortifying stamina, which helps with that tired feeling a long day of travel always brings.

Oats: Porridge made from the grain, or a decoction of oat straw, is good to take before the flight. Oats have agents that help with stamina, such as saponins, vitamins, sterols and alkaloids. Not only do oats help with exhaustion, but taken as a tonic, they also promote restful sleep.

Passion Flower: The passion flower is a natural sedative, which makes it helpful for restoring altered sleep patterns. Its calming effect can also help with headaches or stress caused by travel.

Wu Wei Zi: This traditional Chinese herb can give the jet lagged traveler a little extra energy at a time of need. A decoction made from dried wu wei zi berries will increase the strength of the body and combat insomnia, making sleep more effective. Also known as schisandra, wu wei zi has been known for many years in China for its ability to restore the body.

St. John's Wort: This herb has long been looked upon as something of a panacea. If it is taken regularly for two to three weeks before travel, it can help the internal clock keep time and increase endurance. It even has euphoric effects that can help with anyone afraid to fly or anxious about travelling.

Valerian: This herb is well-known as an aid for combating insomnia, and it works for sleeplessness caused by jet lag. Valerian made into a tincture will help a jet lag sufferer sleep after a long trip.

Hops: Hops also have a sedative effect, soothing the central nervous system. An infusion of the flowers taken during and after the flight can help with any problems of stress or insomnia.

Chamomile: This is a well-known natural sedative, so gentle that even the very old or very young can safely use it. It promotes restful sleep.

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