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Jet lag, for those who don’t know, is the effect of travelling between time zones disturbing the bodies biological clock. It is defined as:

“A physiological condition which is a consequence of alterations to circadian rhythms”

The effects of jet lag can vary. Some people experience few days of restless sleep whereas others may experience loss in appetite, headaches, constipation, anxiety and dizziness. Luckiliy there are things you can try which will alleviate jet lag and the effects lessened. Here are a few suggestions:

Tasimelteon: This is a new drug developed by Elizabeth Klerman of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston along with researchers from Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Maryland. Tests have shown that those taking the drug were far better able to fall asleep when compared with others who had not taken the drug. It is understood that Tasimeteon stimulates the effects of Melatonin, the hormone known to be responsible for regulating sleep.

Melatonin: The hormone Melatonin is now a popular remedy for sleep related problems. Melatonin supplements can be purchased (in the United States) without a prescription. Melatonin research has presented a clear association with sleep and supplements providing 0.1 to 0.5 milligrams of the hormone can bring benefits.

Fasting: Minimising the amount of food you consume before embarking on your flight can help lessen the effects of jet lag. Studies have shown that, when food is scarce, the normal circadian rhythms may be overridden. A period of fasting, for about 16 hours before taking a flight, should be enough to switch the new biological clock into action and alleviate the effects of jet lag.

Orange Tinted Sun-glasses: It has long been known that Melatonin secretion in humans can be stimulated by light. Blue light has been found to provoke a fall in Melatonin production. Its therefore reasonable to expect that wearing orange tinted sunglasses will encourage Melatonin secretion.

Toe Scrunching: Some travellers have reported that spending a few minutes tightly curling their toes while standing on a carpet or towel, just before going to bed, has a beneficial effect on jet lag. Some travellers have reported that spending between 2 and 5 minutes carrying out this exercise has had an immediate beneficial effect on their ability to get off to sleep.

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