Previously, I told you about my trip from Virginia Beach to spend three weeks in Asia on a business/pleasure excursion, (that’s me with my Japanese Coaching Certification students in the photo) and crashed with the worst case of Jet Lag I’ve ever had!
Traveling East to West, as I did flying to Asia, was not so bad. Reversing direction for the trip home, from West to East, was a killer.
Anyway, as I promised last week, here are some more tips to help relieve the agony, for you world travelers out there. I got this advice not only from pilots but road warriors like myself who travel. Mold and shape it to work for you. As you know, I am not a Doctor but I am a world traveler.
This information is not in any order of importance. Some of it I have tried and plan to try. Some of it may be a bit out of my comfort zone, but I’m willing to try anything reasonable to avoid the life-draining effects of Jet Lag.
Tips you can try:
- Athletes are drinking high alkaline water to stay hydrated. But increasing your intake of any kind of water, even tap water, will help you stay hydrated. Also, water with added electrolytes will help your body absorb water more quickly, which is useful during and after workouts. Avoid dehydration, it can make you feel lousy for a long time.
- Hot tub or steam room to flush out toxins is also good when flushing internally by drinking more water.
- The Vitamin B plus IV cocktails – Common body bio hack amongst the elite speakers around the world, top athletes, flight crews, and high level operators. It offers the fastest, most immediate absorption of vitamins into the body. I don’t mind telling you I tried this and it helped. I do not like needles, but felt so bad I was willing to try anything. I did feel better.
- Another secret I found is going to an Oxygen Bar and breathing Oxygen for 30 minutes. This really helped me get out of the foggy feelings. We normally breathe about 23% Oxygen and this was 93%. Very reasonable – costs about $15 and worth every penny.
- Visit a good Acupuncturist. There is an internal clock in Chinese medicine called the 24 Hour Diurnal Cycle. A good one can reset this clock
- A remedy I tried and liked: Grind up whole organic lemons, add a few chunks of ginger, a little raw organic honey, purée. Add water to get to a thick lemonade consistency. Drink at least 8 oz. every day till you feel better. Make a gallon. Option B: add organic lemons and ginger juice to your tea or water. I also used Chamomile tea.
- Ground yourself as soon as possible getting home. Walk in nature, on the beach, go swimming if possible and get in the Sun to reset your natural rhythms.
- Of course, you must rest. Accept that your body has been put through a lot and it needs to rest.
- Use Melatonin or Valerian to relax and sleep. I use it all the time to relax, it is all-natural and non-addicting.
- OK, final suggestion (this is a bit woo woo, but enlightened): Astral Traveling. Frequent flyers tell me it works and I am going to try it on my next long flight. (Frankly I have nothing to lose and everything to gain to try as many of these tips as possible.) This visualization uses a simple and safe astral traveling technique to help reduce the effects of jet lag.
Here’s how it works: Our earthly bodies are comprised of two components, the Physical Body and the Subtle Body. The former contains all the physical matter that we are made from. The latter is the more etheric component. The Subtle Body comprises of various layers, some of which are detachable.
As we go about our waking days, the Physical and Subtle Bodies mostly remain attached and together. When we sleep, aspects of the Subtle Body are prone to wander. When we awaken, it can take some time for them to merge again.
This unusual visualization process makes use of this aspect of our being to help us get into a new time zone ahead of physically traveling there with our Physical Body. By sending an aspect of our Subtle Body on ahead, when we do arrive physically, it makes the transition to the new time zone much smoother. I am big into creating new references with my brain by imagining myself doing what I want to do, so this makes sense to re-frame our minds that we are already in that time zone.