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Are you looking for the best essential oil for jet lag today? People experience jet lag due to long hours spent in the air across different time zones. It is easy not to understand how sitting in one place can result in physical tiredness. Jet lag is real and can steal valuable time from you when you land.
It is a temporary sleep problem that can affect anyone who travels across different time zones. This happens because your body has its internal clock and when you travel across time zones, you upset that natural order. The order that signals your body when to stay awake and when to sleep is set to your time zones clock and when you travel across time zones, your body attempts to “fix” itself. This can translate into physical tiredness in your body. The more time zones you travel across, the more likely you will have jet lag.
You may experience difficulty in staying awake or gastrointestinal problems. This temporary sleep disorder can damper your vacation or business travel time. The great news is that it does not have to be that way. There are ways to combat it. Using essential oils is one of those ways. Jet lag symptoms usually occur within a day or two of travel. If you travel east, there is a higher chance that you will experience more jet lag than normal.
Travel can be hard on your body. You will hear many tips and tricks from people about what to do before you travel to ensure a smooth trip. Do not let the jet lag stop you from taking the trip altogether. You can use essential oils in different ways.
You can add a few drops of lemon 100% essential oil to your water to boost its antioxidant. And if you fail to concentrate, you can rub a drop or two of a blend of essential oil on your wrist and neck. It helps alleviate fatigue, and it also stimulates mental activity.
Geranium organic essential oil and lemongrass organic essential oil help to rebalance your hormones and help rest your natural clock. Also, if you need help sleeping, you can put a drop or two of lavender oil on your pillow. It helps calm you.
However, if you need to stay awake, you must rub some peppermint oil to keep you awake. Rub some of it on your wrists and boost your energy. When you get home, you can add Epsom salt to your bathwater. It is known to relieve sore muscles and fight inflammation. This may come in handy after a long flight and help you sleep better.
Top 3 Essential Oil for Jet Lag
What Is Essential Oil Good for Jet Lag?
Here are a few factors to consider when buying essential oils to combat jet lag. Know which oils or ingredients you react to or are allergic to. Also, know what benefits you are looking for exactly. Different oils have different benefits and you will need to know how to use them properly. We review some essential oils that can help you with jet lag.
Our favourite pick is Lavender. It is one of the most well-known oils and is beloved too. This is probably because of its amazing ability to calm you down and get you falling asleep like a baby.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a large weed-like plant. The leaves and oil are utilized to make a medication. Lemongrass is ordinarily taken orally, applied straightforwardly to the skin, or breathed in as a fragrance-based treatment for various conditions. However, there is restricted logical research to help any of its basic employments.
In nourishment and refreshments, lemongrass is utilized as a seasoning. For instance, lemongrass leaves are regularly used as “lemon” enhancement in natural teas. In assembling, lemongrass is utilized as a scent in antiperspirants, cleansers, and makeup. Lemongrass is additionally utilized in making nutrient An and regular citral.
Where it comes from or how it is made
Cymbopogon, variously known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, Cochin grass or Malabar grass or oily heads, is a genus of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family. Wikipedia
What properties does it have that help this condition
Lemongrass may help hinder the development of certain microbes and yeast. Lemongrass additionally contains substances that are thought to diminish torment and expansion, decrease fever, improve sugar and cholesterol levels in the blood, invigorate the uterus and menstrual stream, and have cell reinforcement properties.
How to use it
For treating jetlag, lemongrass is best used in the form of tea. You can boil the leaves and drink the water. The longer you can boil it, the more extraction can be from the leaves you seek. You will also be able to purchase it in prepackaged portions.
Cons
It is generally safe to use. In some cases, lemongrass oil may cause a rash of skin disturbance when applied to the skin. Be that as it may, there have been some harmful reactions, for example, lung issues in the wake of breathing in lemongrass and lethal harm after a kid gulped a lemongrass oil-based bug repellent.
Lavender
Lavender was an antiseptic in ancient Arabian, Greek and Roman medicines. Its generic name comes from the Latin lavare, to wash, and it was used as a bath additive and an antiseptic in the hospitals and sick rooms of ancient Persia, Greece and Rome (Blumenthaletal 2000). In the 17th century, Culpeper described lavender as having ‘use for pains in the head following cold, cramps, convulsions, palsies and faintings’(Battaglia 1995).
Lavender was also used traditionally to scent bed linen and to protect stored clothes from moths. This was such a well-accepted practice that the phrase ‘laying up in lavender’ was used metaphorically to mean ‘putting away in storage’ (Kirk-Smith 2003). Lavender is now widely used to scent perfumes, potpourri, toiletries, cosmetics, and flavour food. Lavender is commonly adulterated with related species that can vary in their constituents. Spike lavender yields more oil but is of lower quality. Lavandin is a hybrid of spike lavender and true lavender.
Where it comes from or how it is made
Pure lavender essential oil is produced through steam distillation. This generates more oil than other methods due to reducing polar compound loss. Harvest of lavender blooms is typically around June. Lavender flowers are compacted into a still. Fewer air pockets in the still result in greater oil yield. A boiler is then used to steam the bottom of the lavender flower-filled still at very low pressure.
The lavender flower pockets containing oil are broken from this heating process, and a pipe of cold water runs through the still’s centre. The hot lavender oil vapour condenses on the cold pipe with the cold water and is collected into a holding tank where it can settle. Due to the polarity and densities of the water and oil, these two will separate in the holding tank whereupon the water is piped out, leaving just lavender essential oil. Source
What properties does it have that help this condition
Lavender flowers contain between 1% and 3% essential oil. The oil is a complex mixture of many different compounds, the amounts of which can vary between species. The most abundant compounds include linalyl acetate(30–55%), linalool(20–35%), cineole, camphor, coumarins and tannins(5–10%)(Schulzetal1998), together with 1,8-cineole, thymol and carvacrol(Aburjaietal2005). Perillyl alcohol and D-limonene have been shown to exert anticancer effects.
How to use it
Lavender oil is best diffused into the air. You can also use it to scent your bed linen. It curbs anxiety, insomnia and other things that result from jetlag.
Cons
There are no noteworthy side effects of diffusion or use on linen.
Peppermint
The composed record of mint goes back to an old Greek legend where the Greek god Pluto was said to have expressions of love for a delightful sprite named Minthe. His desirous spouse Persephone does magic on the sprite, changing her into a plant. At the point when Pluto couldn’t turn around the spell, he gave her a sweet fragrance that would radiate all through the garden(Murray&Pizzorno1999). Peppermint has been used restoratively as a stomach-related guide and carminative. As of late, enteric-covered peppermint oil cases have been generally recommended to alleviate IBS.
Where it comes from or how it is made
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita, also known as Mentha balsamea Wild.) is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions worldwide. It is occasionally found in the wild with its parent species. Source
What properties does it have that help this condition
Peppermint has a high menthol content. The oil also contains menthone and carboxyl esters, particularly menthyl acetate Dried peppermint typically has 0.3–0.4% of volatile oil containing menthol (7–48%), menthone (20–46%), menthyl acetate (3–10%), menthofuran (1–17%) and 1,8-cineol (3–6%). Peppermint oil also contains small amounts of many additional compounds including limonene, pulegone, caryophyllene and pinene.
Peppermint contains terpenoids and flavonoids such as eriocitrin, hesperidin, and kaempferol 7-O-rutinoside. Source
How to use it
One of the most well-known approaches to utilising peppermint fundamental oil is breathing in the fragrance from the container. It couldn’t be any simpler, isn’t that so? You unscrew the cover, hold the jug just beneath your noses, and take a couple of full breaths.
Cons
There are no notable cons.
Buyer’s Guide
How do you get rid of jet lag fast?
To minimize the effects of jet lag and quickly adjust to the new time zone, there are several strategies you can try:
- Adjust your sleep schedule: A few days before your trip, gradually adjust your sleep and wake times to match your destination. This can help your body adjust to the new time zone in advance.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water before, during and after your flight to counteract dehydration, which can exacerbate jet lag symptoms. Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption, which can contribute to dehydration and disrupt your sleep patterns.
- Attention to light exposure: sunlight regulates your body’s internal clock. Seek out natural light during the day after you arrive at your destination to restore your circadian rhythm. Conversely, limit exposure to bright light at night to signal your body that it’s time to sleep.
- Plan strategically: choose flights that arrive at your destination during the day if possible. This will allow you to adjust to the local schedule and give you a chance to settle in faster. Also, plan a relaxing day after arrival and avoid strenuous activities or commitments.
- Sleep on the plane: If your flight is timed for nighttime at your destination, try to sleep during the flight. Use earplugs, an eye mask and a neck pillow to create a more comfortable sleeping environment. Consider using sleep aids or natural remedies after consulting with a physician.
- Stay active during the flight: stand up, stretch and take short walks in the cabin to promote blood circulation and prevent stiffness. Sitting exercises, such as ankle rolls or shoulder shrugs, can also be helpful. However, avoid excessive physical activity just before bedtime.
- Consider melatonin supplements: melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate sleep. Taking melatonin supplements under a doctor’s guidance can help you adjust your sleep-wake cycle to the new time zone.
Remember that experiences with jet lag can vary from individual to individual, and it’s important to find the strategies that work best for you. Experiment with different approaches and give yourself time to adjust. If symptoms persist or significantly affect your well-being, seek medical attention.
Can jet lag make you physically sick?
Jet lag can indeed have physical effects that may make you feel sick. Disruption to your body’s internal clock and the adjustment to a new time zone can lead to various physical symptoms. While these symptoms may vary from person to person, they can include:
- Fatigue: Feeling exhausted during the day.
- Sleep disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night.
- Gastrointestinal issues: Experiencing indigestion, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.
- Headaches: Developing headaches or migraines due to changes in sleep patterns and dehydration.
- Appetite changes: Experiencing changes in hunger levels or having a reduced appetite.
- Muscle aches and stiffness: Feeling soreness or discomfort in your muscles and joints.
- Nausea: Experiencing feelings of queasiness or an upset stomach.
It’s important to note that not all of these symptoms occur in everyone and that the severity may vary. The duration of these symptoms can also vary, usually lasting a few days to a week as your body gradually adjusts to the new time zone.
What can you do on a 14-hour flight?
On a 14-hour flight, making yourself as comfortable as possible is important. Here are some suggestions on how to pass the time and make the trip more enjoyable:
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and layer up to accommodate temperature changes on the plane.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the flight to maintain fluid balance. Avoid excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption, which can cause dehydration and disrupt sleep.
- Bring noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs to minimize ambient noise and create a quieter environment.
- Pack a neck pillow, blanket and/or eye mask to help you relax and fall asleep more easily.
- Exercise regularly and stretch your legs to improve circulation and prevent stiffness. Take short walks in the hallway, if possible, or do seated exercises to keep your body active.
- Bring entertainment media such as books, magazines, movies, TV or podcasts to keep you entertained during the flight. Many airlines also offer in-flight entertainment systems.
- Consider downloading movies, shows ( TV ) or music to your device before the flight in case in-flight entertainment is limited.
- Bring snacks or buy them on the plane to eat between meals. Opt for light, easy-to-digest options.
- Use the in-flight time to catch up on work or engage in activities such as writing, painting or playing games on your electronic devices.
- Take advantage of the airline’s amenities, such as Wi-Fi, in-flight stores or spa services (if available).
Remember to respect other passengers’ space and be mindful of any safety instructions given by the flight crew.
Does jet lag get worse with age?
The older we get, the more at risk we are to experience jet lag. It gets worse with age. It can ruin whatever reason you are travelling to a different part of the world. It will eventually wear off, but sometimes this is too late. You must be awake and active when you get off the plane.
You can help yourself by slowly adjusting your sleep schedule before travelling. When you are on your flight, drink as much water as possible. When you first arrive, try taking a couple of power naps. Try to push yourself to sleep late at night and avoid falling asleep anytime during the day. You will have to treat yourself like you would a child. Put yourself on a schedule.
How does jet lag make you feel?
Jet lag can cause fatigue or tiredness during the day, sleeping, general malaise, irritability, difficulty concentrating, gastrointestinal issues like indigestion or constipation, and disorientation. The intensity and duration of these symptoms depend on factors such as the number of time zones crossed, individual susceptibility, and travel direction.
Symptoms can last a few days to a week as the body adjusts to the new time zone. To minimize jet lag, adjust your sleep schedule before travelling, stay hydrated, limit caffeine and alcohol, seek natural light during the day, and gradually adapt to the local time at your destination.
Remember that individual experiences may vary, and it’s recommended to consult a doctor for personalized advice.
Final Thoughts
Jet lag is not a pleasant experience. Our bodies are awake when they should be asleep and when they should be awake. This can turn your travel time into a pretty horrible time. The good news is that there are natural methods to ease the discomfort. Essential oils can be a godsend when it comes to combating jet lag. If you travel frequently or are prone to jet lag, have these oils on your shopping list. We hope the essential oils we have selected will help you choose the best one for your situation. Enjoy your travels!
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