I have to admit that I rarely suffer from jet-lag, even when I travelled solo with Zenchai as a baby, taking the long flights to and from the UK to the US, or when I was a single adventurer trekking to and from Australia and New Zealand.
Now I also have to divulge that I do have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to easing my body through long-haul flights.
1. Jet Ease or No Jet-Lag Homoeopathic tablets - I first discovered these when I worked in a health food store in New Zealand and ever since then they have been a constant flying companion. I put Claude on to these as he normally suffers quite badly from jet-lag and I am happy to say they do the trick for him, too. They are simple to take (pop one in every couple of hours), not contraindicated with any other medications and safe for children to take.
2. Keep hydrated - Drink plenty of water before your flight and during your flight. As tempting as the free alcoholic beverages can be, avoid them (coffee and tea too). They dehydrate you, thus feeding your body's temptation to slip into jet-lagged state.
3. Move about - Get up and stretch throughout your flight (if you are drinking lots of water then you'll need the loo anyway!). Doing simple movements such as touching your toes, rotating all of your joints (ankles, knees, hips, wrists etc) and stretching your arms overhead are great ways to keep the body relaxed, stimulate your circulation and kick start your immune system. ( I even know one yogini that does handstands on her long flights!)
4. Pack your own food - Everyone knows how awful airplane food can be. It is best to avoid the lifeless, processed trays of garbage they pass around. We always pack a cache of supplies. Some ides are fresh fruit (apples, oranges, blueberries etc), nuts and seeds, rice cakes, sandwiches, fried rice, falafel, hummus, raw pizza (made in dehydrator) and the list could go on. Keep it simple and fresh. For those wondering, yes you can get most food items through airport security. I once even got lentil soup through.
5. Know when to sleep or stay awake - sometimes the desire to sleep for an entire flight is too hard to say no to. I always try to stay awake on a flight if my final destination has me arriving in 'their' evening time. This means I am ready to sleep when everyone else is. If I am arriving somewhere in 'their' morning (like US to NZ) I sleep at least the majority of the flight. If I know I will need to sleep on a flight, I will stay up late the day before my departure.
6. Use aromatherapy essential oils - there are many ways to optimise your flying experience using therapeutic oils. Lavender is great for calming, relaxing and inducing sleep. While peppermint can recharge and re-energize you. I often use a synergistic blend for immune enhancement to help support my system to keep any bugs at bay. Remember almost all essential oils are antibacterial and antimicrobial, so placing a drop under your nose will purify the air you are breathing.
Here are some random items that can come in handy to ensure you have a pleasant flight: eye-pillow/ eye-mask, socks, earplugs, Emergen-C (a powder sachet that is added to water, fab for rehydrating), Chamomilla homoeopathic liquid or tablets for babies and children (I used this religiously when Zenchai was a small babe to help keep him settled).
Wishing you a jet-lag-free journey! Let me know how you get on.
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