Perhaps Dalí had jet lag in mind when he
painted his famous melting clocks. Indeed, when we cross too
many time zones too fast, our internal clock runs askew,
making us like a distressed object in a surrealist painting.
With our circadian rhythms rusty, we suffer fatigue,
insomnia, grogginess, memory loss, dehydration, and other
unpleasant, life-impairing symptoms. So, what's a traveler to
do? - B.H.
Olbas Oil
A Swiss product available at natural-food stores such as Whole
Foods Market, this elixir of aromatic extracts (peppermint,
eucalyptus, juniper, clove, and more) clears the head, induces
sleep when rubbed on the temples, unravels sore muscles, and clears
the sinuses. Best of all, just a few whiffs of this miracle mix
relieves anxiety, one of jet lag's most debilitating symptoms.
www.olbas.com
Dr. Singha's Travel Tonic
Developed by a famed British ayurvedic practitioner, Dr. Singha's
Travel Tonic targets the upset stomach and anxiety we suffer when
we journey to lands far away. Loaded with herbs such as ginger,
Siberian ginseng, lemon rind, sheep sorrel, and yohimbe bark, this
magic potion works wonders when taken before, during, or after long
flights.
www.dr.singha.com
Emergen-C
These packets of powdered vitamin C, electrolytes, and minerals can
be carried on the plane and mixed with water in flight. Aficionados
claim that taking one before, during, and following the flight
promotes
energy and pep and bolsters the immune system to combat
the ill effects of speeding through time zones. Available at most
natural-food stores, Emergen-C comes in a variety of flavors.
www.alacer.com
The Anti-Jet-Lag Diet
Frequent travelers swear by this diet, created by scientists at the University of Chicago’s Argonne National Laboratory. Essentially a pretravel regimen, it suggests a four-day feasting-and-fasting program that ends upon arrival. Feast days mean lots of protein early in the day and a carbohydrate load in the evening, while fasting calls for three small, low-calorie meals. This coordinated eating plan speeds adaptation to new time zones by resetting our inner clocks and adjusting our biological cues.
www.antijetlagdiet.comHotel Cures
Many hotels and spas now offer de-stressing jet-lag treatments to whip mind- and body-warped travelers back into shape. The VH Spa at Scottsdale’s Hotel Valley Ho (480-248-2000,
www.hotelvalleyho.com) offers quantum
biofeedback and
acupuncture sessions that rebalance and reenergize, while the spa at the Watermark Hotel & Spa in
San Antonio (210-396-5800,
www.watermarkhotel.com) serves up mineral-loaded power drinks with names like Virtual Buddha. Yoga videos are de rigueur on televisions at all Hyatt hotels (
www.hyatt.com) in the
United States, and many hotels, such as the Fairmont Dubai (011-971-4-332-5555,
www.fairmont.com/dubai), renew weary guests with pressure-point-oriented
massages — our personal favorite is their Time Zone Rejuvenator.