Jet Lag

[meme]

I am making the three bazillion hour flight back to Canada from BKK for the first time in over two years and I am dreading it!!! My boyfriend is also coming and I am worried his head will explode half way through as he has only flown a couple times and nothing over 5 hours. Does anyone know of any kind of alternative treatments for jet lag that I could pick up in BKK?? I have heard about some kind of Chinese herb that helps but dont know any details.

Thanks

[thankuverybig]

as you probably know already,dehydration is the big thing with jet lag.

just drink plenty of water.

[britmaveric]

If you can I'd shift your timing 11-12hrs the day before you leave. Stay up the night before basically and catch kip on the plane. Once you arrive should be night time and you'll go straight to bed. Works everytime for me.

[chinadarling]

Melatonin actually works. You can buy it in most countries if not all.

It comes from a pigs brain so if you are muslim or jewish or vegitarian you may not want it.

It mimics the natural chemicals in your brain that are released as you go to sleep.

(pigs and humans are chemically similar. yes really, if I remember correctly the first heart transplant was from a pig)

I find I need to take quite a lot of it but I am 100kg. If you are 50kg then recommended doses should be plenty.

I am very sensitive to drugs/medications and have no problem with it.

Take it well in advance of when you want to be asleep, longer on a full stomach, probably better to have an empty stomach, both for the quality of your sleep and absorption of the melatonin.

The other post about drinking water is partly true. I have a better trip if I drink more water, but only have a painless trip if I can actually sleep on the plane which is rare unless I take valerian? root which stinks as bad as durian but it never attracted attention at customs and as far as I know is legal in all countries. (alway check this stuff out never trust morons who post advice online

[Explorer]

If you can I'd shift your timing 11-12hrs the day before you leave. Stay up the night before basically and catch kip on the plane. Once you arrive should be night time and you'll go straight to bed. Works everytime for me.

Works for me too

Explorer

[meme]

Thanks all,

I always make sure I drink lots of water and I will try to get as little sleep as possible the night before. The Melatonin sounds great, I will check it out but I worry that a Thai pharmacy will give me the chemical equivalent and then I will be right messed up.

[AmeriThai]

Thanks all,

I always make sure I drink lots of water and I will try to get as little sleep as possible the night before. The Melatonin sounds great, I will check it out but I worry that a Thai pharmacy will give me the chemical equivalent and then I will be right messed up.

Melatonin may or may not be helpful. If it works for some people, that's great. Speaking for myself, I've tried it in the past and found it didn't help at all. I was just as tired from jet lag as if I hadn't taken it at all.

http://www.jetlag.co.nz/melatonin.html

How many stops will you be making before you reach your final destination? What time will it be when you arrive at your final destination? As you have no doubt experienced before, jet lag can be very strong from that long eastbound journey, especially if your arrival time is during the daylight hours.

[Totster]

Try this handy little tool from British Airways...

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/drsleep/public/en_us

totster

[Gary A]

My first two or three days in Thailand were wasted due to being sick from the flight. I finally asked my doctor and she asked me how much water I was drinking during the flight. The answer was not much. I would wait until the main meal and then have a couple of double shots to help me sleep. She told me to drink at least a liter of water every four hours. That would keep me hydrated and also force me to get up and go to the restroom. I never had a problem after that.

I agree with the poster who said LOTS of water.

[Sheryl]

Agree with above advise -- start resetting your body clock before you leave, drink plenty of water on the flight, and melatonin. I would add: exposure to sunlight upon arrival and continue the melatonin for about a week. (Make sure to be out in sunlight during the day, take melatonin after it gets dark, repeat melatonin again if necessary at bedtime and also if you wake up in the middle of the night.)

Warning -- melatonin is NOT available in Thailand!!! No idea why, but it isn't. So bring it with you.

Also - avoid alcohol on the flight.

As to sleeping on the flight -- there are 2 approaches. Personally I cannot sleep on planes no matter what I do or take, so I just accept my fate, stay up, drink lots of fluids and try to arrive late afternoon, evening or night so that I can then collapse and sleep without getting my days and night screwed up. If you are able to sleep on planes, then a daytime arrival is OK and try to sleep enough that you will be able to stay awake until dark on arrival. In that case, take the melatonin at take-off and maximum once more during flight provided it's at least 6 hours to landing. Don't take melatonin close to arrival unless you are arriving late enough i n the day to plan on sleeping as soon as you get in.

One other, and VERY helpful tip -- get a Thai massage as soon as possible upon arrival, this (or any other type of massage) works wonders. Repeat daily as needed until no more jet lag. Works wonders. (Also if you have a stopover, seek out any massage available at the airport, even those vibrating chairs help).

I find I need both a good sleep and a good massage before I'm over jet lag.

[jumbo]

Avoid the use of alcohol, chocolate, coffee and tea

When you enter the plain put your watch in time at your destination and from then on try to live by that clock/time

Drink a lot of water,

Always helps for me

J

[meme]

Agree with above advise -- start resetting your body clock before you leave, drink plenty of water on the flight, and melatonin. I would add: exposure to sunlight upon arrival and continue the melatonin for about a week. (Make sure to be out in sunlight during the day, take melatonin after it gets dark, repeat melatonin again if necessary at bedtime and also if you wake up in the middle of the night.)

Warning -- melatonin is NOT available in Thailand!!! No idea why, but it isn't. So bring it with you.

Also - avoid alcohol on the flight.

As to sleeping on the flight -- there are 2 approaches. Personally I cannot sleep on planes no matter what I do or take, so I just accept my fate, stay up, drink lots of fluids and try to arrive late afternoon, evening or night so that I can then collapse and sleep without getting my days and night screwed up. If you are able to sleep on planes, then a daytime arrival is OK and try to sleep enough that you will be able to stay awake until dark on arrival. In that case, take the melatonin at take-off and maximum once more during flight provided it's at least 6 hours to landing. Don't take melatonin close to arrival unless you are arriving late enough i n the day to plan on sleeping as soon as you get in.

One other, and VERY helpful tip -- get a Thai massage as soon as possible upon arrival, this (or any other type of massage) works wonders. Repeat daily as needed until no more jet lag. Works wonders. (Also if you have a stopover, seek out any massage available at the airport, even those vibrating chairs help).

I find I need both a good sleep and a good massage before I'm over jet lag.

We have one three hour stop in Taiwan. We leave BKK at 4pm and arrive in Vancouver at 8pm the same day ( Van is 15 hours behind Thailand I think) I wish it was a four hour flight!!!!! So that sucks Melatonin is not sold in Thailand, maybe I can find some here in Korea, Is it best to take it on the plane or can it wait till Van (incase I cant find any here). I arrive at night which is good b/c I can not and do not sleep on planes so I hope I can just fall into bed, but seeing as I havent seen anyone in over two years that might be difficult! Also turns out that the person who is picking me up is an expert at Thai massages so I will tell her my recovery is dependent on her. Thanks for all the tips!

[Sheryl]

Good chance it will be available in either Korea or Taiwan. I know it's available in most of the region, for sure Cambodia and Singapore. It's just an odd quirk that the Thai FDA have not reviewed it for use in Thailand...

Your timing is good. If I were you, I'd stay up late enough the night before to sleep until at least 12 noon, then drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids on the flight, and take a melatonin ust before or upon arrival in BC. Then if you wake up during the night take it again.

[Maestro]

melatonin is NOT available in Thailand!!! No idea why

I happen to know why. Melatonin is a hormone. In Thailand – also in Western Europe and probably also in some other developed countries – hormones are classified as medicines and it appears that so far no pharmaceutical importer or manufacturer in Thailand has made an application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the registration of Melatonin, submitting the required documentation.

---------------

Maestro

[Maestro]

It's just an odd quirk that the Thai FDA have not reviewed it [melatonin] for use in Thailand...

No application for registration, no review. Or if an application was made, it was disapproved for lack of sufficient documentation necessary for the registration of a medicine.

---------------

Maestro

[suegha]

I have a very simple jetlag remedy which works very well for me. I just don't sleep at all on any flight! That way when I arrive I just go to bed at their time (maybe 10pm instead of midnight) and I suffer no problems at all! That way you are only dog-tired for the day you arrive. As I say, it works for me, maybe not for everyone.

ps also drink non-stop, it really helps.

Edited June 11, 2006 by suegha

[Guest endure]

I have a very simple jetlag remedy which works very well for me. I just don't sleep at all on any flight! That way when I arrive I just go to bed at their time (maybe 10pm instead of midnight) and I suffer no problems at all! That way you are only dog-tired for the day you arrive. As I say, it works for me, maybe not for everyone.

ps also drink non-stop, it really helps.

I flew out to join a ship with a 2nd Mate that drank non-stop. The Bahraini police weren't impressed when he fell down the hole at the end of the baggage carousel

[jdinasia]

Lots of water ... yes ....

shift time clock .... yes .....

move around some yes ....

WEAR LOOSE fitting clothing ... Take off your shoes and socks ...

Water ... walk .. loose clothes ... and sleep before the trip!

(That being said ... so far jet lag has never really bothered me and I can almost NEVER sleep before a trip ... and often not doring the first 7-10 hours of one)

I carry gatorade with me ... and drink it ... then about 4 fingers of scotch for the last few hours of sleep

[Mark L.]

IMO melatonin works to help normalize rythems if taken correctly however I am not a fan of messing with your hormones in this manner-but besides health it can help to adjust to new time zone (I use to take but not any more)

With out taking hormones..

-King Bio Jet Lag (company in N Carolina I think)

-EFT-have to learn it but helps with many things

-sound dampening headphones

keep in mind changing seasons can disrupt things more than jet lag and certainly keep hydrated (that means water-not pop, juice, coffee, tea or anything-just real water)

[JackFrost]

Melotonin IS available in Thailand - most pharmacies have it by the pill (15 baht).

Some will sell you the whole bottle - bought one yesterday.

I have used melotonin for years as I work nights - my doctor in OZ recommended it to me as soon as I mentioned I worked nights (the body does not make melotonin in the daylight).

The doc in OZ was with the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and specialised in peak performance and life extension programmes.

As for the water - it works.

A little out of the ordinary, but this also works. My wife is a Kinesiologist so she taught me how "run my meridians" every four hours for the time zone I am flying to (NOT from).

As for EFT, I have used it for years - works with most stuff - never tried it for jet lag though

Here is the link http://www.emofree.com/cases/jetlag.htm

and the EFT "course" pdf file is available for free at that website also

Jack

[Mark L.]

You may be a case for melatonin use but I don't think its smart to play with hormones (I'd look for day work myself) I usede it alot. I first learned about it in sport nutrition and exercise stuff..

Any info on 'running' the maridians? Sounds cool

Nice to hear someone else knows something of EFT. I think its gaining popularity. I'm pretty new to it actually.

[Sheryl]

Melotonin IS available in Thailand - most pharmacies have it by the pill (15 baht).

Some will sell you the whole bottle - bought one yesterday.

I have used melotonin for years as I work nights - my doctor in OZ recommended it to me as soon as I mentioned I worked nights (the body does not make melotonin in the daylight).

The doc in OZ was with the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and specialised in peak performance and life extension programmes.

As for the water - it works.

A little out of the ordinary, but this also works. My wife is a Kinesiologist so she taught me how "run my meridians" every four hours for the time zone I am flying to (NOT from).

As for EFT, I have used it for years - works with most stuff - never tried it for jet lag though

Here is the link http://www.emofree.com/cases/jetlag.htm

and the EFT "course" pdf file is available for free at that website also

Jack

Jack,

I've asked at multiple pharmacies and always been told they don't have it in Thailand, also been told by several knowledgable pharmacists. Can you tell me where the pharmacy is that you were able to get it? Thanks

[JackFrost]

You may be a case for melatonin use but I don't think its smart to play with hormones (I'd look for day work myself) I usede it alot. I first learned about it in sport nutrition and exercise stuff..

Any info on 'running' the maridians? Sounds cool

Nice to hear someone else knows something of EFT. I think its gaining popularity. I'm pretty new to it actually.

Mark,

Regarding your comments ...

I trade US futures & stocks at night so other than moving to the US I have no choice but to work at night. Besides, I have most of the day to "play".

Read a book titled "The Melatonin Miracle" by Pierpaoli and Regelson to learn about melatonin. Like I said in my post I was recommended it by my doctor - I took it faithfully without really knowing why other than because he said to. I read the above book and now there is no way I will ever stop even if I changed careers. Also, when married to a Kinesiologist it's easy to discover what is "good" for you ...

As for the "runnning the meridians" it comes from Touch for Health and is easy to do but I will get into strife explaining it. The basis of EFT comes from Touch For Health also.

Jack

[JackFrost]

I've asked at multiple pharmacies and always been told they don't have it in Thailand, also been told by several knowledgable pharmacists. Can you tell me where the pharmacy is that you were able to get it? Thanks

I am in Phuket and know of three (the only three I ever asked). PM me and I will tell you where they are if you are here

Jack

[Mark L.]

Thanks for the info!!

Regarding melatonin. I learned loads of good stuff about the stuff as well in my studies.

It largely depends on what paradigm you subscribe to.

I'm just sharing my opinions.

Doc told you...well I don't know what country the doc was in but Docs in the US (according to the highly respected medical journal JAMA) are the third leading cause of death.

I certainly don't look to docs about my health. Intervention from a car accident maybe.

If I worked nights I would use it also (maybe) and it is 'safe' IMO. But its also messing with your hormones and Nature.

The body is extreamly energy efficient and there is also a rule of 'use it or loose it.

In terms of your wifes studies etc. I just believe that there are different view points and paradigms.

Personally I believe we (docs, scientists, holistic health practitioners, humans) knows very little about the body. We have learned loads but we are still learning new things all the time and there is way more than we could ever grasp.

I think a good rule of thumb is to go natural and not mess with Nature more than we have to. Melatonin hasn't been studied that indepth for that long and no one yet knows the long term effects from taking it and more importantly the effects on the body from not needing to. (the body is extreamly efficient and tends to not use what it doesn't need too-see what happens if you cast a perfectly good arm)

We think we know so much but we just scratch the surface. I think man is very ignorant to think he can do better than Nature.

Just my opinion.

Its certainly safe compared with med prescriptions (those kill thousands a year-over 100,000 a year in US-properly prescribed and properly taken ones too...just side effects. -things they don't talk about..

IMO

[wilko]

I am making the three bazillion hour flight back to Canada from BKK for the first time in over two years and I am dreading it!!! My boyfriend is also coming and I am worried his head will explode half way through as he has only flown a couple times and nothing over 5 hours. Does anyone know of any kind of alternative treatments for jet lag that I could pick up in BKK?? I have heard about some kind of Chinese herb that helps but dont know any details.

Thanks

You know, there really isn't a quick solution to jet-lag. all you can do is try and get your waking up and going to sleep in sync with the country you're in, but the rest of your body can take weeks or months to turn around completely; things like your digestive system and your brain will take a lot more time than you have on holiday to get in tune, which might account for a lot of quirky behaviour and stomach upsets etc etc...

.

Edited June 22, 2006 by wilko

[Mark L.]

wilko-totally agree but I think you can minimize somethings or at least do the best you can. Nothing will beat being healthy and eating, sleeping and drinking right.

[autonomous_unit]

A little googling helped me remember this: search for "jet-lag diet argonne" and the first link I found was a short summary of a method to adjust your body to the destination timezone rapidly. It was developed by US national lab folks to help shift workers switch work schedules. I have heard people rave about it, but I am too disorganized to follow a set diet for four days before a trip, so I've never tried it.

[Mark L.]

Interesting... sounds a bit odd...

Remember the site?

[Mark L.]

"To avoid jet lag, the traveler begins the Anti-Jet-Lag Diet on Thursday, three days before the flight. Meals are eaten at their regular New York times. Thursday is a feast day, to be followed by fasting on Friday, feasting on Saturday and fasting on Sunday. The day of the flight is always a fast day."

"Supper is high in carbohydrates. They help the body produce chemicals that it normally produces when its time to bring on sleep. Spaghetti or another pasta is good, but no meatballs -- they contain too much protein. High-carbohydrate meals need not be exclusively carbohydrate, but they should emphasize it. "

This may work to adjust times but someone like me who processes food very quickly and needs to watch blood sugar levels it would kill me even if I was ajusted time wise. Basically the way my glycolysis, beta oxidation and citric acid systems work together and whats dominant etc...

I'd be messed up eating like that and feasting then fasting doesn't sound like it'll keeo you rocking..may work for jet lag.. If you survive (for someone like me).

Many people (especially with the over consumption of grains) have blood sugar issues..

IMO it doesn't sound too good at a glance for most.

Fasting-IF extreamly healthy Ithtink it can be a good thing. Personally I don't think its good for most of us.