CBD Oil for jet lag
27 May 2022Oh, the joys of travel! A change of scenery, lovely weather, and new impressions to take in: seeing the word can be wonderful. Unfortunately, globe trotting usually comes with air travel. Flying long-distance can take you to a destination in another time zone, and that comes with the physical discomfort of jet lag. So how can CBD Oil help you reduce the impact of jet lag? Find out below!
What is jet lag?
Every living organism has a natural rhythm of night and day, called the biological clock or 24-hour cycle. In fancy terms, we call this a circadian rhythm: ‘circa’ means approximately, and ‘dies’ is Latin for day. This rhythm determines when we sleep and when we are awake, as well as regulating a host of body processes like our heart rate, body temperature, and hormonal production.
Travelling to another time zone will not ruin your circadian rhythm right away. If your body gets enough time to adjust while travelling, consequences are usually minimal. However, taking a plane and soaring across multiple time zones at breakneck speed can seriously confuse body and mind. That’s because your body thinks you are still in the time zone you left behind – jet lag ensues.
Jet lag symptoms:
- Sleeping problems: inability to sleep or exhausted at the wrong moments;
- Cognitive problems: stress, amnesia, and concentration issues;
- Anxiety and unstable moods;
- Gastrointestinal issues: heartburn, constipation, or diarrhoea;
- Pain and inflammation: muscle and headaches.
What can you do against jet lag?
There is a rule of thumb you can use to estimate the duration of your jet lag: every time zone you cross takes one day of recovery. This illustrates how jet lag can easily become problematic when flying around the globe for an important business meeting.
Try to adjust your sleeping cycles in the days before your flight. Whatever you do, never board a plane feeling tired. Have plenty to drink in-flight and try to get some rest while in the air. A mask to cover your eyes and some earplugs can help you fall asleep. Trying not to smoke and passing on alcoholic beverages helps too, as both caffeine and nicotine are known to disrupt circadian rhythms. Get up and move around the plane every now and then, or do some stretching exercises if you get the chance.
How can CBD Oil help you recover from jet lag?
CBD Oil can help your body overcome the symptoms of jet lag. It does so by working with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) we have in our body. The ECS is tasked with maintaining our internal balance as our environment changes. To do so, the ECS is connected with many of the important processes that keep our body running smoothly. By influencing the ECS, CBD can produce physiological results that can help counter jet lag, such as better sleeping, improved mood, pain and inflammation relief, and a calming effect on the stomach and bowels.
Let’s start with some basics. To find out what CBD can do for your body, and how it does so. Cannabidiol, abbreviated CBD, is just one of many different cannabinoids found in hemp plants. In contrast to THC, CBD is non-psychoactive, which ensures that CBD Oil will not make you ‘high’.
Our body produces compounds called endocannabinoids. ‘Endo’ means inside, so these are cannabinoids we generate from within. CBD from plants is also recognised by the body, allowing it to influence our physiology and produce calming effects. CBD Oil can also provide pain relief and improve quality of sleep, to name but a few potential effects. CBD can do all of this by interacting with our ECS. That makes CBD Oil a natural source of plant-based support to be used in challenging situations – such as jet lag, that is!
CBD Oil for better sleeping after jet lag
If you are affected by jet lag and you find falling asleep difficult, or if you keep waking up at night, CBD Oil may be able to help you by its soothing effects that can help your body to relax. This makes it easier to fall asleep, as well as to sleep through the night without waking up before the alarm rings. These effects can all help you deal with jet lag faster.
Jet lag can also cause fatigue during the daytime, which can be a real nuisance if you’re either travelling for business or if you have to get back to work straight after your return. In addition to helping improve your sleep, CBD Oil can also help you wake up more focussed and stay alert throughout the day – very useful in case of jet lag!
CBD Oil for less stress and improved concentration
It turns out that jet lag can increase production of cortisol, also known as the ‘stress hormone’. Cortisol is essential in determining our fight and flight responses in case of stress. High cortisol levels, however, can cause feelings of anxiety and negatively affect your memory and ability to concentrate.
Research has demonstrated that CBD can help regulate cortisol levels. CBD also appears capable of containing the body’s severe response to stress. Moreover, CBD Oil can increase production of hormones such as serotonin. Serotonin is used to treat depression. This enables CBD Oil to help control jet lag from multiple angles: improving your mood and reducing stress, thus allowing you deal with stressful situations you encounter on your (work-related) travels and after you return home.
CBD Oil to counter anxiety and lift your mood
Anandamide, another compound produced by our own body, is an important endocannabinoid. Low anandamide levels can make you feel anxious and moody as well as intensifying your stress responses. Both anandamide and CBD increase resilience to stress and reduce anxiety levels.
Research has shown that CBD inhibits production of the enzyme FAAH, which is responsible for metabolizing and breaking down anandamide. In short, CBD reduces FAAH blood levels, allowing anandamide to last longer. This in turn can elevate your mood and lessen the impact of jet lag effects.
CBD Oil for digestion
If you have to spend a long time on a plane and jet lag sets in, your stomach and bowels can become upset. Heartburn, constipation and diarrhoea can result. Research indicates that CBD Oil can have a positive influence on digestion, which can come in handy in case of jet lag.
The reason for this effect is the ECS, which plays an important part in the gastrointestinal process. CBD an affect the ECS and add its natural anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and soothing qualities to the state of the digestive tract. This allows CBD Oil to help calm down an overactive stomach and gut, which is another potential benefit whenever jet lag becomes a burden.
CBD Oil against pain and inflammation
Sitting in an airplane seat can cause muscle stiffness and pain. You can try to reduce this by getting up and walking up and down the aisle every now and then. Unfortunately, this is not always easy to do in a packed airliner.
So how can CBD Oil help out? Several studies have pointed out the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD. In addition, it can act as a muscle relaxant and painkiller. CBD Oil can help relieve aching muscles and headaches, for instance: typical signs of a nagging jet lag effect.
Can you bring CBD Oil on your travels?
No matter how ideal CBD Oil seems as a remedy for jet lag, there are some restrictions on bringing it with you on an airplane. CBD Oil is not fully legal in all countries. CBD Oil is easily confused with cannabis oil, which is often illegal. Full Spectrum CBD Oil contains traces of THC, which can get you in trouble at customs checks. That means you should always read up to find out what local regulations apply to CBD supplements in your destination country!
To rule out the chances of accidentally bringing minuscule quantities of THC with you, the safe option is to choose CBD Tablets when going abroad. These are made using CBD isolate, which contains only cannabinol and no other cannabinoids such as THC. These supplements are even suited for passing doping and drug tests, so in theory, they should be safer to bring along on your travels. Still, CBD itself may be a controlled substance in the country you plan to visit; and in that case, we advise not bringing any CBD products whatsoever. At any rate, it is best to inquire after local laws on cannabinoids and supplements before deciding to bring CBD Oil against jet lag and any other issues you may use it for.
Which CBD product is best for me?
Of course, your ideal CBD supplement is a very personal choice. Our Full Spectrum CBD Oil contains all the active ingredients found in hemp plants. This adds an important dimension to its potential due to the entourage effect. The various ingredients work together to mutually boost and influence each other’s potential even further. Nonetheless, we have a full range of isolate-based CBD Tablets and CBD Nutrition products that are great for taking with you on your travels.
Find your ideal CBD Oil product for jet lag
Still, whether you pack your suitcase with CBD Oil or another suitable supplement, you now know that cannabidiol can be your best friend whenever jet lag threatens to ruin your journey!
