Jet Lag, by the time you realise it’s gotten its talons into you, it’s generally too late – you’ve fallen asleep in a meeting, slept through your best friend’s wedding, missed a job interview or worse. The condition, known scientifically as desynchronosis, is the result of crossing time zones faster than your internal clock can keep up. While the condition is typically brought on by air travel, it actually has to do with what are known as Circadian rhythms, (the scientific term for the natural times our bodies are susceptible to falling asleep). According to sleep researchers, there are two peak times a day when these rhythms kick in, 3 am to 5 am and 3 pm to 5 pm. (Not surprisingly, research also shows there to be a disproportionate number of traffic accidents at those times – we said there was much worse than falling asleep at a meeting!)

So, what can you do to combat jet lag if you have a lengthy trip in your future? There are many who opt for a chemically assisted solution, i.e. popping a sleeping pill and drifting off to sleep once the plane has reached cruising altitude. Certainly this would ensure you get to your destination rested, but sleeping pills come with their own set of potential complications. So we’ve developed a number of natural methods for combating jet lag to the best of our abilities.