Does CBD Help Jet Lag? Travel in Comfort with CBD
With many of us excited to go on holiday after possibly one of the worst years of our lives (thanks, Covid), preparations need to be made in order to have the best trip yet and avoid jet lag. Nothing can spoil the getaway, especially not jet lag, which can ruin holidays. However, instead of suffering through the pesky disorder, you may want to try something different this time, such as CBD. But, does CBD help jet lag?
Can CBD Help Jet Lag?
Research on the benefits of CBD may still be relatively new, but of the studies done, the results are mostly positive. A lot of research shows that CBD may be beneficial for things such as:
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Anxiety
- Skin conditions
- Insomnia
Many of these ailments are symptoms of jet lag, which is why it has recently come to light that CBD could also help jet lag.
What Is Jet Lag?
Your body has its own clock that tells it when you need to sleep or wake up. Landing in a different time zone throws this out of whack, causing jet lag, that horrible feeling you get after landing in a country far from home. Jet lag occurs when you quickly travel through different time zones, and your body is not used to the new time zone yet. You may feel sick while your body tries to adjust.
Symptoms of Jet Lag
Some symptoms of jet lag include:
- Fatigue and insomnia
- Stomach problems
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Irritability
- Feeling ill
If you’re one of the lucky ones, you may only experience a few of these symptoms. However, no matter how many you have, it is still unpleasant and causes your holiday to get off to a rough start. And the more time zones you travel through, the worse the jet lag will be.
Luckily, there are ways to lessen the effects of jet lag.
Remedies to Overcome Jet Lag
While there is no cure for jet lag besides time, there are steps you can take to make dealing with it more manageable.
Some ways to alleviate the effects of jet lag include:
- Resting before your trip
- Taking supplements such as CBD oil
- Staying active on the flight – try getting up and walking around the cabin at regular intervals
- Drinking lots of water
- Eating healthily
- Avoiding oversleeping
- Sleeping at night and being outside during the day
- Avoiding alcohol and caffeine
- Avoiding daytime naps
How Can CBD Help Jet Lag?
As mentioned previously, studies have shown that CBD has the potential to help with a number of ailments that are associated with jet lag.
Fatigue and Insomnia
Research shows that CBD has the potential to help with sleep disorders, one of the most common symptoms of jet lag. It does this by treating the causes of insomnia, such as anxiety and pain, and by regulating circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm is your body’s natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle that forms part of your internal clock.
This means that CBD can help you sleep peacefully, and wake up refreshed without feeling tired.
Stomach Problems
Jet lag can cause stomach problems such as diarrhoea, nausea, bloating, and constipation; definitely not things you want to experience when holidaying! Fortunately, many studies show that CBD can help with these unpleasant issues so that you don’t have to spend your holiday on the toilet.
CBD can help with stomach problems by:
- Alleviating any stomach bloating
- Relieving muscle tension
- Soothing the digestive tract
- Alleviating nausea
- Anxiety
Many people swear by using CBD to help deal with their anxiety, and a lot of research backs up this anecdotal evidence.
This research paper shows that CBD interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors, lowering cortisol (stress hormone) levels and altering serotonin signals in the brain. This helps soothe anxiety and decrease your heart rate, giving you a sense of calm.
Travelling can be really stressful, especially if you are going far, but you can make it that much easier to deal with some CBD.
Pain and Inflammation
Research on CBD benefits shows that it can help soothe pain and inflammation, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. This is especially useful for muscle and joint pain you may get, thanks to having to spend a flight sitting in one position for hours on end.
However, research into the benefits of CBD is in its infancy, so many more studies need to be done.
On a Serious Note
There are many restrictions on travelling with CBD products. Before travelling, make sure CBD is allowed on your flight and in the country where you are going. Do your research to ensure that you stay on the right side of the law.
Final Thoughts on Using CBD to Help Jet Lag
Jet lag doesn’t need to ruin the start of your holiday, especially now that you have a number of ways to minimise the dreaded travel disorder. Why not give CBD a chance and see if it works for you? It may just be what you need to get your holiday off to a great start.
