While flying to new locations is thrilling and exciting to many, the unwelcome feeling of jet lag can often sully the experience. This can leave you drained, disoriented, and out of sorts, which takes away from time spent otherwise enjoying being abroad. Fortunately, this era of technological progress has birthed innovative remedies that can counter its effects - among them, red light therapy at home! Discover how it can help people cope with the symptoms of jet lag, with the team at ROJO Light Therapy EU.Â
Jet lag is a temporary sleep problem that occurs when the body’s internal clock, governed by the circadian rhythm, falls out of sync due to travelling across time zones. This misalignment can manifest in a variety of symptoms, such as daytime fatigue, insomnia, headaches, mood changes, and stomach problems. These symptoms are likely to occur within a day or two of your travel, and have the potential to be worse or stay longer, the farther your transit and travel time.Â
One of the key factors that affect jet lag is light exposure. Under normal circumstances, your circadian rhythm is synchronised to the 24-hour light-dark cycle of your locality, so as to standardise periods of normal function, and subsequent bodily rest and repair. However, when travelling, the circadian clock is not able to reset to the new light-dark cycle quickly enough - giving rise to symptoms we characterise with jet lag. Given the huge impact of light on the body’s biological clock, it stands to reason that red light therapy can have an effect too.Â
Unlike blue light or bright white light, the red glow of red light therapy at home provides minimal disruption to the body’s circadian rhythm. Moreover, it provides a myriad of benefits that help combat the symptoms of jet lag, which we’ll explore further below.
Studies have found that approximately timed exposure to bright light can help reset the body’s timing of sleep. For instance, for those who want to reset their waking times to an earlier hour, it’s best to expose yourself to light as soon as you wake up. When using light therapy, light exposure should occur even before your usual time of awakening. This can be applied when you’re travelling to an earlier time zone.Â
On the other hand, research has also shown that red light therapy helps increase melatonin, the body’s natural sleep hormone. In a study published in the Journal of Athletic Training, athletes who used red light therapy for two weeks showed increased melatonin levels and improved sleep. These findings align with the established science that higher levels of melatonin promote natural periods of relaxation, and help the body to fall asleep quicker. When travelling, this can help rewire the time your body typically starts to feel ready for sleep.Â
Red light therapy generally improves cell energy production, which in turn accelerates the body’s rejuvenation and healing. This allows the body to recuperate from the fatigue that generally accompanies jet lag. Additionally, by maintaining your proper circadian rhythm, you get better sleep, which improves your overall energy after rest.
To effectively harness the benefits of red light therapy to prevent jet lag, it’s ideal to start treatment a few days before your trip. During this period, use the therapy to simulate the effects of natural daylight, which helps your body gradually adjust to the new time zone. For instance, if you’re travelling eastward, it’s best to do red light therapy in the mornings to help you acclimate to an earlier time zone. Continue the treatment after you arrive to completely adjust your body to the new time zone.
Red light therapy offers an excellent solution to help prevent jet lag and mitigate its symptoms. The best part is that there are plenty of portable red light therapy devices on the market, allowing you to continue treatment wherever you go. To learn more about the benefits of red light therapy, explore our ROJO blog. For questions or inquiries about our red light products, contact us now!
