Acupuncture & TCM Help Jet Lag

Acupuncture is an excellent remedy for recovering from jet lag. Acupuncture helps reset circadian rhythms naturally. How can acupuncture help you get a better night’s rest? There are both Eastern and Western ways of answering this question.

Recent research has demonstrated acupuncture increases free adenosine levels by 24 percent (Goldman, 2010). Adenosine is the opposite of caffeine and helps explain why most acupuncture patients often take a little nap during their treatment, wake up feeling refreshed and also enjoy a great night of sleep after treatment. Research indicates acupuncture can increase melatonin while reducing insomnia and anxiety (Spence, 2004). Another study demonstrated acupressure bands placed at H7 increases melatonin secretions (Nordio, 2008). H7 is located on the wrist above the pinky finger (illustration). You can try to make your own acupressure patch: place a small round seed, dried round bean, or bead on H7 using a Band-Aid or tape to affix in place. This point, Heart 7, is also called Shen Men meaning Spirit Gate. This point reduces excesses that disturb the spirit and the balance of yin/yang, such as jet lag and the disruption of circadian rhythms.

Sleep is contingent upon yin/yang being in balance. Yin/yang is more than this, but for the sake of this article yang is daytime and outgoing activities and yin is nighttime and quiet non-activities, such as meditation and sleep. When yang rises out of balance it accumulates in the head (headache, insomnia), Yin can accumulate in the feet (e.g. swollen ankles post flight). When we travel over several time zones, our yin/yang balance is off-kilter. Acupuncture promotes sleep by rebalancing the flow of yin/yang. Light ‘pollution’ imbalances your yin/yang. Yang is light and yin is dark: try limiting your exposure to light when you sleep and travel at night by using an eye mask.

Receiving acupuncture to rebalance your circadian rhythms after you travel would be ideal. You can also try doing self-acupressure to rest your circadian rhythm! You can use acupressure to rebalance your yin/yang & circadian rhythms. Begin at Yin Tang, between the eyebrows, place your thumbs together and rub untoward the scalp, or place your index finger there lightly and rub in a clockwise circle. From yintang move along to DU 20, known as 100 Yang Crossing – almost at the very top of your head (the fontanelle) it will feel tender: use your index fingers along the centerline of your head to gently rub down toward the back of the head. At the base of the skull your hands separate as you continue to manage in little circles the occiput (back of your head). Pause and linger along tender points, especially GB 20 and Anmian (Peaceful Sleep) (illustrate) then move into massaging the ear. Start at the ear point for the pineal gland, just above where the ear lobe connects with the cheek. massage the ear lobe, then move up along the outer ear to stimulate Insomnia 1 & 2 (illustrate).