Jetlag Treatments  Acupuncture/Acupressure

By Thomas Stearns Lee, NMD

Intercontinental flights are known to cause a phenomenon known as “jet lag.”  Travelers and airline crews have complained of extreme fatigue, nausea, headaches, memory problems, attention lapses, clouded thinking, sleep and appetite disturbance, increased susceptibility to infections, depression, anxiety, and other problems.

Chinese medical philosophy talks about a Horary Cycle.  It is thought that energy circulates through the main acupuncture meridians or energy pathways in a very specific order.

Recently, an informal study was conducted by a group of acupuncturists that were traveling from the United States to China.  They divided into two groups.  One group acted as a control and went about their normal business.  The other group used acupressure treatments on their Horary Points while traveling.

The control group experienced jet lag symptoms lasting from 3 days to 2 weeks.  The group that treated themselves with acupressure experienced no jet lag symptoms at all;  in fact, they could perform at normal levels immediately.  On the return trip, the groups switched and the results were similar.

No one is exactly sure why jet lag occurs.  Perhaps it is a phenomenon that confuses your pituitary gland (the master endocrine gland) and the pineal gland by abnormal changes in exposure to daylight.  In any event, acupressure does seem to be able to control jet lag symptoms.

Horary Points For Meridians

The most active point on a meridian during its Horary Time is called the Horary Point.  The chart will present the time/organ associations.  The following location descriptions will help you identify and find the proper points.

1 – 3 AM

Liver

1 – 3 PM

Small Intestine

3 – 5 AM

Lung

3 – 5 PM

Bladder

5 – 7 AM

Large Intestine

5 – 7 PM

Kidney

7 – 9 AM

Stomach

7 – 9 PM

Pericardium

9 – 11 AM

Spleen

9 – 11 PM

Triple Heater

11 AM- 1 PM

Heart

11 PM- 1 AM

Gall Bladder

• Spleen 3 is at the posterior inferior margin of the first metatarsal.

• Heart 8 on the palm just proximal to the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the little finger, where the bent finger tip touches the palm.

• Small Intestine 5 is in a depression at the ulnar end of the transverse crease on the dorsum of the wrist between the styloid and triangular bones.

• Bladder 66 in the depression anterior and lateral to the 5th metatarsal-phalangeal joint.

• Kidney 10 is on the medial aspect of the back of the knee between the semi-tendinosus and semimembranosus muscles.

• Pericardium 8 with fingers bent;  this point is where the tip of the middle finger touches the palm between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpals.

• Triple Heater 6 is one palm’s width above the transverse crease on the dorsum of the wrist, midway between the radius and ulna.

• Gall Bladder 41 is in the hollow just in front of the union of the 4th and 5th metatarsals on the dorsum of the foot.

• Liver 1 is on the lateral aspect of the big toe at the corner of the nail.

• Lung 8 is one thumb breadth directly above the transverse crease of the wrist at the medial margin of the radius.

• Large Intestine 1 is on the radial side of the index finger at the corner of the nail.

• Stomach 36 is one palm’s breadth below the knee and one finger breadth lateral to the shin bone (tibia).

Treatment

Treatment is carried out in the following manner:

1. Identify the time of departure and arrival figured on local time of the departure point.

2. Identify the corresponding Horary Points for all the time you are traveling.

3. Treat the departure and arrival Horary Points using a tei shin needle or deep pressure for 1-2 minutes, then intermittently.

4. Every two hours treat the corresponding Horary Point up to a total of 8 hours.  After 8 hours, just treat the arrival point.

5. Treat the Horary Point upon arrival.