6 Unusual Spa Treatments to Combat Jet Lag Around the World

Traveling is indeed an adventure. The accompanying jet lag shouldn’t be!

While much has been written about how to fight jet lag before, during, and after your flight, all these solutions require some work. Work that you don’t necessarily have to do but instead, you can let someone else do the work for you by booking a natural spa treatment.

Heading to the spa immediately after check-in is not only a luxurious way of easing into a trip, it can help you mitigate the physical effects of switching time zones. Whether you trust ancient principles to move qi around the body or newfangled technology to pump vitamins into your veins, there is a natural spa treatment that will help you learn about a destination while acclimating to its time zone.

Consider one of these natural spa treatments for a jet lag antidote, cultural experience, and relaxing treat all in one.

U.S.

In New York City, methods for dealing with jet lag have a technological twist. At Clean Market, guests can sit down for a vitamin IV drip to adjust their internal clocks. Those who are going back in time and need energy can schedule a NutriBOOST drip (B-vitamins, taurine, carnitine, IV hydration) and Cryotherapy. Those who need relaxation and sleep ASAP can book an infrared sauna session and NutriCLEANSE (Vitamin C, Magnesium, Glutathione).

SpaHalekulani in Honolulu offers acupuncture “to help to stimulate the body’s ability to heal and help guests experience a more balanced way of being.” The 50-minute treatment can aid in digestion, stress and sleep — all issues that can exacerbate the already bad effects of changing time zones.

Europe

The Connaught in London knows that travel takes a toll on the body. The Aman Spa has an entire selection of offerings for those getting off a long flight. Treatments that specifically target jet lag are available for 45-minute or two-and-a-half-hour sessions. Relax through a scrub to shed dead skin cells (which can build up after a long flight) and come back to live with invigorating aromatherapy.

Asia

Jumping ahead to Asian time zones can be disorienting — unless you reach back in time and take help from traditional and ancient practices.

Four Seasons Resorts Bali at Sayan suggests a Chakra Ceremony to guests arriving from overseas. Traditionally, the Balinese cleanse the Muladhara (root) chakra twice a month. The hotel recommends this treatment for frequent travelers or people in periods of change. The ceremony “combines a cleansing Balinese kemenyan smoke ceremony, soothing singing bowls and deep slow massage” to promote a sense of stillness and connection to the earth.

At The Mulia Spa at The Mulia, guests can book a crystal healing ritual to align chakras after travel. Crystal quartz is used throughout the experience to “amplify healing and restoration” that is thrown off sync by air travel. The session includes accompaniment by Tibetan Singing Bowls to improve circulation and contrast therapy in steam and ice rooms to wake up the body.

In order to ease into the Japanese time zone, the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo offers two options: The jet-lag reviver for those who land in the day or the sleep enhancer for those who need help settling down at night. The hour-long massages help rebalance internal clocks with aromatherapy and massage techniques to eliminate muscle tension. The spa also offers an Immune Recovery massage with steam inhalation for those who are prone to picking up colds while traveling.