What's Behind the Jet Lag?

While all energies flow throughout the body at all times, there are periods when certain energies are stronger than at other times. As is true of the five energetic seasons and with the cycle of life (as with the five 15-year cycles), it is also the case every day since every two hours one of the energies become more active within your body.

The cycle repeats itself every twenty four hours. This is called the diurnal energy cycle.

There are five elements and each has a pair of organ meridians accounting for the energies of the ten organs. In addition, there are two other meridians, the heart constrictor (also called the pericardium) and the triple warmer, both of which belong to the Fire element.

Altogether they represent the twelve major energy meridians of the body. The energy flows within the meridians, but also from one meridian to another creating an endless loop.

Of course, the flow has a set pathway and increases its activity according to a set sequence and time frame which goes as follows:

1. 1-3 am: liver energy

2. 3-5 am: lung energy

3. 5-7 am: large intestine energy

4. 7-9 am: stomach energy

5. 9-11 am: spleen energy (also pancreas for its organic function)

6. 11 am-1 pm: heart energy

7. 1-3 pm: small intestine energy

8. 3-5 pm: kidney energy

9. 5-7 pm: bladder energy

10. 7-9 pm: heart constrictor (pericardium) energy

11. 9-11 pm: triple warmer energy

12. 11 pm-1 am: gallbladder energy

This realization has led some doctors to recommend taking medicine for certain organs during the peak of their energetic activity. This is called chronotherapy (from the Greek chronos meaning time). Chronotherapy has found a certain degree of recognition by medical doctors in the West.

This phenomenon also explains why travelers going through several time zones in a short time suffer from jet lag. It does not have as much to do with the plane as it does with the fact that the process forces the body to alter the time frame of its energetic flow in order to adapt to new time zones.

The more a traveler suffers from energetic blockages, the more difficult it will be for the body to make a prompt adjustment. For this reason, travelers going from east to west or vice versa over several time zones, should plan on an energy balancing session before taking a long flight and also before tackling major tasks once arrived at their destination.

It makes particularly good sense to work on the energies that have been affected, given the time frame of the travel.