Column March 14, 2025
Overseas Trips and Jet Lag — Quick Recovery with Gongjindan
Hyo-seop Kim
Chief Director
Table of Contents
How jet lag affects the body
When the time difference exceeds 5 hours, the body's circadian rhythm is disrupted. Sleep-wake cycles, body temperature regulation, hormone secretion, and digestion all become irregular, accompanied by severe fatigue, headaches, indigestion, and decreased focus.
Why Gongjindan is effective for jet lag
- Opening-the-orifices action of musk (Moschus, 麝香): Rapidly promotes cerebral circulation, improving headache and mental fog
- Adaptogenic effect of deer antler (Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum, 鹿茸): Enhances the body's adaptability to stress and helps reset the circadian rhythm
- Liver-kidney tonification (肝腎補) by Angelica gigas root and Cornus officinalis fruit: Stabilizes liver and kidney function, accelerating the recovery of sleep rhythm
Dosage guide before and after travel
Start taking one pill per day from 3 days before departure, and continue for 3 to 5 days after arrival. Eastward travel (Korea → the Americas) is harder to adapt to than westward travel, so pay extra attention when traveling east.
Helpful jet lag-beating habits
- Switch your meal and sleep schedule to the destination time immediately upon arrival
- Get at least 30 minutes of natural light in the morning of the first day (resets melatonin)
- Limit caffeine to before 2 p.m. local time