Vacations, weekend getaways and business trips can be great – but they can also throw the body out of balance. Many experience travel fatigue, sleep problems and restlessness in the body, both during and after the trip. It can be difficult to fall asleep, and even more difficult to wake up refreshed and rested.
In this article we dive into:
- What travel fatigue really is
- Why travel days affect your sleep
- How ear acupuncture and relaxation massage can help the body return to calm and balance
What is travel fatigue?
Travel fatigue is not the same as jet lag. You can easily experience fatigue and restlessness in your body even if you haven't crossed time zones.
Typical causes of travel fatigue:
- Long hours in the car, train or plane
- Changes in routines and diet
- Many new impressions and stimuli
- Lack of sleep or disrupted circadian rhythm
- Poor night's sleep at a hotel or in a summer house
All of which can stress the nervous system and disrupt the body's natural rhythms.
Sleep problems after vacation and travel
When you return home, you should feel fresh and well-rested – but many people experience the opposite. Sleep problems are a common consequence of travel fatigue. You feel restless, have difficulty falling asleep and may sleep lightly or wake up several times during the night.
This may be due to, among other things:
- Overstimulation and mind racing
-
Muscle tension and inner turmoil
- Disturbed melatonin production
- Increased stress in the body after the logistics and planning of the trip
Ear acupuncture – calming and balancing
Ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) is a form of treatment where small, sterile needles are inserted into specific points in the ear that correspond to organs, hormones, and the nervous system. It may sound simple, but it is incredibly effective.
For sleep problems and travel fatigue, we work with points that:
- Suppresses activity in the sympathetic nervous system
- Stimulates the production of melatonin (sleep hormone)
- Relieves tension and anxiety
- Gives the body a signal to “let go” and calm down
The treatment is gentle and takes place in a relaxed atmosphere. Many clients almost fall asleep during the treatment – and notice a positive effect the same evening.
Relaxation massage – release tension and regain calm
While ear acupuncture works with the body's internal system, relaxation massage with the physical and mental tension that has accumulated in the body.
Relaxation massage differs from sports and deep massage by being gentle, calm and flowing in its movements. It's not about "working hard", but about activating the parasympathetic nervous system - the system that controls rest and digestion.
Massage helps you to:
- Slowing down heart rate and breathing
- Reduce cortisol levels (stress hormone)
- Relax the body physically
- Increase the feeling of security and calmness
The treatment can be targeted at the neck/shoulders, face and feet, where many people experience tension after travelling – or given as a full body massage depending on need.
The combination – a holistic approach
When you combine ear acupuncture with relaxation massage, we work on both from the inside and outside with your nervous system, your body's stress level and your sleep pattern. The treatment is of course individually adapted and typically lasts 60 minutes.
Many clients experience:
- Improved sleep the same night
- Calm in head and body
- Less clutter
- Renewed energy and clarity the next day
Book an appointment and relax your body
You don't have to walk around feeling like you're in "travel mode" for days after you get home. At the Health & Sports Clinic in Lyngby, we offer treatments that help you get back into your body - and into a good night's sleep again.
