Supporting the Body’s Natural Rhythms: Beating Jet Lag with Adrenal Re – Bioray

Stephanie Ray, ND & Chinese Herbalist, BIORAY formulator & Mom

Fatigue, mental fog, irritability, disrupted sleep—these are common patient complaints after long-haul or multi–time zone travel. What we label jet lag is, at its core, the disruption of the circadian rhythm: the body’s internal clock struggling to realign with rapid shifts in light, time, and environment.

The Science Behind Jet Lag: Cortisol and the HPA Axis

Recent work in eastward travelers underscores how strongly air travel perturbs the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. In a study of 28 healthy adults flying from North America to Italy, salivary cortisol was measured before and after long-haul flights. Post-travel, cortisol rhythms were delayed and desynchronized:

Nighttime cortisol levels were significantly elevated versus baseline
Morning cortisol was blunted and shifted later

Clinically, this presents as the classic “wired at night, flat in the morning” pattern—poor sleep quality, irritability, reduced alertness, and decreased stress tolerance. In other words, the HPA axis remains “entrained” to the departure time zone.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, this maps well onto temporary disturbance of Kidney and Lung systems—the root of vitality and adaptive capacity. When the dynamic between Yin and Yang (rest vs. activity) is disrupted, patients lose resilience and have a harder time re-establishing internal harmony after travel.

Nourishing Resilience with Adrenal Recharge®

For patients presenting with anxiousness, fatigue, mental fog, and stress reactivity around travel, Adrenal Recharge® can be a valuable tool in your clinical toolkit. Formulated to support both adrenal and lung function, it addresses two of the primary systems taxed by long flights, altered sleep/wake cycles, and environmental exposures.

By replenishing vital Qi (energy reserves) and supporting a more appropriate cortisol rhythm, Adrenal Recharge® also helps modulate the body’s histamine response, which can be an added benefit for patients prone to inflammatory or reactive presentations during travel.

Clinical and Traditional Benefits:

Relieves stress and exhaustion*
Supports lung and kidney systems*
Restores creative and physical energy*
Balances histamine response*
Excellent for mitigating detox and travel-related stress*
Ideal for patients in high-stress or high-demand environments*

Clinical Use Around Travel

In practice, I recommend introducing Adrenal Recharge® in their lemonade*, tea or water:

Pre-travel: Begin a few days before departure to build reserves and support rhythm stability.
During and post-travel: Continue through the period of time zone change and for several days after arrival (or return), especially for eastward flights or trips crossing ≥5 time zones.

For best outcomes, pair the formula with simple lifestyle guidance:

Good hydration and mineral-rich meals
Morning light exposure in the new time zone
Encouraging patients to listen to their bodies—rest when tired, move gently when restless

These small adjuncts help “re-train” the circadian system while Adrenal Recharge® supports the underlying adrenal and energetic resilience.

Key Takeaway for Practice

Jet lag is not just a sleep complaint; it’s a rhythm disorder involving the HPA axis and broader endocrine–energetic systems. By supporting adrenal function, Lung–Kidney dynamics, and circadian balance, Adrenal Recharge® can help your patients recover more quickly, think more clearly, and feel more grounded and resilient—no matter where they land.

*Adrenal Recharge® Lemonade Recipe

For patients — refreshing + supportive post-travel.
Recipe for one 8 oz glass: