A brain hormone called melatonin appears to remedy jet lag for as long as 10 days after lengthy flights, a controlled study concluded.
But travelers probably will have to wait years before they can take the hormone to relieve the fatigue and impaired sleep suffered after flights through several time zones. And no one knows whether prolonged use of the hormone can cause ill effects.
Jet lag afflicts 94% of long-distance travelers, according to a recent survey.... People fight it in various waysalcohol avoidance, naps, special diets and sleeping pillswith varying degrees of success.
The latest research on melatonin's benefits [was] reported in [the March 18, 1989,] issue of the British Medical Journal.