Most of us have experienced trouble sleeping at one time or another. This is normal and usually temporary, due to untimely food habits, stress or other outside factors. But if sleep problems are a regular occurrence and interfere then we take many supplements. Sleep disorders cause more than just sleepiness. The lack of quality sleep can have a negative impact on our energy, emotional balance, and health. This melatonin is effective in improving sleep. People use melatonin to adjust the body's internal clock. It is used for jet lag, for adjusting sleep-wake cycles in people whose daily work schedule changes (shift-work disorder), and for helping blind people establish a day and night cycle.
Melatonin helps promote a tranquil sleep so you can awaken refreshed and revitalized Melatonin helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Melatonin:
Melatonin is a natural hormone made by our body's pineal gland. This is a pea-sized gland located just above the middle of the brain. During the day the pineal is inactive. When the sun goes down and darkness occurs, the pineal is "turned on" by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and begins to actively produce melatonin, which is released into the blood. Usually, this occurs around 9 pm. As a result, melatonin levels in the blood rise sharply and you begin to feel less alert. Sleep becomes more inviting. Melatonin levels in the blood stay elevated for about 12 hours - all through the night - before the light of a new day when they fall back to low daytime levels by about 9 am. Daytime levels of melatonin are barely detectable.
Besides adjusting the timing of the clock, bright light has another effect. It directly inhibits the release of melatonin. That is why melatonin is sometimes called the "Dracula of hormones" - it only comes out in the dark. Even if the pineal gland is switched "on" by the clock, it will not produce melatonin unless the person is in a dimly lit environment. In addition to sunlight, artificial indoor lighting can be bright enough to prevent the release of melatonin.
Uses:
Melatonin is used to treat insomnia. But there are two ways that you can use it. The first is as a sedative, to make you feel sleepy. This is the most common use. The second is to help reset your internal body clock to a different time in conditions where it is out of synchrony with time of day, such as with jet lag or advanced or delayed sleep phase syndrome. In these cases melatonin therapy at night is often combined with Bright Light Therapy, applied in the morning (usually using outdoor light) in the case of jet lag or delayed sleep phase syndrome or in the evening (using special lights) in the case of advanced sleep phase syndrome.
Melatonin is a powerful and versatile antioxidant produced within the body. Melatonin protects both lipids and proteins against damage, and can scavenge some of the most dangerous free radicals in the body—including hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. Unlike other antioxidants, melatonin easily diffuses into all cells, and even crosses the blood-brain barrier to protect the delicate brain.
Indications:
This formula has been formulated to provide:
- Treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Helping to control sleep patterns for people who work night shifts
- Preventing or reducing problems with sleeping and confusion after surgery
- Reducing chronic cluster headaches
- Strengthening your immune system
- Manage Migraine
- Helps in managing one of the leading risk factors for stroke—elevated blood pressure
- It's a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger that helps combat inflammation
- Insomnia
- Occasional sleeplessness
- Jet lag
- Anyone who wishes to improve the quality of their sleep and want to wake up refreshed & revitalized
- Sunburn
- Melatonin can make the skin white and can regulate endocrine; eliminate dark spots, pigmentation age spots, melasma, pregnancy spots and pigmentaion caused by sun radiation
- The supplement may help in alertness, movement coordination, daytime sleepiness, and tiredness
Mechanism of action:
Melatonin's main job in the body is to regulate night and day cycles or sleep-wake cycles. Darkness causes the body to produce more melatonin, which signals the body to prepare for sleep. Light decreases melatonin production and signals the body to prepare for being awake. Some people who have trouble sleeping have low levels of melatonin. It is thought that adding melatonin from supplements might help them sleep and also regulating their body clock.
Side Effects:
- Sleepiness
- Lower body temperature
- Vivid dreams
- Morning grogginess
- Small changes in blood pressure
Special Precautions & Warnings:
- Use cautiously in people who have or are at risk of changes in hormone levels, eye disorders, frequently feeling cold, genital or urinary disorders (including children with a history of bedwetting), heart disease, hyperactivity, immune disorders, inflammatory disorders, mental disorders, muscle control problems, nervous system disorders, seizures, skin disorders, and stomach and intestinal problems
- Use cautiously in people taking agents that affect the immune system, anti-inflammatory agents, or hormonal agents
- Use cautiously in breastfeeding women, due to a lack of safety information
- Avoid in women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Melatonin may decrease sex drive, increase the risk of developmental disorders, and reduce ovarian function
- Avoid in people with known allergy or sensitivity to melatonin or related products
Storage:
Store in a cool, dry & dark place. Protected from direct sunlight.