About Melatonin and Sleep

What do you know about Melatonin and sleep?

Find the answers to these questions and more right here. Read on to find out more about the relationship between Melatonin and sleep ....

What is Melatonin?

This gland releases Melatonin in response to the light/dark cycle of day and night. It begins to secrete Melatonin during the late afternoon/early evening hours, reaching peak levels between 2 and 4am.

As it starts to get light in the morning, the Pineal Gland is programmed to suppress production, and Melatonin levels fall, encouraging the brain to become alert and 'wake up'.

Looking at this natural sleep/wake cycle, you can see why setting up a regular sleep/wake routine, sleeping in a darkened room, and getting a good dose of bright natural light first thing in the morning are so important to getting a good nights' sleep!

Melatonin and Sleep Disorders

Melatonin is available as a dietary supplement in the US, and there are two different forms of the hormone - Natural and Synthetic.

Interestingly, this is one of the occasions, where natural doesn't equate with 'safer' or 'better'! Natural Melatonin may contain some animal parts, which could be dangerous for humans and it is only recommended that you purchase/use Synthetic (also called man-made or pharmacy-grade) Melatonin.

Because of the way the production of Melatonin and sleep are connected, it's better suited for treating certain sleep disorders, rather than being that 'magic sleep drug' that works like a charm.

So, although this hormone can be helpful in some cases, and for some particular/specific sleep disorders, Melatonin and insomnia aren't necessarily a 'match made in heaven'. If your insomnia is caused by an 'out-of-whack' body clock due to shift work, time-zone changes and so on, then taking a Melatonin supplement before bed could make nodding off that much easier.

But if stress, anxiety, too much caffeine, pain (or any number of other reasons) are at the root of your insomnia, Melatonin isn't likely to be the answer you've been looking for.

Research undertaken at the Divisions of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and at Harvard Medical School, have shown that taking Melatonin can be an effective way to improve the ability to fall asleep, and the quality of that sleep - particularly in night workers, shift workers, people suffering from jet lag, and those who suffer from Advanced Sleep-phase Syndrome or Delayed Sleep-Phase Syndrome.

Studies are also being done to find out how useful Melatonin may be in treating other problems such as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), the treatment of sleep difficulties experienced by blind people, sleep problems in the elderly (your body's production of melatonin decreases with age), some age-related disorders such as Alzheimers Disease, Chronic 'cluster headaches' and even the potential for it to be used to treat some cancers, or improve immune system function.

If you're having trouble sleeping and want to see if increasing your Melatonin levels might help, check out a natural sleep aid called Oxy Sleep. It's a blend of Melatonin and other natural herbal ingredients designed to help you relax, and fall asleep quickly and easily.

You'll wake up feeling refreshed, and won't suffer from any of that annoying 'hung-over' or groggy feeling you can get from some other sleep aids either. Give it a try and you're better night's sleep could be just around the corner :o)

Is Melatonin safe?

The synthetic form of Melatonin is much 'safer' than the natural version which can contain animal contaminants that are dangerous to humans.

In terms of melatonin and sleep, research so far has indicated that when taken in small amounts (an adult dosage being anywhere from .5mg to 20mg depending on the condition it is being used to treat), and about 30 mins to an hour before bedtime, it rarely has any ill effects.

Some people may feel drowsy or 'hung over' the next day and it may cause you to dream more often, or more vividly though. Other side effects could include headaches, dizziness, digestive system problems (such as nausea or vomiting), a decrease in body temperature and changes in blood flow resulting in a drop or increase in blood pressure.

For this reason there are certain precautions and contra-indications to consider when looking at the relationship between Melatonin and sleep.

• Always talk to your doctor or health professional BEFORE taking any OTC medication or supplement. This is especially important for children, women trying to conceive, pregnant women or mothers who are breast-feeding.


• Don't drive or operate machinery while taking Melatonin until you know how it affects you.


• Don't take Melatonin if you suffer from mental illness, auto-immune conditions or have a compromised immune system, severe allergies, diabetes or leukemia.


• Avoid Melatonin if you are taking blood-thinning medications (warfarin) or Aspirin, or anti-seizure, heart or blood pressure medications.

If you're a shift worker or travel extensively and think you could benefit from taking Melatonin, talk to your doctor about before you go out and buy some!

It's always important to let your doctor know if you plan to start taking an OTC medication/natural product/dietary supplement, and always follow his advice on the subject.

Also, if you experience any side effects when taking Melatonin, let your doctor know right away.

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