Melatonin in Sleepatil
Categories: Nervous System
Symptom: Sleeplessness/Insomnia, Anxiety, Fatigue, Nervousness, Stress
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What it is:Melatonin is the all-natural nightcap. It's secreted by the pineal gland, a pea-size structure at the center of the brain, as our eyes register the fall of darkness. At night this hormone is produced to help our bodies regulate our sleep-wake cycles. The amount produced by our body seems to lessen as we get older. Scientists believe this may be why young people have less problem sleeping than older people.
There are two types of this substance. The first is a Natural, animal, or bovine grade melatonin which contains the actual extracts of the pineal gland. Because it comes from animal tissue, this grade may be accompanied by viruses or proteins that could cause an antibody response. We highly recommend that people stay away from it. The alternative is synthetic or pharmacy grade, which is produced from pharmaceutical grade ingredients. This form is molecularly identical to the one we produce in our own bodies, without unwanted extras.
Uses: Studies suggest that supplements can hasten sleep and ease jet lag, without the hazards or side effects of prescription sleeping pills. Melatonin may have many other uses and has been reported to make people feel better, strengthen the immune system, and reduce free radicals in the body. Current research is underway to determine its effect as an anti-oxidant, immno-modulator in cancer, delayed sleep-phase disorders, and jet lag. Tests are still under way so there is much to still be learned about this substance and its effects on the human body.
It should only be taken at nighttime, usually about thirty minutes prior to going to bed. If you are traveling on a long trip you may want to take a dosage prior to getting on your flight and a higher dosage pill prior to going to bed. If you commonly sleep during the night, melatonin should not normally be taken during the day - and vice versa - because it plays a role in setting the body's daily clock. You should normally wake up well refreshed and full of energy. If you wake up feeling a little tired you should reduce your dosage until you wake up feeling well refreshed. You will not have the hangover effect you may experience with over the counter or prescription sleeping pills.
Additional benefits:In test-tube and animal experiments, researchers have found that it protects cells, strengthens the immune system and slows the growth of some tumors. Tests with laboratory mice suggest that melatonin might also reduce the effects of aging - but remember, these results are very preliminary. Some experts are appalled to see so many people toying with such a potent hormone. One concern is that high doses, while causing no immediate harm, could have unknown long-term effects. Even one milligram is at least three times higher than the normal amount in the body.
When to avoid use: Yes. "Those include women who are pregnant or nursing (since no one knows how excessive exposure to the hormone might affect a fetus or infant); people with severe allergies or autoimmune diseases (it could exacerbate such conditions by stimulating the immune system); people with immune-system cancers such as lymphoma or leukemia (for the same reason), and healthy children (who already produce it in abundance). Women trying to conceive should also think twice about taking the hormone, since high doses can act as a contraceptive". As with any substance introduced into your body, if you have a medical condition you should always consult your physician first before taking it.
Scientific Studies: There are no human studies to support this contention. In tests on both rats and mice melatonin caused a significant 20% increase in their lifespan. If this hormone does allow you to live longer and healthier it could do so because it may reduce free radical damage; stimulate an aging immune system; protect the cardiovascular system; preserve a youthful circadian rhythm; stimulate the production of growth hormone. A 1995 rodent study suggests that taking small amounts of melatonin on a regular basis may prevent the age-related decline in testosterone levels, allowing men to be more active sexually in their later years.
Safety Issues: It is one of the least toxic substances known. People have taken as much as 6 grams (600 to 3000 times the normal dosage) of the substance in carefully monitored studies with no sign of toxicity. Only four complaints regarding melatonin have been report to the FDA (USA's Food and Drug Administration). The only consistent side effect of high doses has been drowsiness and a slower reaction time. In the most extensive clinical trial to date a high dose of 75 milligrams of this substance per day was given to 1400 women in the Netherlands for up to four years with no ill effects. The FDA reports that in the more than two years it has been available for sale over-the-counter in the United States, no alarming side effects have been reported.
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