Melatonin for sleep well, benefits and side effects
What is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. As a food supplement, it helps you sleep well naturally by improving your biological sleep cycle, (regulating the body’s circadian rhythm) – the natural sleep-wake cycle.
- It is a dietary supplement with widespread popularity and positive reputation.
- It is used not only as a natural sleep aid; but also has positive effects on other aspects of health.
- It’s available worldwide as an over-the-counter medication, (OTC).
Melatonin health benefits
Improving Sleep, Reducing Stress, and More. Many Ways Melatonin Benefits Your Health
It has many health benefits. In addition to its role regulating the biological clock and improving sleep, it can also be used to lose weight, treat migraines, and help boost the thyroid gland function. Among its many benefits are the following.
1) Helps detect pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
They are symptoms that occur before the menstrual period that have bad effects on the couple. It is one of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, that it has a negative effect on the brain, and it may affect sleep quality. Lack of melatonin may lead to a severe type of this condition.
2) It can delay aging
A study on animals in Paris showed that melatonin slows the signs of aging for up to three months. Thus, taking melatonin supplements can play a role in delaying aging.
3) It reduces the incidence of diabetes
Studies have found that low levels of melatonin are linked to diabetes. It was found that people with low levels of melatonin are more likely to develop diabetes, unlike those with normal levels.
4) Migraine pain treatment
Migraine patients have difficulty to get enough good sleep. Melatonin deficiency causes severe migraines pain. So, melatonin intake can relieve the condition significantly.
5) Activates the thyroid gland
Hypothyroidism is a common health problem, causing obesity, joint pain, and heart complications. In studies conducted on women with an underactive thyroid gland, a significant improvement in thyroid activity was found.
Summary of benefits:
- Powerful antioxidants and Anti-Aging
- Helps promote good quality of sleep
- Helps relieve insomnia and other sleep problems
- Non-addicting, non-drug, and all natural
- Helps you with Your Sluggish Thyroid
- Can be as Cancer Prevention and Therapy
Melatonin side effects
I can say that, in general, it is safe if you use it for a short period to help you with sleep. It does make you dependent or addict. While other sleeping pills cause dependance or addiction. So, this is a great advantage! But nothing is 10% without side effects. Melatonin has some side effects and may interact with some medications. The most common side effects include Headache, Dizziness, Nausea, Drowsiness.
Uncommon side effects include feelings of depression, mild tremor, mild anxiety, abdominal cramps, irritability, confusion or disorientation. In addition, melatonin supplements can interact with other medications such as:
- Anticoagulants and anti-platelet drugs
- Anticonvulsants
- Contraceptive drugs
- Diabetes medications
- Medications that suppress the immune system (immunosuppressants)
Melatonin uses
It functions by maintaining your circadian cycle, treating jet lag, keeping the sleep-wake cycle constant for people with shift-work disorder (work schedule changes), and to help blind people establish a normal day and night rhythm. Other common uses of melatonin include:
Treating insomnia and rapid eye movement sleep behavior (RBD), this is often used to treat the same quite effectively.
Sleep disorders in children with developmental complications, such as autism and other cognitive disabilities. If your child is experiencing similar disorders, then you need to consult a pediatrician and find out if using melatonin can help with your child. If the pediatrician agrees with you, then you can go ahead and give your kid some melatonin supplement.
Insomnia linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), if you are experiencing insomnia as a result of your ADHD disorder, then you need to consult your physician and find out if taking melatonin can help you sleep better.
Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), this syndrome is more as a result of stress, and with a medical consult, you can take up melatonin to make sure that you are able to relax and go to sleep right away.
Insomnia due to beta blockers that treat high blood pressure, you can also use melatonin to offset the insomnia caused by the beta blockers you are currently taking. Consult your doctor right away to find out more about this hormone.
SUMMARY
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle. As a supplement, it can help to solve your sleep disorders like insomnia. The good news it does not cause addiction or make you dependent using it. Also, it doesn’t prescription, it is an OTC. To purchase its supplement, you have to buy from a reputable manufacturer with long positive history in the market. It’s available as a networking product, that is of high quality, but very expensive compared to that sold in the stores.
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