Sleep Solutions: Melatonin For the Sleep Deprived
Funny thing. Should somebody ask me what I need now, I’d have to say something to insure I get good night’s sleep. And I’ve heard melatonin would do the trick.
Weird, isn’t it? More often than not, it’s only riches, good fortune and such that everybody’s after. Now why of all things this request for melatonin?
Well, here’s why. Downing a dose of the brain hormone melatonin can quickly take you to slumber-land and can keep you there. It my also offer a ray of hope for insomniacs which explains why lots of study is being done on this hormone.
Now I mentioned it is a brain hormone. Problem is as we age there is decrease in the levels of this hormone coursing through our bodies at night. Which makes it harder and harder for us to fall asleep easily. Because even if the amount of melatonin produced by the pineal gland drops just a bit, your sleep cycle can get out of whack in a hurry..
Fortunately, Nature has tuned our bodies to generate melatonin while we sleep. Catch up with your sleep and you can make up for any shortfall in your melatonin level. But it’s just not quite simple. It’s like the chicken and egg story here. Enough sleep is necessary to generate melatonin and melatonin is required to fall asleep. Is there a way out?
The good news is melatonin supplements can help you catch up with your lost sleep and also top off your melatonin levels. They may be a way to remedy many sleep disorders besides dealing with jetlag or those living the life of a swing shift worker.
For years adapting to different time zones or working changing shifts has been made easier by even a smallish dose of melatonin supplements. Which won’t leave you waking up dull and drowsy – but mentally ready for anything the day may present.
Another advantage of melatonin is that there are no lingering effects after you stop using it.
Yet this supplement is not regulated as a drug by the FDA. So it lacks FDA approval and there is no proof that it really works and is safe. In fact some report that too much melatonin can cause headaches, depression, grogginess and nausea. Others complain of extremely vivid and bothersome dreams.
That lack of FDA oversight means you can’t necessarily count on the quality of ingredients found in any bottle of this supplement either.
And for best results, you shouldn’t consume alcohol or take other medications with melatonin. Because this can impact how your prescription drugs work.
So, what’s the verdict? Melatonin is useful as an over-the-counter sleep aid. You can use it to counteract jet lag and other minor upsets in your sleep routine. But for more serious sleep problems it’s best to consult your doctor and get to the root cause. As a permanent solution is always better than a quick fix.
And for those with questions about surgical treatment for sleep apnea, its pros and cons, plus other ways to be rid of symptoms of severe sleep apnea click on over to Less-Snoring.com. If you liked this article on melatonin you’ll love reading the advice on snoring, sleep disorders, even coping with jet lag to be found there.
Related posts:
