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Melatonin – Natural Sleep Aid
By fthomas | May 12, 2009
Melatonin or 5-methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine is a natural sleep aid that happens in the human body. It is secreted by the pineal gland, which located in the center of our brain, to assist the body regulate the sleep-wake cycle.
Darkness stirs up the discharge of melatonin and light represses its action in the nervous system. The pineal gland is able to produce melatonin for the rest of our lives, but scientists have examined data which indicates that the production of melatonin decelerates as we age. That is why younger people are less likely to have problems with sleeping than older people.
In addition to happening naturally in our body, melatonin has also been produced in the laboratory and is available in drug and health foods stores in the U.S. without the need of a prescription; however, it is not regulated by any government bureau.
Since it is included naturally in several foods, the U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 permits it to be sold as a natural sleep aid which do not require the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or controlled unlike medicines. On the other hand, given that melatonin products have not been permitted by the FDA, their effectiveness, purity and safety cannot be assured.
Melatonin has been utilized effectively in the treatment of numerous sleep-related illnesses. It is mainly efficient in curing delayed sleep-stage ailments and has also been extremely helpful in curing and preventing let lag and insomnia caused by jet lags.
The appropriate dose differs significantly from one person to another. Medicines are available in a variety of doses (usually from 1 mg to 3 mg). It is normally recommended to start with a small dosage (about 1 mg) and increase to higher dosages if needed.
Melatonin must only be taken at night, roughly 30 minutes before going to sleep for it to be more effective. When traveling, in order to counter the effects of jet lag, take a dose before taking the flight and a higher dose before sleeping.
If you typically sleep at night, melatonin must not be taken in the morning and vice versa due to the role of melatonin in adjusting the internal clock of the body.
When considering about utilizing melatonin as a natural sleep aid, there are some issues that every person must be conscious of. First, though it is available without the need of a prescription and has been used for more than a few years without cases of serious side effects, the use of melatonin has not yet been verified to be safe by the FDA. Other concern is the lack of information about the interaction of melatonin with other medicines.
Melatonin is a natural sleep aid, but can only be used by adults and not by children, young people, lactating or pregnant women. If you have diabetes, epilepsy, leukemia, auto-immune disease or a lymph proliferative disorder or are taking an MAO inhibitor, talk to your doctor first before taking this product.
Topics: insomnia cures, sleep aids |