Ins and Outs about Aid Melatonin Supplements

Melatonin is an all natural sleep aid. Pineal gland, which is a small pea size gland in the center of the brain, secretes melatonin, as our eyes register the fall of darkness.

At night melatonin is produced to assist our bodies regulate our sleep and wake cycles.

As we age, the amount of melatonin produced by our body lessens. Scientists believe this may be the reason why young people have less of a problem sleeping than older people will.

Though we create our own melatonin, this can also be bought in the form of supplements.

It is believed that without any hazards or side effects of prescription and over the counter sleeping pills, melatonin supplements make it easier sleep and ease jet lag.

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.

Melatonin as Anti-oxidant

At present, research is being performed to also determine melatonin’s effect as an anti-oxidant. Because there is much still to be learned about melatonin and its effects on the human body, tests are still being done now.

Nowadays, many children who have been diagnosed with hyperactivity or autism are offered with melatonin by their parents. Some parents claim the effects of the melatonin has calmed and relaxed anxiety ridden children.

While this may be true for some children, it’s not the answer for everyone. Before starting any supplement programs with your child check with your pediatrician.

Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that can easily cross cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier according to wikipedia.com. Melatonin, unlike other antioxidants does not undergo redox cycling which is the ability of a molecule to undergo reduction and oxidation repeatedly.

Other antioxidants, such as vitamin C due to redox cycling act as pro-oxidants, and counter intuitively promoting free radical formation.

Melatonin cannot be reduced to its former state once oxidized because it forms several stable end-products upon reacting with free radicals. Thus, it has been referred to as a terminal antioxidant.

Testing the Effect of Melatonin Supplements

Trying the Melatonin supplements is the only real way to test the effects of the supplements. You can buy melatonin at most drug stores, health stores, and just about any store that sells vitamins.

You will want to look into exactly why you feel the need for this particular supplement before purchasing any supplements. Is your lack of sleep just temporary?

Has this been going on for a period of time? Before considering a melatonin supplement as a cure all it is best to speak to a physician about your problem with sleeping to rule out any serious problems.

Other Side of the Spectrum

Some will argue the other side of the spectrum: Talk to a physician, preferably one who’s not selling melatonin if you are taking, or thinking of taking, melatonin.

Having your levels of natural melatonin measured won’t tell you anything, since levels vary from person to person and from hour to hour.

Body’s own production of the hormone, may be suppressed with the chronic use of melatonin supplements.

Nobody knows what might happen if you have high natural levels and take a supplement on top of that. Melatonin can interact with other hormones, for this reason, pregnant women and children should never take it.

Melatonin levels can get affected with drugs such as aspirin, beta blockers, and tranquilizers. Lastly, no one knows exactly about the best dosages to take. Melatonin pills are not standardized. Thus, you really don’t know what you’re swallowing.

Melatonin, like many herbal remedies is not regulated by the FDA. The only way to know if it works for you is to try it. For some, it works and for others it does not. Talk to your doctor.

The two of you should be able to come up with a plan to see whether melatonin appropriate for you or not. If it is not, your doctor can prescribe a sleeping medication that will be right with your body chemistry.

Let’s face it, not all bodies are created equal, so no one pill will work for everyone. The best way to get a great nights sleep is talking with your doctor and experimenting with different ideas.

You may have to try several different things before you get it right, but you and your doctor will find what works best for you.