How Melatonin Can Help You Sleep and Feel Better?

The stars were shining bright in the sky, the clock was ticking rhythmically, and a light breeze blew through the window as you tossed and turned in bed.

Everything was engulfed in calmness and peace, yet, there was something missing.

It had been hours, and still, there hadn’t been a wink of sleep!

Does this remind you of your frequent struggle at night? 

If yes! Then don’t worry, we’ve got it sorted for you.

In this post, we are going to talk about melatonin, an essential hormone that dictates whether your body should sleep or not.

Let’s find out does melatonin work and can it help you sleep and feel better! 

📎 What is Melatonin? And How Does the Sleeping Aid Melatonin Work??
📎 Melatonin and how it works?
📎 Is Melatonin Safe?
📎 Does Melatonin Work for Everyone?
📎 What Dose of Melatonin Should I Take?
📎 What are the Side Effects of Melatonin?
📎Summary

Melatonin is a sleep hormone produced in your pineal gland, which is present in the hypothalamus, a region of your brain that releases hormones.

It regularizes your body’s internal clock, medically termed as the circadian rhythm, which tells it when to sleep and when to wake up.

If you want to learn more about this hormone, then hop on to everything you need to know about melatonin.

Naturally, our body only produces 0.2 mg of melatonin throughout the day, which, in most cases, isn’t enough for our hectic lives.

This is where the supplements come into play.

They can be consumed in different quantities to improve the functioning of the circadian rhythm. The optimum dosage is discussed later in the post.

Melatonin is a sleep hormone produced naturally in your pineal gland, which is present in the hypothalamus gland, a hormone-releasing region of your brain.

Once produced it secreted to the blood stream, sending signals to other distant organs of your body.

It regularizes your body’s internal clock, known medically as the circadian rhythm, which tells your body when to sleep and when to wake up.

A relatively dim light suppresses melatonin secretion at night when pupils are dilated.

This is why excessive exposure to electronic devices before bedtime can impair melatonin secretion.

Interfering with natural darkness or melatonin production throws off your sleep-wake cycle, also known as your circadian clock.

The circadian clock, on the other hand, is not only the cause of your sleep disorder.

It could be due to other known health issues that are interfering with your sleep and causing your sleep problems.

It is always advisable to consult sleep expert if you want to learn more about the underlying cause of your sleep problem.

In addition to that, melatonin is not only naturally produced in our brain but it also comes from synthetically made capsules or gummies and from the food you eat.

Melatonin supplements are often recommended as a short-term supplement to fix Insomnia.

It is also best known for its efficacy for “time zone change syndrome” also known as jetlag.

There are also cases where it has been shown beneficial to weight loss, cardiac function, improvement of stroke, since it is a powerful source of antioxidant, it might help to decrease aging process, melatonin supplementation is also believed effective to improve symptoms of perimenopause or “menopause transition”, its also used to treat stomach ulcers and heartburn, melatonin supplement can also reduce the risk of eye problem, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and melatonin can provide relief to people suffering from tinnitus; however, there is no scientific evidence to support the long-term benefit.

Melatonin’s efficacy varies from person to person, but there are still randomized controlled trials and studies being conducted to prove the efficacy or safety of melatonin supplementation.

It is constantly and repeatedly reminding all consumers to consult their doctors.

Melatonin is generally regarded as safe, and it is available over-the-counter in most pharmacies and retail outlets in United States.

According to an article published by Insider in January 2021, quoted “American consumers spent $825,559,397 on melatonin supplements in 2020, representing a 42.6% year-over-year increase, according to Nielsen.”

For years, various countries, including the United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, Australia, and Canada, have prohibited the purchase of melatonin over-the-counter.

Melatonin, for example, can only be acquired with a doctor’s prescription in the United Kingdom and Australia, and it is often used to treat short-term sleep disorders.

Regardless of this alternative source of melatonin, keep in mind that you will still need a prescription from your doctor because it may not be appropriate for you.

In addition to that, because melatonin supplements are not officially recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you should read the label carefully because some ingredients might cause allergic reaction or any adverse effect in your body.

If you have any of the following problems, you should avoid using this supplement without consulting your doctor:

Warning: Consult a health specialist before purchasing melatonin as a health supplement for your children.

There isn’t’ much concrete evidence yet, that supports the efficacy of the melatonin to children, particularly for a long-term usage.

Unfortunately, the answer to does melatonin work for everyone is a no!

The main reason behind this is that melatonin pushes your brain to tell the body when it’s time to sleep or wake up; it doesn’t force it to fall asleep.

If you are not providing your body with the required conditions for your circadian rhythm to detect that it’s time to sleep, for instance, dimmed light, then no matter how much melatonin you consume, it’s not going to work.

The cases in which melatonin doesn’t work include:

It is most suitable for the following issues:

If you don’t lie in any of the above categories, then it’s best to consult your physicians before splurging on this supplement.

Even though melatonin mostly comes in the form of gummies or other such yummy treats, it isn’t candy, it’s a supplement, and thus, should be consumed in limited quantities.

The question is, what is the best dose?

If you don’t want to exacerbate your sleeping problems by contracting rebound insomnia, don’t take more than 10 milligrams of melatonin.

Studies suggest that overconsumption of this supplement leads to worsening of the situation.

We bet you don’t want to lose your money and already non-existent sleep!

If you want to get the most out of your melatonin, take 1-3 mg an hour before going to bed.

Likewise, ensure that your surroundings are conducive to sleep, i.e., dark and calm.

It is recommended that you take melatonin after eating for the best results.

Similar to any other supplement or medicine, melatonin also has few side effects, which, most of the times, depends upon the existing conditions or diseases of the consumer.

If you plan on taking it to improve your sleep, then you might end up with these:

If you want to use melatonin as a supplement to help you sleep better at night, make sure you don’t have any of the conditions listed above.

Take note of the dosages and do not exceed the safe dose.

Read and double-check the label or instructions carefully.

Do not pretend to be a doctor for yourself. If your symptoms persist, contact your doctor right away.