Melatonin is considered the “hormone of darkness,” and for good reason.
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland of the brain that is responsible for a number of important biological functions. The primary responsibility of melatonin is to regulate sleep-wake cycles. The production of melatonin signals sleep to the brain and body at night.
The levels of melatonin throughout the day fluctuate. During the day, melatonin is inhibited by light. The secretion of melatonin increases in the dark and at night, triggering drowsiness. Figuratively speaking, melatonin can be considered a biological clock because it helps induce sleep and helps you wake up.
As people get older melatonin production begins to decrease. As such, sleep quality and sleep duration begin to decline. With so many sleep maintenance difficulties, the use of melatonin as an addition in sleep supplement formulas became popular.
By supplementing melatonin people are able to naturally increase melatonin levels in the brain to onset the sleep cycle without prescription medications. Taking melatonin encourages better sleep and can even help reestablish better sleeping patterns.
There are a number of clinical trials that have reported that melatonin is effective in reducing the time it takes to fall asleep, increasing sleep duration, and helping people wake up refreshed and alert.
The right dose of melatonin for better sleep is undetermined. There are several different studies that suggest the right concentration of melatonin in a sleep aid is somewhere between 0.3 mg and 3 mg.
Finding the right balance of melatonin for your personal benefit is important. Taking large doses of melatonin on a regular basis can actually be counterproductive. Too much melatonin can cause insomnia rather than treat insomnia.
Getting a good night’s rest is mostly dependent on the hormone melatonin. There are countless sleep supplements that are melatonin-based. If you are considering supplementing melatonin for extended periods of time, consulting with a doctor would be beneficial.