The Health Benefits of Melatonin are More Than Just a Good Night’s Sleep!

Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant and vital to sleep and can reduce jet lag. But melatonin supports a lot more than normal sleep patterns, and the ability to function and think clearly. Scientists have discovered that it’s a powerful antioxidant that helps protect us from infection, inflammation, and autoimmunity. Additionally, the list of benefits of melatonin supplementation continues to grow.

Philosophers and mystics throughout time have referred to the pineal gland as the “third eye.” The French philosopher Descartes even declared that the pineal gland is the seat of the human soul. Because of its special location near the center of the brain, between the two hemispheres, some people still attribute a special power to the pineal gland and associate it with the sixth chakra (also called Ajna or the third eye chakra in yoga).

As it turns out, scientists now know that the pineal gland is a small endocrine gland about the size of a pea that, in addition to producing the hormone melatonin—which regulates our internal body clock and sleep cycle, is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light.¹

How does melatonin work?

Melatonin levels peak at about 2 a.m. in normal, healthy young people and about 3 a.m. in elderly people. The maximum amount of melatonin released in the bloodstream of the elderly is only half of that in young adults, which is why many scientists and health professionals believe that melatonin levels are a good marker of aging and longevity.

Melatonin levels are low during the day. At sunset, the cessation of light triggers neural signals, which stimulate the pineal gland to begin releasing melatonin. This rise continues for hours, eventually peaking around 2 a.m. (3 a.m. for the elderly), after which it steadily declines to minimal levels by morning. The delay in timing and decrease in intensity of the melatonin pulse is a result of the aging process. ²

Why does jet lag make you feel so lousy?

The melatonin pulse regulates many neuroendocrine functions. When the timing or intensity of the melatonin peak is disrupted—as in aging, stress, jet lag, working the night shift, or staying up all night—mental and physiological functions are adversely affected. And if you’ve ever been on a trans-continental flight, pulled an all-nighter, or worked the night shift, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Your mind doesn’t work as clearly as usual, you forget details and facts, you may feel irritable and have trouble making decisions—all because your biological clock isn’t ticking the way it normally does.

Work and other activities that disrupt the normal circadian cycle in a way similar to jet lag are said to cause “artificial jet lag.” But if you take melatonin in the evening (in the new time zone that you’ve traveled to, for instance) it will rapidly reset your biological clock and almost totally alleviate—or prevent—the symptoms of jet lag. The ability of melatonin to alleviate jet lag was demonstrated in a study of 17 people flying from San Francisco to London, eight time zones away. Eight of the subjects took 5 mg of melatonin, while nine subjects took a placebo. Those who took melatonin had almost no symptoms of jet lag. Six out of nine placebo subjects scored above 50 on the jet lag scale, and all of the melatonin subjects scored below.³ Most people sleep well with melatonin, and wake up the next day refreshed with no symptoms of jet lag ⁴ —although they may still have some fatigue from the wear and tear of traveling.

Whether you experience jet lag or artificial jet lag, studies show that if you take melatonin in a low dose before sleep, it increases your circulating melatonin levels to those normally observed at night, so that you can fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed.

Axelrod J. The pineal gland. Endeavour. 1970 Sep;29(108):144-8.

Dean, W., Morgenthaler, J. Fowkes, SW. Smart Drugs II: The Next Generation. Smart Publications, Petaluma, CA, 1993.

Leger D, Laudon M, Zisapel N. Nocturnal 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in insomnia and its relation to the response to melatonin replacement therapy. Am J Med. 2004 Jan 15;116(2):91-5.

Arendt J, Aldhous M and Marks V. Alleviation of jet-lag by melatonin: Preliminary results of controlled double-blind trial. Brit Med J. 1986: 292: 1170.

Zhdanova IV, Tucci V. Melatonin, Circadian Rhythms, and Sleep. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2003 May;5(3):225-229.

Arendt J. Melatonin and human rhythms. Chronobiol Int. 2006;23(1-2):21-37.

Carillo-Vico A, Reiter RJ, Lardone PJ, Herrera JL, Fernandez-Montesinos R, Guerrero JM, Pozo D.The modulatory role of melatonin on immune responsiveness. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2006 May;7(5):423-31.

Anisimov VN. Light pollution, reproductive function and cancer risk. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2006 Apr 25;27(1-2):35-52; [Epub ahead of print].

Anisimov VN, Popovich IG, Zabezhinski MA, Anisimov SV, Vesnushkin GM, Vinogradova IA. Melatonin as antioxidant, geroprotector and anticarcinogen. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Apr 17; [Epub ahead of print].

Regelson W., Pierpaoli W. Melatonin: a rediscovered antitumor hormone? Cancer Investig 5:379-385, 1987.

Pierpaoli W, Changxian VI and Dall’aza A. Aging: Postponing effect of circadian melatonin: Experimental evidence, significance and possible mechanism. InternJ Neuroscience 51:334-342, 1990.

Maestroni GJ, Conti A, Pierpaoli W. Pineal melatonin, its fundamental immuno-regulatory role in aging and cancer. Ann NY Acad Sci 521: 140-8, 1988.

Miller SC, Pandi PS, Esquifino AI, Cardinali DP, Maestroni GJ. The role of melatonin in immuno-enhancement: potential application in cancer. Int J Exp Pathol. 2006 Apr;87(2):81-7.

Poeggeler B. Melatonin, aging, and age-related diseases: perspectives for prevention, intervention, and therapy. Endocrine. 2005 Jul;27(2):201-12.

M. Karasek, R.J. Reiter: Melatonin and aging 2002; 23 (suppl 1):14-16 pii:NEL230702R03 PMID: Neuroendocrinology Letters (NEL).

Axelrod J. The pineal gland. Endeavour. 1970 Sep;29(108):144-8.

Dean, W., Morgenthaler, J. Fowkes, SW. Smart Drugs II: The Next Generation. Smart Publications, Petaluma, CA, 1993.

Leger D, Laudon M, Zisapel N. Nocturnal 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in insomnia and its relation to the response to melatonin replacement therapy. Am J Med. 2004 Jan 15;116(2):91-5.

Arendt J, Aldhous M and Marks V. Alleviation of jet-lag by melatonin: Preliminary results of controlled double-blind trial. Brit Med J. 1986: 292: 1170.

Zhdanova IV, Tucci V. Melatonin, Circadian Rhythms, and Sleep. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2003 May;5(3):225-229.

Arendt J. Melatonin and human rhythms. Chronobiol Int. 2006;23(1-2):21-37.

Carillo-Vico A, Reiter RJ, Lardone PJ, Herrera JL, Fernandez-Montesinos R, Guerrero JM, Pozo D.The modulatory role of melatonin on immune responsiveness. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2006 May;7(5):423-31.

Anisimov VN. Light pollution, reproductive function and cancer risk. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2006 Apr 25;27(1-2):35-52; [Epub ahead of print].

Anisimov VN, Popovich IG, Zabezhinski MA, Anisimov SV, Vesnushkin GM, Vinogradova IA. Melatonin as antioxidant, geroprotector and anticarcinogen. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Apr 17; [Epub ahead of print].

Regelson W., Pierpaoli W. Melatonin: a rediscovered antitumor hormone? Cancer Investig 5:379-385, 1987.

Pierpaoli W, Changxian VI and Dall’aza A. Aging: Postponing effect of circadian melatonin: Experimental evidence, significance and possible mechanism. InternJ Neuroscience 51:334-342, 1990.

Maestroni GJ, Conti A, Pierpaoli W. Pineal melatonin, its fundamental immuno-regulatory role in aging and cancer. Ann NY Acad Sci 521: 140-8, 1988.

Miller SC, Pandi PS, Esquifino AI, Cardinali DP, Maestroni GJ. The role of melatonin in immuno-enhancement: potential application in cancer. Int J Exp Pathol. 2006 Apr;87(2):81-7.

Poeggeler B. Melatonin, aging, and age-related diseases: perspectives for prevention, intervention, and therapy. Endocrine. 2005 Jul;27(2):201-12.

M. Karasek, R.J. Reiter: Melatonin and aging 2002; 23 (suppl 1):14-16 pii:NEL230702R03 PMID: Neuroendocrinology Letters (NEL).

Fight Insomnia with Melatonin, Magnolia and other Natural Sleep Aids!

We've all had the experience of sleeping like a baby and waking up feeling like we could conquer the world. And we've all had the experience of tossing and turning while thoughts bombard our mind, only to wake up feeling like we've just lost a battle.

Sure, everyone has a bad night once in a while, but a staggering seventy million Americans have some form of insomnia.¹

Whether that translates into once or twice a week, or is a chronic condition, fortunately, there are natural and gentle nutritional supplements that can alleviate stress during the day, so you can stay calm and sleep through the night.

Although insomnia isn't considered a disease by itself, it may be the result of other illnesses, and it can lead to numerous health problems. Lack of sleep may result in reduced energy levels, lack of motivation, slower reflexes, irritability, disorientation, dark circles under the eyes, and fatigue, as most of us know. After a while, your immune system suffers, too. The number of natural cells that fight viruses and cancers decline, and the body's hormonal system can get out of balance.

On the other hand, a good night's sleep will provide you with the energy you need to think clearly, achieve your goals, and appreciate those around you. Basically, the difference between sleeping well and poorly is the difference between feeling you're on top of things, and feeling like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. That "out of sorts" feeling can manifest into other health concerns if it becomes chronic, because disrupting the body's repair processes increases our chances of illness and even death.²

As many as 10% of Americans have a chronic sleep problem that interferes with their daily responsibilities.³ In fact, every year 98 million dollars are spent on over-the-counter sleeping aids, with 1 out of every 4 Americans relying on them. Another 50 million dollars are spent on caffeine tablets to stay awake during the day. Without enough sleep, the brain can't concentrate because it is concentrating on sleeping as soon as possible … which translates into lack of focus and productivity at work. The National Sleep Foundation estimates sleeplessness costs the U.S. economy $150 billion a year in higher levels of worker stress and reduced productivity. That adds up to a lot of money and a lot of miserable people.

 

Our sleep/wake cycle is governed by circadian rhythms, with two daily peak times for sleeping, night and midday. As the sun goes down in the late afternoon, the cells in the retina of the eye send a message to a cluster of nerve cells called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SNA or circadian clock), which is located in the hypothalamus deep in the center of the brain. The SNA then signals the pineal gland located in the hypothalamus to produce the hormone melatonin, which is manufactured from the amino acid tryptophan.

Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, which sits in the hypothalamus, in the center of the brain, and is a chemical derivative of serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that has a calming effect. Melatonin sets biological clocks, stimulates the immune system, fights free radicals, inhibits tumor promoters such as estrogen, and even reduces high blood pressure. But it is best known as the master regulator hormone that sets the body's clock and induces sleep.

When the sun goes down and it gets dark, the pineal gland secretes melatonin, which makes us feel less alert. Body temperature starts to fall and ideally, when enough melatonin floods the bloodstream, we fall asleep and stay asleep all night. Melatonin levels drop quickly as the sun rises.

Melatonin levels peak at about 2 a.m. in normal, healthy young people and about 3 a.m. in elderly people. The maximum amount of melatonin released in the bloodstream of the elderly is only half of that in young adults.4 The delay in timing and decrease in intensity of the melatonin pulse is a natural result of the aging process, and in fact, low production of melatonin at night is associated with insomnia in patients aged 55 years or older. The good news is these patients have been identified as being more likely to respond to melatonin supplementation.⁵

The melatonin pulse regulates many neuroendocrine functions. It is itself regulated by exposure to daylight, which inhibits it, and darkness, which stimulates its secretion. Sleep and the immune system work hand in hand. During sleep, melatonin turns on the immune system to make antibodies and destroy cancer cells.⁶

When the timing or intensity of the melatonin peak is disrupted—as in aging, stress, jet lag, or artificial jet lag syndromes—many physiological and mental functions are adversely affected. The ability to think clearly, remember key facts, and make sound decisions can be profoundly hampered by these upsets in the biological clock.⁵

Fight Insomnia with Melatonin, Magnolia and other Natural Sleep Aids!

We've all had the experience of sleeping like a baby and waking up feeling like we could conquer the world. And we've all had the experience of tossing and turning while thoughts bombard our mind, only to wake up feeling like we've just lost a battle.

Sure, everyone has a bad night once in a while, but a staggering seventy million Americans have some form of insomnia.¹

Whether that translates into once or twice a week, or is a chronic condition, fortunately, there are natural and gentle nutritional supplements that can alleviate stress during the day, so you can stay calm and sleep through the night.

Although insomnia isn't considered a disease by itself, it may be the result of other illnesses, and it can lead to numerous health problems. Lack of sleep may result in reduced energy levels, lack of motivation, slower reflexes, irritability, disorientation, dark circles under the eyes, and fatigue, as most of us know. After a while, your immune system suffers, too. The number of natural cells that fight viruses and cancers decline, and the body's hormonal system can get out of balance.

On the other hand, a good night's sleep will provide you with the energy you need to think clearly, achieve your goals, and appreciate those around you. Basically, the difference between sleeping well and poorly is the difference between feeling you're on top of things, and feeling like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. That "out of sorts" feeling can manifest into other health concerns if it becomes chronic, because disrupting the body's repair processes increases our chances of illness and even death.²

As many as 10% of Americans have a chronic sleep problem that interferes with their daily responsibilities.³ In fact, every year 98 million dollars are spent on over-the-counter sleeping aids, with 1 out of every 4 Americans relying on them. Another 50 million dollars are spent on caffeine tablets to stay awake during the day. Without enough sleep, the brain can't concentrate because it is concentrating on sleeping as soon as possible … which translates into lack of focus and productivity at work. The National Sleep Foundation estimates sleeplessness costs the U.S. economy $150 billion a year in higher levels of worker stress and reduced productivity. That adds up to a lot of money and a lot of miserable people.

 

Our sleep/wake cycle is governed by circadian rhythms, with two daily peak times for sleeping, night and midday. As the sun goes down in the late afternoon, the cells in the retina of the eye send a message to a cluster of nerve cells called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SNA or circadian clock), which is located in the hypothalamus deep in the center of the brain. The SNA then signals the pineal gland located in the hypothalamus to produce the hormone melatonin, which is manufactured from the amino acid tryptophan.

Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, which sits in the hypothalamus, in the center of the brain, and is a chemical derivative of serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that has a calming effect. Melatonin sets biological clocks, stimulates the immune system, fights free radicals, inhibits tumor promoters such as estrogen, and even reduces high blood pressure. But it is best known as the master regulator hormone that sets the body's clock and induces sleep.

When the sun goes down and it gets dark, the pineal gland secretes melatonin, which makes us feel less alert. Body temperature starts to fall and ideally, when enough melatonin floods the bloodstream, we fall asleep and stay asleep all night. Melatonin levels drop quickly as the sun rises.

Melatonin levels peak at about 2 a.m. in normal, healthy young people and about 3 a.m. in elderly people. The maximum amount of melatonin released in the bloodstream of the elderly is only half of that in young adults.4 The delay in timing and decrease in intensity of the melatonin pulse is a natural result of the aging process, and in fact, low production of melatonin at night is associated with insomnia in patients aged 55 years or older. The good news is these patients have been identified as being more likely to respond to melatonin supplementation.⁵

The melatonin pulse regulates many neuroendocrine functions. It is itself regulated by exposure to daylight, which inhibits it, and darkness, which stimulates its secretion. Sleep and the immune system work hand in hand. During sleep, melatonin turns on the immune system to make antibodies and destroy cancer cells.⁶

When the timing or intensity of the melatonin peak is disrupted—as in aging, stress, jet lag, or artificial jet lag syndromes—many physiological and mental functions are adversely affected. The ability to think clearly, remember key facts, and make sound decisions can be profoundly hampered by these upsets in the biological clock.⁵

Tsoi, W.F. "Insomnia: Drug Treatment." Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 20 no.2 (Mar,1991): 269-272.

Sterling, Marilyn. "Getting the Most from Your Sleep." Veggie Life, Nov. 1997.

MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia online athttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003210.htm

Bourne RS, Mills GH. Sleep disruption in critically ill patients - pharmacological considerations. Anaesthesia. 2004 Apr;59(4):374-84.

Dean W, Morgenthaler J, Fowkes, SW. Smart Drugs II. Smart Publications, 1993, 2000. Petaluma, CA.

 Lissoni P, Barni S, Crispino S, Tancini G and Fraschini F. Endocrine and immune effects of melatonin therapy in metastatic cancer patients. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol (United Kingdom) 1989: 25(5): 789-95.

Leger D, Laudon M, Zisapel N. Nocturnal 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in insomnia and its relation to the response to melatonin replacement therapy. Am J Med. 2004 Jan 15;116(2):91-5

Arendt J, Aldhous M and Marks V. Alleviation of jet-lag by melatonin: Preliminary results of controlled double-blind trial. Brit Med J. 1986: 292: 1170.

Nakamura K, Hashimoto S, Honma S, Honma K. Daily melatonin intake resets circadian rhythms of a sighted man with non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome who lacks the nocturnal melatonin rise.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1997 Jun;51(3):121-7.

Lovely RH. Recent studies in the behavioral toxicology of ELF electric and magnetic fields. Prog Clin Biol Res 1988: 257: 327-47.

Kuribara H, Kishi E, Hattori N, Okada M, Maruyama Y. The anxiolytic effect of two oriental herbal drugs in Japan attributed to honokiol from magnolia bark. J Pharm Pharmacol 2000 Nov;52(11):1425-9.

Maruyama Y, Kuribara H, Morita M, Yuzurihara M, Weintraub ST. Identification of magnolol and honokiol as anxiolytic agents in extracts of saiboku-to, an oriental herbal medicine. J Nat Prod1998 Jan;61(1):135-8.

Hoffman, David, The Herbal Handbook: A User's Guide to Medical Herbalism, Healing Arts, April 1998.

Jha SK, Yadav V, Mallick BN.GABA-A receptors in mPOAH simultaneously regulate sleep and body temperature in freely moving rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2001 Sep;70(1):115-21.

Gobaille S, Schleef C, Hechler V, Viry S, Aunis D, Maitre M Gamma-hydroxybutyrate increases tryptophan availability and potentiates serotonin turnover in rat brain. Life Sci. 2002 Mar 22;70(18):2101-12.

Wang SX, Li QS. Effects of sleep deprivation on gamma-amino-butyric acid and glutamate contents in rat brain. Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao. 2002 Oct;22(10):888-90.

Birdsall T. Therapeutic applications of taurine. Alt Med Rev 1998;3(2):128-136.

Haas E. Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 1992.

Wright J, Gaby A. The Patient's Book of Natural Healing. Rocklin, CA: Prima Health, 1999.

Singh HK, Dhawan BN. Neuropsycho-pharmacological effects of the Ayurvedic nootropic Bacopa monniera Linn. (Brahmi). Indian J Pharmacol 1997;29(5):S359-65.

Singh RH, Singh L. Studies on the anti-anxiety effect of the medyha rasayana drug, Brahmi (Bacopa monniera Wettst). Part 1.J Res Ayur Siddha 1980;1:133-48.

Rastogi S, Pal R, Kulshreshtha DK. Bacoside A3 - a triterpenoid saponin from Bacopa monniera. Phytochemistry 1994 May;36(1):133-7.

Kripke DF, Garfinkel L, Wingard DL, et al. Mortality associated with sleep duration and insomnia. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002;59:131-136.

Tsoi, W.F. "Insomnia: Drug Treatment." Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 20 no.2 (Mar,1991): 269-272.

Sterling, Marilyn. "Getting the Most from Your Sleep." Veggie Life, Nov. 1997.

MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia online athttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003210.htm

Bourne RS, Mills GH. Sleep disruption in critically ill patients - pharmacological considerations. Anaesthesia. 2004 Apr;59(4):374-84.

Dean W, Morgenthaler J, Fowkes, SW. Smart Drugs II. Smart Publications, 1993, 2000. Petaluma, CA.

 Lissoni P, Barni S, Crispino S, Tancini G and Fraschini F. Endocrine and immune effects of melatonin therapy in metastatic cancer patients. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol (United Kingdom) 1989: 25(5): 789-95.

Leger D, Laudon M, Zisapel N. Nocturnal 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in insomnia and its relation to the response to melatonin replacement therapy. Am J Med. 2004 Jan 15;116(2):91-5

Arendt J, Aldhous M and Marks V. Alleviation of jet-lag by melatonin: Preliminary results of controlled double-blind trial. Brit Med J. 1986: 292: 1170.

Nakamura K, Hashimoto S, Honma S, Honma K. Daily melatonin intake resets circadian rhythms of a sighted man with non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome who lacks the nocturnal melatonin rise.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1997 Jun;51(3):121-7.

Lovely RH. Recent studies in the behavioral toxicology of ELF electric and magnetic fields. Prog Clin Biol Res 1988: 257: 327-47.

Kuribara H, Kishi E, Hattori N, Okada M, Maruyama Y. The anxiolytic effect of two oriental herbal drugs in Japan attributed to honokiol from magnolia bark. J Pharm Pharmacol 2000 Nov;52(11):1425-9.

Maruyama Y, Kuribara H, Morita M, Yuzurihara M, Weintraub ST. Identification of magnolol and honokiol as anxiolytic agents in extracts of saiboku-to, an oriental herbal medicine. J Nat Prod1998 Jan;61(1):135-8.

Hoffman, David, The Herbal Handbook: A User's Guide to Medical Herbalism, Healing Arts, April 1998.

Jha SK, Yadav V, Mallick BN.GABA-A receptors in mPOAH simultaneously regulate sleep and body temperature in freely moving rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2001 Sep;70(1):115-21.

Gobaille S, Schleef C, Hechler V, Viry S, Aunis D, Maitre M Gamma-hydroxybutyrate increases tryptophan availability and potentiates serotonin turnover in rat brain. Life Sci. 2002 Mar 22;70(18):2101-12.

Wang SX, Li QS. Effects of sleep deprivation on gamma-amino-butyric acid and glutamate contents in rat brain. Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao. 2002 Oct;22(10):888-90.

Birdsall T. Therapeutic applications of taurine. Alt Med Rev 1998;3(2):128-136.

Haas E. Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 1992.

Wright J, Gaby A. The Patient's Book of Natural Healing. Rocklin, CA: Prima Health, 1999.

Singh HK, Dhawan BN. Neuropsycho-pharmacological effects of the Ayurvedic nootropic Bacopa monniera Linn. (Brahmi). Indian J Pharmacol 1997;29(5):S359-65.

Singh RH, Singh L. Studies on the anti-anxiety effect of the medyha rasayana drug, Brahmi (Bacopa monniera Wettst). Part 1.J Res Ayur Siddha 1980;1:133-48.

Rastogi S, Pal R, Kulshreshtha DK. Bacoside A3 - a triterpenoid saponin from Bacopa monniera. Phytochemistry 1994 May;36(1):133-7.

Kripke DF, Garfinkel L, Wingard DL, et al. Mortality associated with sleep duration and insomnia. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002;59:131-136.