Research suggests that melatonin supplementation can help people who are having trouble getting a good night’s sleep. As I got older and busier my sleeping habits suffered and I wasn’t sure of the cause.
The biggest problem I encountered is that while I had no problem falling asleep, I had a hard time staying asleep. Sometimes I would wake up for no reason at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning and other times one of my three young boys woke up both my wife and I. The trouble was I would struggle to fall back to sleep.
Once I was awake my mind would race; what I had to do for work, for the web site, for coaching, etc. A 2-minute interruption in sleep would result in a few hours of tossing and turning. For someone who never had problems sleeping – and who loved to sleep – this situation was terrible. I tried melatonin supplementation about 2 months ago and can’t believe how effective the regimen has been.
About 30 minutes before I go to bed I take 5 milligrams of melatonin and sleep like a baby again. Not only do I usually sleep through the night, if I need to get out of bed, I have no problem falling back to sleep. I admit that this is purely anecdotal evidence, and could be the result of the placebo effect, so you can take my advice with a grain of salt.
However, there has been a decent amount of research that suggests that melatonin is an effective sleep aid. However, for those of you who are having trouble sleeping, and are willing to try anything, I think melatonin is a great alternative to prescription sleep aids and certainly preferable to getting a lousy night’s sleep.
There hasn’t been exhaustive research with regard to this supplement, but the respected Mayo Clinic newsletter indicates that for healthy individuals research indicates that adverse affects from melatonin isn’t that different than from placebo treatment. And if you look into the adverse affects associated with taking the prescription sleep aids melatonin is worth looking into.
When you consider that a 2-month supply of will only set you back 7 or 8 bucks, melatonin is worth looking into for all you insomniacs or disturbed sleepers. Anybody considering taking melatonin should consult with their physician and make sure that there aren’t any conflicts with medications or with any other medical condition that could cause a problem.
Melatonin is a substance produced by the pineal gland and its synthesis and release is stimulated by light and dark, and is believed to be involved with the circadian rhythm and regulation of a wide-range of the body’s function. When you realize the nature of this substance’s purpose you see why you should consult with your physician before taking it. I’ve found melatonin to be effective, and recommend this supplement to anyone who is having trouble sleeping just check with your doctor first.
