Many people consider taking Melatonin for sleep. This hormone is produced
in the body and functions in the regulation of the sleeping cycle. It has been
discovered that supplementing with this hormone can be an aid to better sleep.
Typically, your body will begin producing more melatonin in the evening and
the levels of it will stay high until the early morning. The amount that you
produce is also affected by light so that, in the winter, you may start
producing the hormone at a different time than normal. This is why people’s
moods are sometimes affected during shorter amounts of daylight.
As people get older, they usually start producing less until they may
produced little or none of the hormone. Elderly people usually need fewer hours
of sleep to function normally. However, in some cases, they have difficulty
even obtaining those hours. This may be due to things such as the pains and
aches that frequently come with age. For others, of any age, it can be due to
illness or stress.
Because it is difficult to get the hormone from dietary sources, people who
wish to increase the amount in their bodies typically take supplements. In
addition to using it for insomnia, it is also sometimes used as an aid in
dealing with the effects of jet lag.
It has typically been found to be safe, however there may sometimes be side
effects. These will cease once the person stops taking the supplement. In most
cases, it’s considered to be safe in low doses and taken for a short amount of
time.
Melatonin supplements come from either natural sources or are synthetic. The
natural type comes from animals and there is some concern that this could be
contaminated. Therefore, some suggest that the synthetic variety is the safer
one.
There’s some evidence that’s conflicting as to the efficacy of the substance
in helping with sleeping disorders. It may be that it depends on what type of
sleep disorder the person suffers from. There also appear to be differing
results depending on how long the substance is taken for.
The only way to really know if taking melatonin for sleep will work for you
is to try it out. As with any other supplement, you may want to check with your
doctor first, particularly if you have medical conditions other than insomnia.
There are certain diseases with which this supplement should be taken with
caution.
It has been found that melatonin for sleep is a safe and natural way to get
a good night’s rest. Although there are some melatonin side effects, they
disappear when the individual no longer needs the hormone to fall asleep.
By, Martha Jones