The Melatonin Miracle: It Can Help You Sleep, but What's the Right Dose?

Can’t sleep?
At some point or another, it happens to everyone. Maybe your internal clock is out of synch because you’ve changed time zones. Maybe you work erratic hours and just can’t break your night-owl tendencies. Or maybe you’re getting older, and find that you just can’t get the sleep you need.

Whatever the reason, people suffering from an inability to get a good night’s sleep are increasingly turning to Melatonin for help. Melatonin is a naturally occuring hormone produced by the pineal gland, which is located in the center of your brain. At night, or in the dark, your pineal gland releases this hormone to help regulate your sleep cycle.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, it could be that your body doesn’t produce enough Melatonin naturally, or that you have disrupted your natural sleep schedule to the point that you require more of this hormone to trigger a healthy sleep pattern. Studies have shown that taking a melatonin supplement half an hour before bed is effective as a sleep aid and can alleviate jet lag.

Is Melatonin For You?
Unlike synthetic sleeping pills, Melatonin does not introduce unnatural chemicals into your blood stream. Nor does it require a prescription. While pregnant women, and people with health conditions would be advised to consult a physician before taking Melatonin, evidence suggests it’s extremely safe. Researchers have given people up to 600-3,000 times the normal dosage without causing any toxicity. And in spite of millions of people using it, only four complaints have been lodged with the FDA reporting negative side effects such as nightmares, headaches, and morning grogginess.