Melatonin is a hormone that plays a significant role in the regulation of the body’s sleep-wake cycles. Melatonin is secreted in the pineal gland, and the production of the hormone decreases with age. Melatonin supplements are becoming more popular as the benefits of the deep, restful sleep that the hormone can provide become more widely appreciated. Melatonin has so side effects that are commonly experienced with other prescription sleeping pills. Melatonin is also able to regulate female reproductive hormones. At puberty melatonin is released in the female body that brings the onset of menstruation, and the eventual decrease of melatonin represents menopause, the end of the menstrual period of a woman’s life.

If melatonin levels are low there can be substantial sleeping difficulties and the problems involved with decreased sleep can grow with age. Insomnia treatment is one of the most sought after medical problems today. Melatonin can assist people who experience irregular or disrupted sleep cycles. People who work during the night or are afflicted with jet lag can have their lives improved with melatonin supplementation. Elderly people and those afflicted with schizophrenia can also find help in melatonin supplementation due to their low levels of melatonin production.

Insomnia is a common problem, and although many people are more susceptible to insomnia as they grow older, it can afflict people at any age. Many illnesses and viral bacterial infections have a greater risk when the body is not getting all the sleep it needs to stay healthy. Physical, emotional or psychological factors can all lead to insomnia, with stress being the most common contributor. Other factors like depression, anxiety and other mood disorders and medical illnesses such as hearth disease, respiratory disease, or disorders of the digestive system that cause physical discomfort can all lead to insomnia. Heartburn, diabetes, arthritis, as well as lifestyle factors such as caffeine, alcohol, drug use, work patterns, and prescription medications are all causes of insomnia.

Sleep deficiency can take a noticeable toll on your body and wellbeing, such as constantly being tired, irritable and generally fatigued. Even if your body gets sleep, but that sleep is not deep and restful, your memory, concentration and patience can all decrease, and your mood can become very negative. Preoccupation with the need for sleep or anxiety over the lack of sleep is another common symptom of insomnia. In this sense a cyclical problem can occur, where the more you sleep the greater your anxiety due to not being able to sleep.

Studies have shown that melatonin can have significant effects beyond sleep aid. Melatonin helps promote bone growth, and can therefore treat osteoporosis. Melatonin can also reduce depression and anxiety in postmenopausal women, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and panic disorders. Helping people address eating disorders like anorexia has also been experienced with melatonin supplementation, as well as lowering the platelet count in breast cancer and prostate cancer patients, controlling excess weight loss in chemotherapy patients, sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy, sunburn, viral encephalitis and ADHD treatment. Melatonin has also been shown to boost the immune system due to its antioxidant properties.

Melatonin is also able to significantly increase daytime alertness by promoting deep, restful sleep. People who suffer from disturbed sleeping patterns due to low melatonin levels can now get rid of their sleeping problem using melatonin based supplements.