Melatonin as a Sleep Aid
Melatonin as a sleep aid has showed some significance as a non prescription way to fight insomnia. Melatonin is a natural hormone that is responsible for regulating a person’s sleep cycle; it is produced by the human pineal gland. It works like this; at least it is supposed to, the melatonin levels in the body rise at night and decrease in the morning. It has been shown that melatonin capsules are not only very useful for treating insomnia but also for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and jet lag.
Often it is the elderly that have many problems combating insomnia and this is because as humans get older they stop producing so much melatonin which is likely responsible for many waking prematurely at night and the inability to fall back to sleep.
Many people that seem to toss and turn all night long are usually very attracted to melatonin as a sleep aid. The only problem with Melatonin is that there is a list of warnings and precautions that accompany it. Certain people are not candidates for Melatonin such as women that are pregnant and anyone that suffers from an autoimmune disease. In addition, those who use Melatonin as a sleep aid might become part of the percentage that suffer from ill side effects after taking Melatonin such as dreadful nightmares, next day grogginess, lack of interest in sex, and headaches.
Unfortunately, studies concluded that Melatonin is successful as sleep aids when it is used in small doses but when it is purchased at the store for use as a sleep aid it is usually triple the amount of Melatonin that is proven effective. The problem with this is that after a few days, the brain becomes non responsive to the Melatonin because it was exposed to too much.
The Brain dispenses Melatonin as an antioxidant while a person is sleeping. When people suffer from a disruptive sleep cycle they produce less Melatonin and a lack of Melatonin can lead to higher risks of cancer. Melatonin is natural and very inexpensive which also makes it a more trusted sleep aid.
The studies on Melatonin are very positive when used to induce sleepiness and improve ones sleep patterns. You do not need a prescription to purchase Melatonin but it is very possible that your doctor would endorse it rather than prescribing such drugs as Valium, Xanax, or Ambien.
The most common side effect of Melatonin is if a person takes too much it is likely that the next day they will feel groggy. Melatonin is a safe and natural way to combat insomnia without resorting to possibly addictive prescription sleep aids. Another benefit of melatonin is that it works as an antioxidant which means that it helps the body while you are sleeping. Usually, a 60 day supply of Melatonin for use as a sleep aid and dispensed in 3mg tablets or capsules costs under $15.