Melatonin is a very important hormone that is secreted naturally by the human body. It’s primary function is helping to keep our circadian rhythms – or body clocks – in check. When those clocks get out of whack, insomnia is a common result. Many people who struggle with insomnia find themselves eager to try sleep aids – natural sleep aids that include melatonin have been effective in managing the symptoms of insomnia.
The link between melatonin and insomnia seems to become stronger and stronger with every passing years, as more and more studies show a connection between the two. Interestingly, insomnia is much more common in older people – and levels of melatonin naturally begin to decline with age. If you suffer from insomnia, you should definitely look into melatonin and find out more about what it can do for you.
Melatonin sleep science
In normal, healthy people – and under optimal circumstances – melatonin starts off at relatively low levels at the beginning of each day. As the day progresses, that level remains quite low. As evening nears, though, levels of melatonin in the body begin to creep up. This increase in the levels of melatonin climaxes approximately around the time that most people are ready to sleep, then actually peaks sometime during the middle of the night. From that point, it begins decreasing again until a person wakes up. People with insomnia don’t seem to experience this type of cycle with their levels of melatonin. For some, melatonin might not begin rising appropriately – or it might not wear off when it is supposed to. Supplements containing melatonin are geared toward providing the correct levels of melatonin to aid in healthy, natural sleep at night.
Treating insomnia with melatonin
Treating insomnia with melatonin is surprisingly easy to do. First, you need to find a suitable and reputable supplement that contains the right amount of melatonin. Usually, it is best to try to treat insomnia with a small dose of melatonin to begin with. It is important to keep in mind that it is necessary to take melatonin regularly for a while before you will begin noticing any obvious relief from your insomnia symptoms. That’s because levels of melatonin in the body take a while to reach optimal levels; until they do, sleeplessness may still be a problem. When taken consistently and as directed, many people find great relief from their insomnia by taking melatonin supplements. The key is taking it regularly at and at approximately the same time every evening.
Is taking melatonin for insomnia safe?
As with any kind of herbal remedy or supplement, many people have a natural hesitancy about taking melatonin to treat their insomnia. However, any concerns about safety can be quickly assuaged, as numerous studies have shown melatonin to be perfectly safe and highly effective in treating insomnia.
There are no major side effects that have been proven to be caused by taking melatonin; most people barely notice its effects, except when it’s time to sleep and drifting off is much easier to do. Additionally, sleep is much more rejuvenating when taking melatonin and people frequently remark on how much more refreshed they feel upon waking. Compared with many other sleep aids, melatonin is a very safe and effective way to get a handle on insomnia and to begin sleeping healthily again.
Tips for treating insomnia
Insomnia can be managed; here are a couple of basic tips for better sleep.
- Make sure that you have a quiet, dark place to sleep every night and remove distractions like televisions and computers from the bedroom.
- Avoid drinking caffeine as much as possible – especially after the late afternoon.
- If you smoke, quit.
- Try setting a specific bedtime and be strict about maintaining it.
- Try taking an herbal remedy to help lessen the persistence of your insomnia symptoms.
Melatonin is one ingredient that is a definite must in any effective herbal sleep aid. To find the sleep aid that is right for you, please read our sleep aid reviews.
