What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone made by a part of the brain called the pineal (say: “pin-ee-all”) gland. Melatonin may help our bodies know when it’s time to go to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin supplements (in pill form) can also be taken. There are two types of melatonin that may be used in these pills: natural and synthetic (man-made). Natural melatonin is made from the pineal gland of animals. This form could be contaminated with a virus and is therefore not recommended. The synthetic form of melatonin does not carry this risk. If you are not sure if your melatonin is natural or synthetic, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking it.
Melatonin is a potent antioxidant. It has both water and fat soluble properties-making it one of the only known antioxidants in nature that can protect all parts of a cell. Since melatonin has the unique ability to navigate the barrier systems of the body, it can protect virtually every cell in the body. In this way, it serves as a powerful safeguard against cell damage associated with aging and disease.
Discovered in 1959, melatonin is a sleep-inducing hormone secreted by the pineal gland, a tiny endocrine gland situated at the center of the brain. Your body’s natural production of melatonin is increased by darkness and suppressed by sunlight. Among other things, melatonin decreases brain-wave activity, causes drowsiness and prepares the body clock for sleep. Tests with prescribed melatonin have been promising, but even in the best situations the body clock was not altered any faster than using light therapy. Your Tireless Traveler sunlight therapy formula will influence your body’s melatonin production schedule to synchronize with your new surroundings.
Melatonin is a hormone (N-acetyl-5 methoxytryptamine) produced especially at night in the pineal gland. Its secretion is stimulated by the dark and inhibited by light. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin and finally converted to melatonin which is an Indole. The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus have melatonin receptors and melatonin may have a direct action on SCN to influence “circadian” rhythms. (Weaver et al., 1993). Melatonin is metabolised to 6-hydroxy-mel in the liver and the main metabolite excreted is 6-sulphatoxy-mel. Isolated measurements of mel are difficult to interpret given its circadian secretion, however urinary excretion of 6-sulphatoxy-mel may be helpful in studying pineal function especially in children.
A naturally occurring hormone (derived from serotonin) that is both endocrine (enters the bloodstream from a pineal gland) and paracrine (signaling cell phenomenon, as from the retina when light is low, when the signal is “time to sleep”). Melatonin, besides being a sleep hormone, is a very powerful antioxidant, anti-aging agent, immunoregulator, anti-depressant and sexual dysfunction regulator. Is Melatonin Safe to Take? Actually, the 3mg standard dose has virtually no side effects, and does not also affect the body’s ability to produce its own melatonin. Rather, in today’s world where we are exposed to great amounts of strong artificial light, our bodies will not produce the melatonin it generally needs. Melatonin also plays a key role in memory and our ability to learn quickly. Some very famous studies have been made on melatonin (one by the Nobel Prize laureate Julius Axelrod) where it was proven that melatonin plays a direct role in establishing our sleep cycle and more. In some m
