Just when you’re looking forward to a calm and restful night of sleep, insomnia hits. You toss and turn, you try different sleeping positions, you get up for a bit and the next thing you know, the alarm is ringing and its time to get up. Insomnia is one of many sleeping disorders that affect the general population. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a supplement that could treat a large number of sleeping disorders?
Melatonin to the rescue
Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced by the pineal gland in the brain. It is often referred to as the sleep hormone. Melatonin has been shown to facilitate sleep, significantly shorten the time needed to go to sleep, reduce the number of night awakenings, and improve sleep quality. When taken orally, melatonin has been shown to improve the symptoms of various sleep disorders—here are just a few.
Melatonin and insomnia
Melatonin has been shown to be most beneficial in improving sleep quality in the elderly. Studies have shown that elderly patients taking melatonin saw improvements in their symptoms of insomnia. Studies have also shown that melatonin improves sleep quality in adults and in children. Melatonin also seems to improve secondary insomnia related to depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, hospitalization and "ICU syndrome," referring to sleep disturbances while in the intensive care unit.
Melatonin and jet lag
Taking melatonin appears to reduce symptoms of jet lag. A study investigated the efficacy of oral melatonin in alleviating jet lag in flight crews after a series of international flights. Fifty-two international cabin crew members were studied. The researchers observed a significantly faster recovery of energy and alertness and concluded that melatonin showed may have potential benefits for international aircrew.
Melatonin and circadian rhythm disorders
The body is regulated by over 100 built-in clocks that create the circadian rhythm. Some people develop circadian rhythm disorders, where their sleep-wake cycle does not correspond to the normal day and night routine. Studies have shown that taking melatonin helps improve circadian rhythm sleep disorders in children and adults.
Sleep tips
Taking melatonin is not the only step you can take to improve your sleeping condition. Visit the Truestar Sleep Tips for suggestions on how to optimize your sleep. Better yet, complete the Truestar Sleep Profile for your own personalized sleep program.
May your night be restful.
