Getting to Sleep with Melatonin - Webber Naturals

Having trouble sleeping? Webber Naturals Dr. Stephanie Rubino can help.

If counting sheep has stopped working for you, try some melatonin. Dr. Stephanie Rubino gives us the details on how it can help you get your beauty sleep.

Toss, turn, toss, turn, toss, turn! It’s 1:30am and I still have not been able to fall asleep. One sheep, two sheep, three sheep…deep breath in, deep breath out… I’m imagining myself on a beach: it’s quiet, the sun is shining… Who am I kidding?! Nothing is helping!

Have you ever felt like this? Has there been a time when your sleep patterns were fantastic, but then have found yourself pacing around your house in the middle of the night? There are numerous causes for insomnia including anxiety, chronic stress, hormone imbalances, jet lag, shift work, use of certain medications and caffeine. It’s different for everyone and there may be more than one cause.

Getting insufficient sleep can severely impact our daily life by causing headaches, irritability, weight gain, poor focus and a lack of concentration (we don't want to look like Garfield every morning!). I’m sure you’ve read about different natural sleep agents such as valerian, 5-HTP, chamomile, and hops. Acupuncture, music therapy and meditation have also shown positive benefits for sleep. But on the journey to peaceful rest, I have seen great success with the use of melatonin.

So what is melatonin and how does it work?

Discovered in 1958, melatonin is a neurohormone produced in the pineal gland, located in the center of the brain. It is associated with maintaining normal circadian rhythms, or sleep/wake cycles. Basically it helps the body determine when it is time to sleep and when it is time to wake up. Unfortunately, the level of melatonin in the body decreases as we age. Other conditions such as travel, medications, and neuro-psychiatric disorders such as depression and autism can disrupt our circadian rhythms.

Taking melatonin helps to increase total sleep time and relieve daytime fatigue. It’s used to improve the quality of sleep in those with an age-related decline in melatonin and helps to re-establish a normal circadian sleep rhythm in those suffering from disturbed sleep patterns relating to jet lag, shift-work and in delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS).

Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant which provides protection against diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. It is a potent immune-enhancing hormone, playing a significant role in the fight against certain cancers such as breast, lung, prostate, liver and brain cancer. Migraine sufferers can also rejoice in using melatonin as it has been shown to decrease the frequency and severity of headaches, and the overall use of painkillers and drugs to treat a migraine. 

It can be found naturally in small quantities in some fruits and vegetables such as mustard, Goji berries, almonds, sunflower seeds, cardamom, fennel, coriander and cherries.

How and who can take melatonin:

The best form of taking melatonin is sublingually, so it enters the bloodstream quickly. Dosages from 1 mg to 10 mg have been shown to improve sleep quality, when taken 30-60 minutes before sleep time. Melatonin by Webber Naturals is available in 3mg, 5mg (Extra Strength) and 10mg (Maximum Strength), in a yummy peppermint flavor!

Take care: melatonin cannot be taken by just anyone. Always consult your health care provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, use sedative medications, suffer from seizures, depression, hypertension, have a hormonal disorder, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, or cerebral palsy.

Got questions? Send them to our experts at wneducation@wnpharmaceuticals.com

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