|
2005-07-08 11:38:20
Dr. Jean-Jacques Dugoua, ND
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.
Dr.
Jean-Jacques Dugoua, ND
Post Contributor
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20050708/10836_Melatonin_Helps_you.htm
|
