Melatonin

[Guest guest]

http://www.henriettesherbal.com/faqs/medi-2-22-melatonin.html

from Paul Bergner (bergner.concentric.net), Editor, Medical Herbalism

(http://medherb.com):

 

 

 

I've just researched and written a lengthy article about melatonin, and frankly

I am shocked that natural healers would use this substance casually like a

sleeping pill. Melatonin is a powerful hormone that affects the entire metabolic

cycle, not just the sleep- wake cycle. We rail against hormone-replacement

therapy with estrogen- progresterone, and then casually offer patients enough

melatonin to raise blood levels 10-20 times their normal levels. This is bound

to be a Devil's bargain, and it is only a matter of time till regulatory

agencies throughout the world discover this and rightfully take measures to

protect the public.

 

For instance: melatonin production by the pineal gland appears to be an

important part of the aging clock. The pineal glands of young mice, transplanted

to old mice, make the old mice " younger " and they live about 1/3 longer. On the

other hand, the pineal glands of older mice, transplanted into younger mice,

immediately makes them " older " and they live about 1/3 shorter lives.

 

So what happens when some guy named Joe in Iowa takes ten mg of melatonin (about

twenty times what you need to achieve normal blood level peaks) to sleep most

nights for three years (this is actually happening all over the place today) and

then can't get the melatonin? Will his pineal have lost its ability to produce

the same levels as previously? Most hormones have a negative feedback loop of

one sort or another -- would levels that high reduce endogenous production over

time? Will poor Joe then age ten years over the next few months?

 

I think melatonin has a proper place in natural medicine, in the treatment or

palliation of cancer, used for brief periods for jet lag, and possible for the

elderly, and may be a few more uses. But IMO over-the-counter status is inviting

health disaster

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dorothee,

 

Are you talking of dried or fresh dates? Fresh dates

are so yummy but very difficult to harvest due to the

thorns.

 

Melly

[Guest guest]

I think that your concerns are, to a degree, well founded. We know

that many hormone therapies have had adverse long term effects contrary

to popular mainstream hype. However, melatonin has, thus far, been

shown to be beneficial and it is certainly a better alternative than any

other over the counter or prescribed sleep aid that I am aware of. In

my own experience, I have found melatonin to be gentle and effective

when my sleep pattern is disturbed for some reason... and certainly,

sleep is important if we are to function normally. I have taken it

occasionally for the past ten years (at least) and have never noticed

any dependence. In fact, I find that my sleep patterns have generally

improved once I have taken it, which is somewhat counter to your concern.

 

Certainly, there are better alternatives and the best would be to

simply allow the body to adjust. However, we have occasional

commitments that do not allow this trade-off. Years ago, I found that

aspirin worked similarly, but today you could not persuade me to take

aspirin for any reason. The bottom line is that I will keep my bottle

of melatonin on hand unless I experience something that changes my

opinion, but I will always pay attention to my reactions.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I've eaten about half a dozen pitted dates from the health food store (I

guess they are what you would call dried dates, but they are quite moist

actually). I hope this isn't some sort of auto-suggestion, but I have to

say that so far they work! I slept like a baby. Thanks for the tip,

Dorothee.

A word about

Vergil's objection to over-the-counter melatonin: The brand I use

(Webber Naturals) has some very clear warnings on the container

including

limiting usage to 4 weeks. I can read and I can think for myself and I

don't need public " health " authorities to tell me what to do (which they are

very prone to do). I can see taking aspirin off the over-the-counter

shelf, it is a dangerous drug that is misused universally. And there are

so many others. Leave melatonin for the health food store where it can be

bought over-the-counter.

Vince

 

On 4/9/08, melly banagale <tita_mel wrote:

>

> Dorothee,

>

> Are you talking of dried or fresh dates? Fresh dates

> are so yummy but very difficult to harvest due to the

> thorns.

>

> Melly

>

>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

NO! Read your labels: 3mg at bedtime is suggested Melatonin dosage;

more can cause 'backfiring'= sleeplessness.

 

5-HTP suggested dosage is 50 mg at bedtime and helps your brain work

better than supplemental Melatonin. 5-HTP is the precursor to natural

brain melatonin secretion.

 

ALWAYS check with your doctor first: ND/DC/MD (Most MDs do not get

over 20hrs. nutritional training in school).

 

 

, " coleesg "

<coleesg wrote:

>

> One tablet 50mg Melatonin!?!

>

> Go here to learn more on dosage:

> http://www.melatonin.com/melatonin-dosage.php

>

>

> , " painfredoc "

> <drhow1@> wrote:

> >

> > One tablet, 50mg,about 30 minutes before bedtime should do it. Any

> > Naturopath or Chiropractor who knows Applied Kinesiology can help

> > selct the correct dosage for you.

> > +*********************************

> >

> > , " Ferit Tavlan "

> > <ft_haj@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Can you please tell us what dosage of melatonin you take?

> > >

> > >

> > > I heard that doses from 0,5 mg to 20 mg are quite normal.. Women

> > often have

> > > to take more (at least 6-9 mg) and men lesser (1 to 3 mg)..

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My son has non-24 Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS). On the Nite

Owl board they use .5 mg. They say micro dosages is all that's

needed but timing is critical. My son used melatonin before his

diagnosis. It did help but the non-24 is harder to control than just

DSPS so he's on a drug now that works with the melatonin receptors.

I would rather he use something natural an melatonin did help.

I use melatonin myself. I was on 3 mg an it worked very well at

first then my sleep because disturbed. I cut my dosage in half, 1.5

mg an that's working fine for me. I think its an individual need

that you have to find for yourself. But in this case more is not the

answer, sometimes its less.

I had breast cancer so I'm also interested in the link below.

http://www.naturalnews.com/022981.html

Melatonin: A Hormone That Protects Against Breast Cancer and Aging

Thursday, April 10, 2008 by: Barbara L. Minton

(NaturalNews) Melatonin is nature's sleeping pill. It is secreted by

the light sensitive pineal gland which regulates our biological clock

and synchronizes our hormonal-immune network. Our level of melatonin

rises with darkness and falls with light. According to Dr. Uzzi

Reiss, in his book Natural Hormone Balance, a healthy pineal gland

produces 2.5 milligrams of melatonin every twenty-four hours.

 

Melatonin plays a central role in the natural aging processes of the

body. When pineal production begins to diminish, at around age 40,

the decline sets off changes in the operation of the body's cells.

The physiology of the cell shifts from repair and rejuvenation to

aging and degeneration.

 

Recent studies are now showing that as our levels of melatonin sink,

our chances for breast cancer rise. Many women with breast cancer

have lower levels of melatonin than those without the disease.

Laboratory experiments indicate that lower levels of melatonin

stimulate growth of breast cancer cells. Adding melatonin to these

cells inhibits their growth.

(more at link above about studies)

Barb

 

Forum , " painfredoc " <drhow1 wrote:

>

> NO! Read your labels: 3mg at bedtime is suggested Melatonin dosage;

> more can cause 'backfiring'= sleeplessness.

>

> 5-HTP suggested dosage is 50 mg at bedtime and helps your brain work

> better than supplemental Melatonin. 5-HTP is the precursor to

natural

> brain melatonin secretion.

>

> ALWAYS check with your doctor first: ND/DC/MD (Most MDs do not get

> over 20hrs. nutritional training in school).

>

>

>