Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by our brains at night, and regulates our sleep cycle. Synthetic melatonin can also be bought as a sleep-aid product, and has become popular in recent years. But the more popular it has become, the more the safety and health of its consumption has come into question.

One reason that this substance is not fully trusted is that it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. That means that it is not regulated, so may the buyer beware. It would be adviseable to buy only Melatonin products made by reputable companies you trust. It should also be noted that the dosages listed on the package may not be precise, and may vary from product to product.

Perhaps one of the biggest dangers of its consumption is the human factor. When our brains naturally secrete Melatonin,  our bodies know the natural timing and how much to produce. But due to human factors of error, we are likely to mistake the timing of consumption, making ourselves drowsy at the wrong times, during the day for example. And if your body is already producing enough naturally and you add more in its synthetic form, you may feel very sleepy much longer than you should.

Along with the sleepiness that may come with Melatonin consumption is possible confusion, dizziness, headaches, and abdominal cramps or discomfort.  A significant minority of patients also report lucid dreams and nightmares.

According to a Dutch study, taking high doses prevents the production of estrogen, to the extent that Melatonin could possibly be used for birth control. So if you’re intending to get pregnant, it might be a good idea to avoid this supplement.

On top of those side effects, there is evidence from various studies that Melatonin simply isn’t a very effective cure for insomnia. Since it regulates the timing of sleep, it is probably more effective at curing jet lag than insomnia.

There are no reports of serious adverse effects of taking supplemental melatonin. It should be noted however that since it is such a recently developed product, there is no data about the longterm effects of taking the substance. If you decide in consultation with your doctor that you should take it, you can rest assured that there is probably nothing to worry about. But at the same time, when a natural cure is possible that is certainly preferable to a synthetic cure.

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