Popping melatonin supplements as a natural sleep aid is 100% safe and healthy, right? Maybe not.
While many people swear by melatonin as an effective and natural way to lull themselves to sleep at night, in this case, natural doesn’t necessarily mean better.
What Is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that our body releases to trigger sleep. Our brains start producing melatonin when they haven’t been exposed to blue light for several hours. (That’s why we’re so big on wearing blue light glasses, especially when doing computer work in the evening.)
Melatonin can also be purchased as a supplement over the counter. People who travel frequently, needing restful sleep while in transit, and those who suffer from insomnia frequently resort to melatonin supplements as a natural sleep solution. Some people even give a dose to their kids from time to time.
Is Melatonin Habit-Forming?
Unfortunately, yes. Supplementing with melatonin can lower your body’s ability to produce the hormone on its own. Melatonin works well as a natural supplement in a pinch, but it’s not a long term solution. If, when you wean yourself off of melatonin supplements, you still find yourself unable to fall asleep, there’s probably something about your lifestyle or health that needs addressed.
Is It Safe for Kids?
The jury’s still out on this one. Some doctors say melatonin is okay for kids in small doses, but it really depends on the age and size of the child. Check with your pediatrician if you’re considering using this supplement to help your little one fall asleep and only use it in extraordinary circumstances.
Kids’ brains and bodies are still developing, which means they are still establishing and regulating their hormonal processes. Messing with these processes too early can be unhealthy and may cause bigger issues for your little one in the future.
Try Tart Cherry Juice or Valerian Root
Before jumping on the melatonin train, you may want to try tart cherry juice or valerian root supplements first. Proven to be effective at improving sleep, tart cherry juice has anti-inflammatory properties that can ease your body into a deeper sleep. Bonus? It’s also a tangy and enjoyable treat! It works by stimulating your body’s natural melatonin production instead of supplementing it, so you can experience similar effects without messing with your own natural hormone production. Tart cherry juice can be found in most grocery stores.
A second, all-natural option you may want to explore is valerian root. This herb acts as a sedative on the brain and nervous system. It not only calms your body down to prepare for a better sleep, but it’s proven to help relieve anxiety you may feel from day to day stresses.
However, like melatonin, valerian root can be a band-aid solution. It’s essentially a natural sedative, which means it’s not helping your brain produce melatonin, it’s replacing it in the getting-to-sleep process. While generally safe and effective, you can’t combine it with other sleep meds, and it’s still only a temporary solution to a problem, not a cure for insomnia.
Identify the Cause, Not the Symptom
The key to a good night sleep always comes back to knowing your body. When you can address the WHY behind your lack of sleep, you can best treat your insomnia and avoid its damaging effects. Melatonin supplements can be helpful in some circumstances, but are just a temporary fix, not a long term solution.
Please share your experience with melatonin and other sleep supplements below, we’d love to hear from you!
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