If you have been struggling with sleep, chances are you also have already heard about the wonders of melatonin.

Melatonin is a sleep hormone that regulates your body’s circadian rhythm or sleep-wake cycles. Although your body makes it naturally, it can also be made in a lab.

 

People mostly use melatonin supplements to help with sleep problems such as insomnia or disturbed sleep patterns after experiencing jet lag.

 

But if you are curious of its many other benefits beyond bedtime, here is a list for you.

 

1. It supports gut health.

 

Beyond being essential to sleep, melatonin also does wonders to your gut health.

 

Studies have found that there is 400 times more melatonin in the gut than in the pineal glands where it is secreted. Inside your gut, melatonin plays a vital role in your immune function, interacting with immune cells, promoting healthy inflammatory response, and supporting antioxidant status.

 

Although further research is needed, melatonin supplementation has also shown promising potential for treating gastrointestinal disorders.

 

2. It helps maintain healthy vision.

 

Loaded with antioxidants, melatonin can prevent cell damage, preserve visual clarity and keep your eyes healthy.

 

As a matter of fact, it can also treat conditions like glaucoma, retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to research.

In a 2005 study, 100 patients with AMD were given 3 mg of melatonin orally for over 3 months. Reduced pathologic macular changes were observed with no significant side effects noted.

 

3. It improves symptoms of anxiety.

 

Although supplements are not intended to take the place of prescription medication, they can be a useful addition (and often, more affordable).

 

Recent clinical trials suggest that melatonin may help combat symptoms of anxiety disorders. The mechanism relies on its ability to improve sleep which may directly affect anxiety symptoms.

 

As you may have already known, poor sleep habits can wreak havoc on your brain, stress levels and emotional regulation. Thus, getting good sleep is essential if you are dealing with anxiety.

 

4. It boosts immunity.

 

You may wonder what a hormone that aids sleep regulation have to do with your immunity. However, melatonin is actually also a potent anti-inflammatory agent that can bolster your body’s immune function.

 

Melatonin stimulates the production of natural killer (NK) cells, lymphocytes that control several types of tumors and microbial infections.  It also increases the number of CD4-positive cells which are white blood cells that trigger your body’s response to infections.

 

Because of these promising findings on melatonin, it has been highly esteemed for its therapeutic value to enhance immune function in aged individuals and patients who are immunocompromised.

 

5. It prevents migraine.

 

Melatonin levels are abnormally low in people with chronic migraine, based on studies. This has led researchers to explore the role of melatonin for migraine prophylaxis.

 

In an experiment on 65 participants, a significant reduction in headache frequency was observed after 3 months of melatonin treatment. Furthermore, some properties of melatonin may also have analgesic effects that help with the pain feeling that accompanies migraine.

 

 

 

 

Melatonin is an extremely interesting and powerful hormone. Plus, its tolerability (even in high doses) makes it a safe addition to the treatment and management of many health issues. Nonetheless, if you are thinking of incorporating melatonin in your health plan, consider talking to your doctor first if it’s the right choice for you.