I have started taking melatonin to help me sleep through the night. I am curious what experience others have had with this remedy, positive and negative. I am 50 years old and have no trouble falling asleep but tend to wake up for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night.

Thank you.

Assume you are taking a synthesied prperation of the natural secretion of the Pineal gland that controls many functions in puberty, is also concerned with the pigmentation of the skin , and the production of breast milk .
If this was prescribed by your MD i suggest that you ask him if your pineal function need checking.

Your answer puzzled me. I am taking melatonin to help me sleep. It is an over the counter drug available quite commonly. Is it also used for pineal function?

Thank you

Passkey was suggesting that you ask your M.D. if your pineal function needs to be checked. This is because melatonin is a natural secretion of the pineal gland. The pineal gland also affects skin pigmentation, many functions in puberty and the production of breastmilk (let-down reflex) - not just sleep.

Does that help clarify what Passkey was saying?

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"The significance of a fact is measured by the capacity of the observer."
Carroll Dunham

Thank you. Your message does help clarify what Passkey was saying. Now, here's two things I know:
1) I just had a complete physical and nothing negative came up, although I don't know if they specifically checked for the pineal gland.
2) As we get older, it is natural for the body to secrete less melatonin. I believe that this is why older people have trouble sleeping. I am 50, living in a big city and under considerable stress.

Does anyone know anything more about the pineal gland and its functions?

One cannot tell people what life style to adopt - but for survival avoid stress at all costs. I told my kids that I was semi retiring and going to Spain in order to live in the sun and sit and watch the grass grow . I am reasonably healthy but I have a friend in the USA with a high medical profile who has a gtreat deal of stress in his life , has had many physical problems - all due to stress .
Stress can cause cancer as the stress "bleeds" through the pituitary as the body tries to equalise the psychological and the physical- this can result in physical symptoms - up to and including cancer .
Even if it means a less affluent life its better to eliminate all the stress you can. Some people can get addicted to stress and the chemicals it releases in the bloodstream.

There is a good book you may be able to get from a library "Stay Young the Melatonin Way" by Steven J. Bock, M.D. and Michael Boyette.This book focuses on strategies designed to optimize your body's own production of melatonin.
It is one of the most powerful antioxidants ever discovered and secreted in our own bodies. Antioxidants actually help to get more oxygen to the body cells and so act as a great anit-aging supplement, also preventing diseases caused by oxygen deprivation like cancer. The initial clinical studies were in regards to problems related to sleep.
1. It is a safe and natural sleeping pill.
2. has the ability to help ease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
3. has the potential for stimulating the immune system and reducing the likelihood of infections.
4. has an impact on such age-related diseases as stroke, hardening of the arteries, and memory loss.
5 cancer fighting properties ( currently being studied regarding breast cancer )
6. a potential as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, autism, and degenerative diseases.

* The best way of all for increasing melatonin production is homeopathic treatment by a Classical Homeopath. You can bring the body into balance so it produces it's own melatonin.

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Anti-aging
Carole Franske