Melatonin is not just for getting a good night's sleep

Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland in our body. The pineal gland is about the size of a piece of rice and resembles the shape of pine cone, that is where it got it’s name. This small organ is located near the center of our head and is tucked between the two halves of our brain.

This glands secretes melatonin directly into the blood stream. Even though it is wrapped by the two lobes, it is actually not part of the brain nor protected by the blood brain barrier. Blood flow is very high through the pineal gland, second only to our kidneys.

Descartes described this gland as the principal seat of the soul. Since the pineal gland has some cells containing proteins that are light sensitive and sits at about the same level of our eyes, it is also referred to as a third eye. It is the only other organ in our body that senses light.

The quality and duration of our sleep depends directly upon the amount of melatonin that our body has available or is able to produce. Our sleep-wake patterns are both daily and seasonal. Hormone and stress levels, along with physical performance, are all affected by these cycles.

The pineal gland produces two other hormones, serotonin and dimethyltryptamine, or DMT. DMT is an intense and naturally occurring psychedelic that works in concert with serotonin to block some receptors and turn on others.

In some cultures, the psychoactive substance DMT is extracted from plants to produce spiritual visions that lead to personal development. It is believed that DMT might contribute to the visual effects of dreaming.

When our body is exposed to light, the pineal gland begins to produce serotonin. This is a neurotransmitter that helps us feel happy and full of energy. It can give us that floaty feeling and a sense of being at ease with everything.

There are some that link the function of the pineal gland to the physical experience of forgiveness and compassion. They claim that the pineal gland is where we let go of hatred and resentment and feel more a generosity of spirit.

In the absence of light, the pineal gland will begin to use serotonin to produce melatonin. That is what happens when it starts to get dark, unless we have a lot of lights on around the house. Since it is the blue spectrum of light that suppresses melatonin, you could reduce your exposure with special light bulbs and glasses. It’s also good to minimize your screen time in the evening.

In the morning, melatonin production will be reduced by another stress hormone, called norepinephrine. Also a neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, sends signals between nerve cells. In the darker months of winter we generally produce less melatonin. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, seems to arise from low levels.

Besides helping us to sleep, melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that is capable of fighting free radicals that damage neurons. It can protect white blood cells from damage caused by radiation.

I’ve been seeing where high dosages of melatonin might be effective in cancer treatment, especially breast cancer, to reduce tumors in conjunction with other treatments. Melatonin appears to disrupt estrogen-mediated cellular pathways, which results in less estrogenic stimulation of cells. Supplementing with melatonin may have a benefit for those at risk for breast cancer, though this is probably individual and some new studies may contradict this.

Melatonin is used for both short-term treatment of insomnia and REM sleep behavior disorder. It can be helpful when adjusting to jet lag or time zone changes. Those that have daily work schedules that do not follow the sun are finding melatonin useful. Even sleep disorders in blind people can be treated with this hormone.

It is likely that melatonin will reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep at night. Taking a controlled release form of melatonin at night may also provide a reduction in blood pressure.

The biggest side effect of melatonin may be that it will make you feel drowsy. So it’s probably best not to take it in the morning right before work.

Scott Porter, a functional medicine pharmacist, is the director of the Center for Functional Nutrition at Sandpoint Super Drug.