At one time, melatonin was best known for it's effectiveness in treating jet lag, and quite literally, you could find a melatonin product in the suitcase or carry-on bag of almost every traveler. But intensive research is showing melatonin to be nature's own "cure-all" for all sorts of health problems, ranging from depression to weight to sleep disorders. And it's also been shown to produce significant antioxidant effects. As an antioxidant, the hormone released from this pineal gland has been shown to reduce the effects of aging in both younger and older recipients.
As sleep disorders continue to rise, health interest in melatonin benefits and the effects that it has on newer and older sleep disorders increases nation-wide. Melatonin is a normal hormone naturally created within the body, and it's secreted by the pineal gland (located in the midsection of the brain) to assist with the different circadian cycles of night sleep.
Melatonin is an internal hormone secreted by the pineal gland. And its reported benefits are many - ranging from alleviating depression to losing weight. However among these benefits, melatonin is probably best known for its ability to restore the natural circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is a daily cycle of activity in living organisms. Melatonin ensures that a significant part of that circadian cycle benefits sleep. And because the human body naturally produces it, it's widely regarded as one of the least toxic substances.
In fact, a number of large-scale studies report that melatonin - even when taken at a hundred to a thousand times the normal dosage (.01 grams) - shows no significant threat to the body (other than minor headaches in a few individuals). Nor does it produce a health problem or ill effects on the people who take it.
