Five Melatonin Myths Debunked and Explained

It’s nearly summer and short nights are upon us. We’ve talked a little about melatonin, (here, here and here), but besides our own resources, there’s plenty to read online about melatonin. Like anything else, it’s hard to know what’s true, what’s over exaggerated and what’s completely wrong. Here are some common myths about melatonin.

Myth 1: Melatonin will help with insomnia

If you’re suffering from insomnia, taking melatonin isn’t going to solve it. Melatonin is a natural sleep aid that is produced in the pineal gland in the brain and is effective with short-term sleep problems. Because melatonin eases circadian rhythm disorders it’s great for things like jet-lag, shift work, changes in routine, and delayed sleep phase disorders. So, melatonin hasn’t been proven to effectively treat insomnia or improving long-term sleep issues. For long-term sleep issues, treatment solutions often include behavior therapy, improving sleeping habits and finding and treating underlying causes of insomnia.

Myth 2: Melatonin will make me sleepy right away

Melatonin isn’t going to make you sleepy or drowsy immediately. Like we mentioned before, melatonin helps regulate your circadian clock that controls sleep and wake cycles. It naturally rises when the sun goes down (or when there’s less available light) which tells your body that the end of the day is coming and it’s getting close to bedtime. Melatonin will help prepare your body for sleep and can help you start to wind down. What does that mean? Don’t take it right before you go to bed – it’s better to take a few hours before you want to sleep.

Myth 3: All melatonin is natural

In an ideal world, claims on supplement labels would always be truthful. However, there are many products on the market that have been found to be contaminated with other drugs or toxic metals, or simply do not contain what the label states. Make sure when you’re shopping to find a trustworthy and reliable source.

Myth 4: Natural sleep aids are risk free

The first thing to consider is, if you’re already taking a medication, there’s a potential for side effects when taking melatonin (and any other supplement), so make sure you check with your health care provider. Here’s a great link with some of the medications melatonin may interact poorly with.

And, as we mentioned in this post, if you take too much melatonin, you could experience side effects such as headaches, nausea, dizziness and irritability.

Myth 5: Melatonin is a natural sleeping pill

Unlike popular belief, melatonin isn’t simply a sleeping pill. Melatonin assists with short-term sleep issues. And it has many effective uses. But it’s not as simple as swallowing a pill. You need to take into account your sleep environment and nighttime routine as well. For instance, if you’re scrolling through your phone, watching television or working on your computer right up until bedtime, you’re working against any melatonin you may be taking by exposing yourself to light. Practicing good sleep habits along with melatonin is a must to help you get on the right track.

Our Sleep Renew is a natural formulation designed to help you fall asleep faster, rest peacefully and wake up ready to embrace the day without any grogginess. What’s more, it’s a 100 percent plant-based, 100 percent GMO free, gluten free, and contains no artificial dyes, coloring or chemicals.