I suggest to many of my patients to take melatonin for sleep issues or jet lag. I also suggest taking it on a regular basis for older patients because as you age, your production of melatonin decreases. A good sleep routine is essential for a good night’s rest. That means turning off all electronics 1 hour before going to bed and taking your melatonin 1 hour before going to bed. That last hour before turning out the lights and heading off to dream land should be spent getting ready for bed and relaxing. If your routine includes reading, make it an old fashioned paper book as reading on devices causes your brain not to release the much needed melatonin to fall asleep easily.

If you need a good melatonin supplement, I love the sublingual one from USANA. I’ve had several patients tell me it works better than other brands they’ve tried. If you want to order some, just email me and I’ll get you set up.

If you want to learn more about the value of melatonin, here is an article by James Meschino, DC, MS in Acupuncture Today.

The Value of Melatonin in Breast Cancer Prevention and Adjunctive Treatment

By James P. Meschino, DC, MS

Although melatonin (MLT) is best known for its sleep-aid properties and as a natural remedy to prevent jet lag, extensive experimental studies suggest it possesses anticancer activity through several biological mechanisms: anti-proliferative action, stimulation of anticancer immunity, modulation of oncogene expression, and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-angiogenic effects. Several experimental studies have shown MLT may inhibit cancer cell growth, and preliminary clinical studies have shown its anticancer property in human cancer patients. Want to read the rest of the article?