Did you know that your activities during your waking hours can actually influence the way you sleep? While we are so preoccupied with our day to day activities, little do we know that everything we do can impact our sleeping hours. Most people who experience sleepwalking, or any form of sleeping disorder for that matter, can be attributed to some form of stress. Try to read up on people who sleepwalk and you will find that they normally try to carry out their daily activities even when asleep. This is probably because their mind is wired to carry out a specific task, not being aware that they are actually in slumber.

 Others can also be affected by some form of psychological stress such as trauma, depression or anxiety. Emotional problems can be a cause for sleepwalking, and what is interesting is that they can actually do things normally without being fully aware of it. If you or someone close to you is experiencing this problem, they should first consult a doctor to know exactly what they need to do to get a good night’s sleep. Melatonin sleep aids may help for them to relax, but you should make sure that you are able to get to the root of the problem before you even try to take anything. Good luck!

Human beings and other animals produce melatonin through the pineal gland, which is located outside the blood-brain barrier. In most the lens and retina also make melatonin.

In addition to a living creature or organism producing melatonin, it can also be biologically produced/grown.  This synthetic melatonin is most commonly used in the supplements available for purchase in most health food and drug stores. It is strongly suggested, based on current available research, that ‘harvested’ melatonin (such as that from Algae) be avoided due to other chemicals that may still be living in them. These other chemicals can cause serious side effects and complications.

Artificially synthesized melatonin that is infused into the system via supplements has proven to be a very effective way of increasing the total amount of melatonin present in the body.

The human brain has a temperature regulator called the hypothalamus which contains SCN. The SCN receives information from the retina about how a body is handling the process of day and night and how the circadian rhythm should influence the body. Melatonin is secreted by non-image based information of light pattern.

In many organisms, lymph cells and cells of bone marrow have also been known to produce melatonin. These are the peripheral cells in action.

We have mentioned the ‘circadian rhythm’ numerous times on this site. As you likely know by now the circadian rythm regulates your sleep cycle. How does the body get to know when the time to sleep is and how to adjust for the biological and seasonal internal clocks? Well, the function of melatonin defines the clock. The difference in the amount and span of melatonin production determines when you will feel tired and when you won’t. When your body feels time for you to be awake, very little melatonin will be present in the body; likewise, when your body feels it is time for you to be asleep, your body will increase melatonin production and induce drowsiness.

Seasonal factors also have an effect on sleep cycles.  Your body automatically adjusts the circadian rhythm and thus the melatonin production to compensate for the long nights of winter and the short nights of summer.

Maintaining the biological clock is clearly the most important function of the chemical. Its presence falls during daytime and is heightened in production during the evening and well into the night. Then again, as the day approaches, production drastically decreases.

Melatonin helps in the antioxidant related need of the body. Antioxidants reverse free radical damage and also cut out the chances of carcinogens destroying the DNA’s. This prevents cancer to a great degree. Antioxidants are also great means of flushing out body toxins and raising body metabolism. Melatonin production also aids the immunity levels present in the body. These are also known to boost the fight against autism.