Dear Super-Lynne, and dear Info-share family, On melatonin, I love it! Many people fear they have to ask their doctor, before taking it. Melatonin is a natural hormone the body makes: as we age, the body does not make it any more. I saw on WCBS' "60 minutes," that, "people can get psychiatric problems, simply from not sleeping". I used to walk the floor, from midnight on: in 2006, I started taking melatonin, and walk the floor no more. If you ask the doctor though, most of them, (a few are good, but not too many), most will discourage its use. They push other drugs that have bad side effects, or are actually zombifying: Super-Lynne, I know you don't like the idea of these drugs: I don't either.Six milograms nightly is what you need. (Invite-Health wouldknow, the doctor won't). This is also true, for prevention of osteoporosis: take anything not only with calcium and vitamin-D., but also, what ou take, must have phosphorous! I love Posture-Cal-D., in the orange box, 1800 milograms a day. Or, should you not be able to find it, check out Invite-Health: 1800 724/5566 they sell melatonin, and ask the nutritionist for calcium with D. and phosphorous: they told me they have Calplex. Peace, Lucia ________________________________ From: infoshare-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:infoshare-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lynne Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 2:08 PM To: infoshare@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [infoshare] Melatonin Hi, All. Here is an article copied from this month's Matilda Ziegler. It proves that you should be wary and careful of even natural supplements. Lynne Melatonin May Help Sleep, but Safety Is Not Known (By Martha A. Simpson, D.O. From www.familymedicine.org , copyright April 9, 2008) Melatonin is a hormone that naturally occurs in our bodies. It is produced in the pineal gland, and it helps to regulate our circadian rhythm--the internal timing mechanism that keeps us awake in the daytime and asleep during the night. Melatonin is manufactured by the body in response to being in a dark environment, and production is decreased with exposure to light. The female hormones that help regulate the menstrual cycle are released in response to melatonin. Some research suggests that the body's decline in melatonin levels with age contributes to sleeping problems in older adults. Melatonin has also been shown to be an antioxidant and may boost the immune system. Melatonin supplements can be used for many things, and it has received a good deal of publicity as a treatment for insomnia. In fact, a few scientific studies have shown it to be more effective than a placebo, or sugar pill, in treating sleep problems. Specifically, these studies have found that melatonin was better than a placebo in three areas--reducing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, increasing the number of hours of sleep, and improving daytime alertness. Other studies, however, have shown these effects to be present only for short-term use--a few days to several weeks. Also, the effects of using melatonin supplements for an extended period of time have not been studied, so its long-term safety is not known. Melatonin is also being studied as an adjunctive treatment for a wide range of other conditions. A few that are currently under investigation include depression, eating disorders, osteoporosis, cancer, attention deficit, sunburn and heart disease. All the studies are very preliminary, and you should not try on your own to use melatonin to treat any of these conditions. While melatonin is available without a prescription, it should be used with caution. Always start with the lowest possible dose and only after consultation with your family physician. If you take too much melatonin, it can cause agitation and anxiety. When using melatonin for insomnia, take it about one hour before bedtime. You will know it worked if you get a restful night's sleep and have no fatigue or irritability the next day. Melatonin is known to have side effects such as vivid dreams and nightmares. It can also disrupt your sleep and wake cycles if not taken properly. Also, be careful if you are taking other medications regularly--even over-the-counter products. Though many drugs and a few herbs can interact negatively with melatonin, you should be particularly careful not to use other sedative drugs or alcohol when taking melatonin. Because of the possibility of these types of drug interactions, consult your physician before trying melatonin.