Sleep

New research indicates that melatonin does much more than help some people sleep better. Exciting studies show that melatonin’s multifaceted effects may improve treatment outcomes in cancer patients and extend their lives. Additional applications of melatonin include guarding the nervous system against degenerative diseases—such as Alzheimer’s disease and stroke—and preventing debilitating migraines.

Melatonin has long been thought of as the “sleep hormone.” It regulates circadian rhythms, the body’s internal biological clock, which can improve sleep patterns. That’s important for optimal health. Inadequate sleep has a well-documented negative impact on immune health, increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases and cancer. But melatonin does much more.

Melatonin has been shown to help fight cancer, boost immune function, and enable better sleep in some people. This pineal hormone is secreted abundantly in youth but declines with normal aging. 

We all face stressful situations that lead to feelings of tension and worry. The body has a built-in mechanism to manage stress. When stressors persist, however, an individual’s adaptive capacity is overwhelmed, and occasional stress can transition into chronic stress.