Is melatonin an effective sleeping aid? What are the side effects?
We consulted the Alternative Medicine > Herbal Remedies section of Yahoo! Health for the inside dope on melatonin. This natural hormone is produced by the pineal gland and regulates the body’s sleep cycle — melatonin levels in the human body rise during the evening and abate during the morning. Not surprisingly, a melatonin supplement, available without prescription in tablets or capsules, has proved useful in combating insomnia, as well as jet lag and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). As you get older, you stop producing as much — this is why the elderly are especially susceptible to insomnia. While melatonin is a relatively popular drug amongst nighttime tossers and turners, there are a lot of caveats associated with it. In general, you shouldn’t tak
