Melatonin and Sunlight - Can It Really Beat Insomnia?

Just what is it that makes us sleep? What a great question! So if only researchers could pinpoint the answer then perhaps all the companies that manufacturer insomnia medications would be out of business.

It really doesn't matter to whom you ask what it is that makes us sleep, but one thing is for sure and that is you will get a range of answers.

While there are some of us who must have a comfortable bed and a quiet bedroom, there are others who simply believe that the body will sleep when you are tired enough and actually in need of sleep. Many people would say that a big, fat, hearty meal would cause you to sleep. But guess what folks, the actual answer to this question is that you sleep when the natural hormone melatonin is released.

The hormone melatonin is secreted from a gland located at the base of the brain called the pineal gland. Melatonin is secreted at various levels all day long. The varying levels of melatonin which are present in your body at any given time helps your body to regulate your body's natural sleep-wake cycle. So think about it, the tiny pineal gland is responsible for your night of restful sleep or lack thereof. The pineal gland and the melatonin it secretes helps to regulate your internal body clock, which then helps to keep the body in a state of chemical balance that impact the body in many different ways.

For example, there is a correlation between the release of melatonin and the body's temperature, both of which are controlled by the body's circadian rhythm. Melatonin levels and your body's temperature are both actually lower during the daytime but they gradually increase as evening approaches and as you might have suspected, your body's temperature and melatonin levels reaching their highest levels during nighttime sleeping which makes the most sense.

The pineal gland is stimulated by sunset and darkness which is you're your melatonin levels increase as darkness falls. But the opposite is true during the daytime hours, which is when you will find that your melatonin levels are barely traceable. But, as daytime turns into night, the pineal gland begins to release additional melatonin into the bloodstream. You can almost feel the sleepiness creeping in as your melatonin level increases. By this time your eyelids should be feeling heavy and your body should feel tired. Another thing that happens as your body gets ready for sleep is to actually lower your blood pressure. This process continues as the melatonin in your bloodstream continues to increase until it peaks in the wee hours of the morning around 3 or 4 AM. And then you must realize what a miraculous thing your body is, since as the levels peak, they then begin to decline which helps you to being to wake up.

Of course, anything that disrupts the normal release cycle of melatonin can also disrupt your sleep patterns. If your body senses lower levels of melatonin then your body will begin to wake you up and prepare for the daytime.

So, although it is probably not the thing you obsess over, knowing what triggers the sleep cycle is an important piece of knowledge which can help you get a restful night's sleep. Melatonin definitely plays a critical role in helping you to consistently enjoy a restful night's sleep. So supplementing with melatonin might be something to consider if you are fighting insomnia. Talk with your physician to see if this might be something that could be helpful to you.