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Article: Melatonin
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 The Gale Group, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Melatonin
Description
Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally in the pineal gland at the base of the brain. It is important in regulating sleep, and may play a role in maintaining circadian rhythm, the body's natural time clock. The hypothalamus keeps track of the amount of sunlight that is taken in by the eye. The less sunlight, the more melatonin that is released by the pineal gland, thereby enhancing and regulating sleep. Melatonin can also be taken in an over-the-counter supplement mainly sold in health food stores and pharmacies.
General use
A variety of medical uses for melatonin have been reported but its current popularity stems from its promotion as a sleep aid and to reduce
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Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:
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Article: Melatonin magic: it's touted as a remedy for seasonal ...
Inside Business;
October 1, 2007 ;
700+ words
... ... might be affected by melatonin, including sleep disturbances, depression, jet lag, headaches, hypertension ... Researchers think supplemental melatonin might help prevent and ... Clinic researchers, melatonin rates an "A" (strong ... just one disorder: jet lag. It gets a "B" grade ...
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