Melatonin
is a natural hormone made by your body's pineal (pih-knee-uhl) gland. The
pineal gland lies at the base of the brain. When the sun goes down, the
pineal gland "goes to work." As melatonin production rises, you
begin to feel less alert. Body temperature starts to fall and sleep seems
more inviting. Melatonin levels drop quickly with the dawning of a new
day. Melatonin levels are so low during the day that scientists often have
difficulty detecting it.
Melatonin levels go hand in hand with the light-dark cycle, not just for people, but for plants and animals that keep alert during the day. Melatonin production is also related to age. Children manufacture more melatonin than the elderly. Melatonin production begins to drop at puberty.
If you're curious about melatonin, it's not surprising. There has been a lot of attention paid to the hormone in popular magazines and books, scholarly journals, and advertisements. You may have heard claims that melatonin cures everything from jet lag to insomnia to aging. Chances are good that you've seen melatonin in healthfood stores, heard it being discussed, seen an advertisement or read an article about it.
