People who have the following conditions should always check with their physicians before taking melatonin: persons who are pregnant or lactating, or have an autoimmune, seizure or endocrine disorder.

Yes. Several thousand people have taken melatonin in carefully monitored clinical studies, some in daily doses of several thousand grams or more. Without exception, these studies have shown no toxic effects and leading experts in the field agree that melatonin is remarkably safe.

As we age our bodies produce less and less melatonin so that by age 45, most people produce less than half the melatonin they produced at age 20. This reduction in melatonin can make restful sleep more difficult to achieve. Dietary supplementation with MELATONEX can help to restore the melatonin we need for restful, natural sleep.*

Melatonin has a rapid, mild sleepiness-inducing effect. Because of this trait, properly timed melatonin supplements may help people adapt to changes in sleep-wake schedules, as may occur after jet travel across many time zones or in shift work. The effectiveness of melatonin for relieving insomnia is uncertain. Many concerns remain about melatonin's safety, especially for long-term use.

Melatonin induces sleepiness and lowers body temperature slightly, perhaps a further aid to sleep since temperature normally falls around the time sleep begins. Several small studies of individuals suggest that some people with trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep may benefit from taking melatonin at bedtime. However, there have been no large-scale controlled studies as yet. Responses vary considerably between individuals.

Melatonin's long-term safety has not been established. There are growing concerns about the possibility of damage to the retina of the eye associated with melatonin use. you work as a pilot, trucker, railroader, or in another occupation in which a lack of alertness on the job could endanger yourself or others Because of concerns about transmission of viruses through animal products, melatonin derived from cow pineal glands should not be taken.

Acute: Minor. About eight out of 100 people taking 5 mg. melatonin or less per day to prevent jet lag feel sleepy in the daytime. Fewer than two out of 100 on this dose suffer a headache, feelings of fuzziness or giddiness, or nausea. In research studies using doses up to 300 mg. daily, the side effects occurring most frequently were diarrhea, abdominal pain and headaches.

Melatonin is sold as a dietary supplement, not as a drug, often in health food and other grocery stores and some drug stores. Because it is not labeled as a drug, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations that apply to medications sold in the United States do not apply to melatonin. The FDA does not require manufacturers of melatonin to demonstrate that their product is safe and effective nor to monitor its safety and efficacy, as is the case for drugs.

I had the opportunity to speak with many people who were attempting this challenge without supplementation. As I progressed in my program they began approaching me for advice because they weren't getting the results they saw I was achieving. These discussions confirmed for me the importance of supplementation and I definitely recommend it to anyone committed to success. (Personal use has included Betagen; CytoVol; Neurogain; Riboforce; HMB; Myoplex Deluxe and Methoxy Factor).

B and C vitamins are water soluable, which means whatever the body does not use are eliminated in the urine. You basically cannot "overdo" the vitamins except too much can cause loose bowels (that's why you often see it recommended to supplement with Vitamin C "to bowel tolerance"). Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluable and it IS possible to cause problems by over-supplementing - sometimes the problems can be as bad if not worse than UNDER supplementation.

If you want to raise your pH level, you should take your calcium supplement every day. Here are some tips to help you remember. Take your calcium with meals. For example, calcium is most effective with meals, and studies have shown that it may be better absorbed with food. Take your calcium supplement in divided doses throughout the day. The body can absorb only so much calcium at one time, so try taking a supplement with two or three of your meals each day.

We normally charge 10-15% extra to the listed tour price for single rooms. We always try to provide a double room for you unless not available or possible-- If you don't mind sharing a room we will do our best to find a compatible guest to avoid this surcharge.

For your health and safety the melatonin in MELATONEX is produced in a laboratory, eliminating the risk of contamination associated with animal sources.

Review #1 - ME/CFS Sufferer (inc. general info) : Melatonin review / Melatonin suggested use ~ "Melatonin is your natural 'sleep hormone' that your brain produces when it gets dark. PVFS/CFS/ME and FMS sufferers have been shown to have abnormal levels of melatonin. Research suggests that ME/CFS..." More... Review #1 - ME/CFS Sufferer: Chronic Fatigue Diet ~ "This book really woke me up to the importance of what you eat when you have CFS . A good CFS diet is crucial..." More.

The secretion of melatonin follows a daily rhythm governed by the body's master clock. This clock is located in the brain and is synchronized by regular exposure to the 24-hour cycle of darkness and light. Melatonin secretion may serve as a biological time cue. Although its natural secretion in the body peaks at night, melatonin does not control sleep. If it did, night workers would not be able to sleep in the daytime when melatonin levels are low.

No studies of humans support this notion. In one group of animal studies, the pineal glands of young mice were transplanted into old mice, and vice versa. The old mice allegedly lived longer. The young mice allegedly died sooner. Some strains of mice used in these studies, however, have a genetic defect that keeps them from producing melatonin. The alleged benefits therefore could not have come from melatonin.

While some positive evidence comes from animal studies, more work must be done to confirm and extend these findings. It is a big leap from mice to humans.

It is important in regulating sleep, and may play a role in maintaining circadian rhythm, the body's natural time clock. Natural melatonin production decreases with age, and the decrease is associated with some sleep disorders, particularly in the elderly. The use of melatonin supplements became popular in the mid-1990s as a way of treating insomnia. (Adapted from Answers.com)