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Melatonin Topical Cream
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, a small organ located at the base of the brain. It is derived from a related hormone known as serotonin, which in turn is produced from the amino acid tryptophan. Melatonin is found in virtually all organisms, animals as well as plants; cherries have particularly high concentrations of this substance. In reptiles and amphibians, melatonin acts by stimulating changes in skin color. However, the most important physiological functions of this hormone in humans involve regulating sleep and maintaining the body's biological clock, also known as circadian rhythm. Basically, another gland called the hypothalamus measures daylight/darkness patterns from information received via the eyes. The hypothalamus then signals the pineal gland to release melatonin based on how much light has been sensed, with increased production in the evening and peak levels in the body at late at night. Scientist Julius Axelrod won a Nobel Prize for investigating the roles of the pineal gland and melatonin in controlling sleep/wake cycles. It has been established that natural melatonin levels decrease with age, thus increasing the likelihood of sleep disorders over time. The use of melatonin supplements such as Melatonin Topical Cream represents one approach to treating sleep problems, and melatonin supplements, used on an occasional basis, have been effective in persons with difficulty in falling asleep as well as those with mild or occasional insomnia. Dosage is a factor in using melatonin to treat sleep problems. It is known that too much melatonin can actually disturb sleep patterns, and that individual responses can vary widely. Accordingly, individuals using melatonin for sleep improvement often start with low doses (as little as 0.1-0.3 mg); gradual adjustments are made to find an optimal dose. Furthermore, because it is relatively fast acting, it is best used about 30-45 minutes prior to bedtime. (Melatonin is generally not recommended for daytime use as it may cause drowsiness but is otherwise generally free of side effects). Melatonin is also used to relieve jet lag, a disturbance in the body's natural sleep/wake rhythm as the result of quickly traveling across multiple time zones. Interestingly, melatonin appears to be more effective in counteracting the effects of jet lag in persons traveling from west to east rather than from east to west. The usual dose for treating jet lag is higher than what is needed for sleep disorders, ranging from about 0.3 - 1.5 mg. A recent (2002) review of clinical trials of melatonin as a jet lag treatment indicated that sleep is improved in air travelers who take 5 mg of melatonin at night (ideally between 10 PM and midnight) once they arrive at their destination. In addition to its use in treating sleep problems and jet lag, melatonin has other biological activities, notably antioxidant and immunostimulatory effects. Melatonin's chemical structure is such that it passes through cell membranes, and even the blood-brain barrier, with relative ease. Furthermore, melatonin's biochemical properties are such that it can act as a strong, stable antioxidant, readily reacting with free radicals. Researchers are actively engaged in studying the anticancer, cardiovascular, immunomodulatory/antiinflammatory, antiviral, dermatological, neuropsychiatric, neuroprotective and anti-aging properties of this substance. Specific potential uses of melatonin include treating cardiac arrhythmias, preventing migraine headaches, improving thyroid function and gonadotropin levels in perimenopausal women, controlling obesity, treating depression, alleviating symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, and improving memory as well as treating Alzheimer's Disease. The combination of cell membrane penetrability and stability makes melatonin an excellent candidate for topical use. In fact, a number of scientific and clinical studies have employed topical preparations of melatonin. If applied topically 15-30 minutes prior to exposure to sunlight, melatonin can help prevent ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced skin damage (erythema), due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. Topical melatonin can also alleviate skin damage resulting from pressure ulcers. There is ample evidence from the medical literature that melatonin supplementation can benefit autistic patients. Among the first researchers to note that melatonin can help treat sleep disorders in children with autism and other disabilities were J. E. Jen and M. E. O'Donnell of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Oral melatonin administered at bedtime provided sleep improvements to about 80 percent of their patients, with no observable adverse effects (Journal of Pineal Research, volume 21, pages 193-199, 1996). A subsequent Japanese study reached similar conclusions (about 70 percent of patients improved). More recently, researchers from the University of Rome, Italy used a controlled-release form of melatonin on autistic children with chronic sleep problems. Melatonin was found to be "an effective and well-tolerated treatment" for these problems (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 36:741-752, 2006). These results go hand-in-hand with research indicated that autistic children and teenagers have reduced levels of nighttime melatonin release (possibly because of pineal gland dysfunction), and that such decreases in melatonin levels may influence the pathophysiology of autism in affected individuals (Neuro Endocrinology Letters 21:31-34, 2000; Biological Psychiatry 57:134-138, 2005). Furthermore, the scientific literature also indicates a link between sleep problems in autism and epilepsy. B. A. Malow of Vanderbilt University observed that "epilepsy and sleep have reciprocal relationships, with sleep facilitating seizures and seizures adversely affecting sleep architecture...Treating sleep disorders, which are potentially caused by or contributed to by autism, may impact favorably on seizure control and on daytime behavior" (Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Review 10:122-125, 2004). The significance of this becomes clear in realizing that melatonin has also been reported to be useful in controlling epileptic seizures. What makes the use of melatonin in autism even more compelling goes beyond melatonin's ability to regulate sleep, as one must also consider the benefits of melatonin's strong antioxidant properties. Supplementation with antioxidants such as melatonin could be very important for autistic individuals, particularly in young patients who may have increased sensitivity to/decreased protection from damage caused by chemical free radicals or UV radiation (oxidative stress). As Dr. Woody R. McGinnis has noted, the use of antioxidants in such patients can markedly improve behavior in persons with autism. (For more on the role of oxidative stress in autism and the use of antioxidants in its treatment, see Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, volume 10, pages 22-36, 2004). Melatonin Topical Cream offers still one more advantage for autistic patients: it solves oral ingestion issues. Although the use of supplements addressing the biological and biochemical deficits of autistic children is beneficial, getting children to ingest such supplements can be challenging. Both food intolerances and abnormal oral sensory sensitivities can make taking supplements or medications by mouth a difficult process. Because melatonin has favorable biochemical properties with respect to cell membrane penetration and stability, the body can readily absorb it once it is applied to the skin. Melatonin Topical Cream can be simply applied to the soles of the feet and/or to other thin-skinned areas of the body. Ingredients: Deionized Water, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Shea Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Potassium Sorbate, Melatonin, Xanthan Gum. Melatonin: 2 mg/ 1/4 tsp. 2 ounces For external use only. Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
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