#Helpful #melatonin #plants #insomnia

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Hello! This is Happy from Yak-Al..

In modern society, the lights don't turn off even at night..

That's why there are probably many people who can't sleep at night..

However, our body has a hormone that makes us fall asleep at night.Did you know that?!?

That hormone is melatonin..

When you visit a hospital for insomnia, your doctor may ‘prescribe melatonin.’.

Let's learn together about melatonin, which is both a hormone and a medication.!

1. What is the melatonin hormone??

Melatonin is a hormone released from ‘the pineal gland,’a part of our brain.

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This hormone is released when light signals to the eyes decrease,,

and it helps us fall asleep..

Conversely, when light signals enter the eyes, melatonin release decreases,,

and we remain awake..

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In simple terms, melatonin is

a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle..

When we're young, this hormone is secreted smoothly,

and we sleep a lot.,

However, after age 55, melatonin secretion decreases sharply,and

insomnia caused by decreased melatonin can be triggered..

2. Is there a melatonin medication??

Yes, melatonin supplements are used to aid sleep. .

Additionally, since melatonin is a hormone related to circadian rhythm,,

it also helps with jet lag adaptation..

Currently in South Korea, ‘synthetic melatonin’can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription,

while melatonin available as a general food without a prescription is,

plant-based melatonin.

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Some people purchase melatonin through international direct purchases, so let's compare synthetic and plant-based melatonin in the table below..

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Synthetic Melatonin	Direct Import Melatonin	Plant-Based Melatonin
Chemically synthesized melatonin	Chemically synthesized melatonin
: In the form of gels, capsules, etc.	Melatonin extracted from plants
It is a prescription medication, so a doctor's prescription is required.	Direct import does not require a prescription.	It is a general food, so no prescription is required.
Mainly made in extended-release form
: Stays in the body longer and acts for a longer time	Mainly made in immediate-release form
: Rapidly absorbed and acts quickly,
and rapidly eliminated from the body

The difference in efficacy between synthetic and plant-based melatonin is known to be not significant..

Extended-release vs Immediate-release
- ‘Extended-release’refers to a form that remains in the body for a long time and allows medication to act over an extended period. Therefore, the extended-release form of synthetic melatonin is ‘sleep maintenance’suitable for those who have difficulty with. However, in South Korea, extended-release synthetic melatonin can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription..
‘Immediate-release’refers to a form of medication that is rapidly absorbed, acts quickly, and is rapidly eliminated from the body. Therefore, plant-based melatonin is ‘sleep induction’suitable for those who have difficulty with..

3. Do plants also produce melatonin hormone??

Yes.! Plants also produce melatonin hormone..

For about 35 years after melatonin was first extracted from a cow's pineal gland,

nobody knew that melatonin hormone was being produced in plants..

After 35 years, the fact that melatonin is produced in plants was discovered,,

and it was also confirmed that melatonin is produced through a more complex process than the synthesis process in animals.

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So what role does the melatonin hormone play in plants??

Growth regulation : It is involved in developmental processes related to plant growth, such as germination, root formation, flowering time, leaf senescence, and fruit maturation..
Stress resistance : It enhances resistance to stress from extreme environments such as drought and salinity..
Antioxidant action : It removes reactive oxygen species to prevent cell damage and maintains overall plant health..

Here, the ‘antioxidant action’effect of melatonin

is also expressed in our body..

In simple terms, melatonin hormone in our body plays roles such as

‘circadian rhythm regulation and antioxidant action.’ .

3-1 Which plants contain high amounts of melatonin??

Tart cherry (Tart cherry)

: Tart cherry contains approximately 12 nanograms of melatonin per 1g..

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Tomato

: Tomato contains approximately 10â20 nanograms of melatonin per 1g..

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Nuts

: Nuts such as sunflower seeds, almonds, and walnuts contain approximately 30 nanograms of melatonin per 1g..

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Mustard seeds

: Commonly called 'whole grain mustard'! Mustard seeds contain approximately 120â180 nanograms of melatonin per 1g..

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3-2 So if I eat a lot of these foods, will I sleep better??

The melatonin medication we get prescribed at the hospital contains approximately 2mg of melatonin..

To obtain 2mg of melatonin from tart cherries, you would need to eat

approximately 167kg of tart cherries.(That's a lot!)..)

Therefore, melatonin extracted from plants and made into food is called

‘plant-based melatonin.’.

4. Is melatonin different from sleeping pills??

Both are medications that help us sleep well, but are they different??

You can think of them as quite different..

Sleeping pills act on receptors related to 'sedation' called GABA..

While effective, if high doses are consumed,

they can suppress breathing and heart rate, making them a high-risk medication..

Melatonin is a 'hormone' structure, as mentioned above..

Since it is a substance that exists in our body, it is less risky than sleeping pills..

However, melatonin also has side effects if not taken properly, so

you must take it exactly as directed.!

5. Conclusion

Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle..
Melatonin medication includes 'synthetic melatonin' and 'plant-based melatonin.'.
Plants also produce melatonin. Additionally, melatonin also has antioxidant action..
Melatonin is contained in various foods. However, to see the effects of melatonin, you need to eat a tremendous amount..

Sleeping pills are a medication with greater side effects than melatonin. However, melatonin is not without side effects either..