Melatonin is not ONLY a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger, Melatonin is so integral to your immune system that a lack of it causes your thymus gland, a key component of your immune system, to atrophy. It may even have a role in slowing the aging of your brain.
So why is this miracle molecule so important?
THE ANCIENT MOLECULE
Melatonin is an ancient molecule. One of the most important benefits of Melatonin is that it regulates and controls our body’s need for Circadian Rhythm.
- Melatonin is a “Hormone” naturally produced by the Pineal Gland. Melatonin is not unique to humans. It’s not unique to mammals, it’s in amphibians, birds, reptiles, insects, unicellular organisms, bacteria, plants…every organism contains melatonin even a blade of grass. There is no species that has been identified that does not contain Melatonin – Plant or Animal.
- If you look at the picture above, the Pineal Glandis a small pinecone shaped endocrine gland located near the center of the brain. In the spiritual world it’s referred to as the “Third Eye”. Its primary function is to regulate the sleep-wake cycles.
- The Pineal Gland is NOT the only organ that produces Melatonin. Many cells in the body produce Melatonin. The Pineal Gland is; however, the ONLY organ that releases it into the blood to provide “Circadian Information” to ALL CELLS that can read the message and all cells seem to be capable of reading the signal.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF MELATONIN?
For example, consider your Urinary Bladder or your Liver. There’s no way your bladder or liver would know if it’s light or dark, your liver cannot “see” so how does it know when it’s day or night unless there’s some Melatonin message its receiving. The PROBLEM IS…humans are relatively Melatonin deficient.
- Your biological clock resides in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus of your brain, let’s call this the (SCN), which is part of your hypothalamus. Based on signals of light and darkness, your SCN tells your pineal gland when it’s time to secrete melatonin.
- This is an extremely important point. Light comes in through your eyes and travels up your optic nerves to the SCN, which is exquisitely sensitive to cycles of light and darkness, and may we remind you, dark is NO LONGER DARKif you live anywhere in a city throughout the world.
SLEEP-WAKE CYCLE
Melatonin emits a circadian rhythm. Melatonin is not unique to humans. It’s not unique to mammals, it’s in amphibians, birds, reptiles, insects, unicellular organisms, bacteria, plants…every organism contains melatonin even a blade of grass.
There is no species that has been identified that does not contain Melatonin – Plant or Animal.(* Dr. Russel Reiter)
The reason you don’t have a bowel movement at night is because Melatonin sends your body a signal to suppress certain body functions that normally occur during the day, to NOT occur while you’re asleep. Hence the miracle of melatonin.
Learn more and download our FREE Melatonin eBook!
