Why is Melatonin so important?

Once the sun goes down and our surroundings are shrouded in increasing darkness, a tiny Pineal gland in our brain springs into action and releases melatonin into our blood.

The hormone functions as a signal that reminds us to head to bed and have a proper rest, thus maintaining our natural circadian rhythm, which demands us to be active during the day and relax when the night comes.

Regulating our sleeping schedule is melatonin‘s primary purpose – however, its work does not end there. It keeps our mood in check by protecting us from depression, anxiety and the effects of stress.

It lowers the risk of coronary disease, ensures proper functioning of the gallbladder and maintains the strength of the immune system.

Yet, shorctcuts like taking melatonin as a supplement for insomnia are only a short term solution and it comes with risks of its own, like the potential for a melatonin overdose.

Ways to go around fixing it naturally

Quick and convenient sleep supplements might seem tempting in such a predicament but they are not nearly as effective as natural ways to boost the Melatonin production.

There are two main elements that you need to look at and adjust accordingly in order to make your bodily clock run smoothly once again: light and food.

Adressing the issue of melatonin and blue light

Reduce your exposure to artificial light at least two hours before going to sleep. When it comes to the sources of artificial light, nothing disrupts your circadian rhythm as much as computer screens, TVs and mobile phones.

These are the primary sources of blue light that affect Melatonin production.

What you can do

Turn all of these devices off for the night, put them in a place which precludes the light from reaching you, or wear an eye mask. If pitch-black darkness makes you uncomfortable, use a candle instead.

You should also make sure to catch some natural sunlight during the day, as the pineal gland can only produce enough of the hormone during the night if it has remained completely inactive earlier on.

Tryptophan and melatonin

An essential amino acid called tryptophan is also important for those of you who are looking for natural ways to up your melatonin levels, as it facilitates the hormone’s production.

The highest amount of tryptophan can be found in foods like garbanzo beans, spirulina, cottage cheese, yoghurt, turkey, chicken, peanuts and pumpkin seeds.

What to avoid

When it comes to the products that you should avoid, coffee is, quite naturally, at the top of the list – it has been linked to significant drops in melatonin levels.

if you are having problems with kicking the coffeine addiction, you might consider substitutes like kava kava – you can see our guide on best kava kava supplements, extracts and powders for anxiety and sleep here.

Refrain from eating a large meal before bed or consuming sugary foods, as this can lead to blood sugar imbalances during the night and consequently disturb your natural sleeping patterns.

The confusion surrounding the topic can be easily explained if you take 5 minutes and read a few opinions, within minutes you’ll find opposing stances on using the supplement as a sleep aid for kids and toddlers.

Let’s take what the experts from the Mayo clinic – in 2015, they recommended against it, if you visit their website today you’ll find that they tweaked their opinion and their official viewpoint is now that “In children, Melatonin is likely safe for long-term use in recommended doses.”

Changes on where the science stands on the topic are only natural as the body of studies grows and they have more data to work with.

In the video below, Dr Craig Canapari, a pediatric sleep physician from Yale University lists the 5 things every parent must know about using the supplement.

It’s a must watch.

Credit: Dr Craig Canapary, MD

Everybody will agree that if you (or your pediatrician) do decide to see if the supplement can help you little one get better sleep, there are few additional safety layers to look for:

Parent satisfaction % with Tired Teddies

Parent satisfaction % with Luna Kids

Parent satisfaction % with the Shavshtya
melatonin liquid for kids

What’s the fuss about?

It is is the only hormone that’s available OTC in the US. Now, saying that it’s a hormone that you give to your child doesn’t sound great.

Let’s clarify – it’s not a gender-related hormone, it’s a sleep hormone – in other words, it is naturally secreted by a small gland in our brain (pinneal) and plays a crucial role in when we fall asleep, when we wake up and how good of a sleep we get.

It is not classified as a drug but as a supplement, and as such, it’s not regulated by the FDA.

Melatonin for children with autism

Children with autism are known to have sleep problems and some of them have low levels of the sleep-regulating hormone. They have problems falling asleep; they wake up at night often and have nightmares.

This is the reason why the supplement is commonly used as a part of a behavioral management plan and usually yields good results. There’s mounting evidence for that, you can read this interesting article that supports the claim on AutismSpeaks.org.

Melatonin for kids with adhd

More than a half of children with ADHD have sleeping problems, including difficulty falling asleep and daytime sleepiness.

Trials showed that doses ranging from 3–6 mg helped children with ADHD fall asleep quickly but there were some side effects like waking up at night and daytime grogginess.

Read more ProgressiveHealth.com

Statistics say that this type of coughing is likely caused by one of the following four conditions: Croup, Bronchiti, Asthma and Sinusitis.

If your baby or toddler is coughing only tonight at night, croup might be causing the issue. Croup is a condition that irritates the uper airways of the toddler.

How to recognize it?

This cough is repetitive, aggressive and the bursts are harsher at night. It’s a result of an inflamed throat, windpipe and/or vocal cords.

Usually occurs in toddlers under the age of five and symptoms can include: difficulty breathing, fever, problems with swallowing food and high-pitched wheezing sounds.

Views expressed by the Mayo Clinic are that cough caused by croup can usually be soothed in your own home by increasing the moisture air (using a humidifier) and by making sure that your kid stayed hydrated.

Most parents are familiar you the condition – it’s an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that is usually caused by infections or colds.

How to recognize it?

Bronchitis symptoms include white, yellow, green or clear mucus, coughing and chest discomfort followed by extreme fatigue. The condition itself usually improves waiting a week; however, the night coughs may persist for a few weeks.

Your pediatrician might decide to recommend cough syrup or some other sort of suppressant to offer relief.

Asthma is followed by narrowing of the airways and production of mucus.

It’s hard to precisely define the symptoms because they substantially vary on case-to-case basis.

Signs of the condition can be shortness of breath, wheezing from the lungs and a persistent cough. The views expressed by Mayo Clinic describe asthma as being caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

If the night coughs are caused by asthma, your pediatrician will be the one to craft a treatment plan.

Sinusitis is characterized by the swelling and inflammation of nasal cavities which results mucus build-up.

The most common causes are infections, but it can also be caused by polyps or a deviation of the nasal septum.

Coughing caused by sinusitis tends to get worse at night.

The condition commonly goes away on its own, but should it persist for more than a few days, consult your pediatrician.

Apart from the obvious conditions that we listed above, if the night cough is chronic you should you rethink the sleeping environment off your baby or toddler.

The choice of the baby crib or toddler mattress is crucial

This might include steps like rethinking the choice of the baby crib mattress, optimizing the humidity of the air and making sure that the environment is clean and safe from any allergens that might be causing the night-only coughs in babies and toddlers.

Kids that are especially sensitive to allergens such as dust mites might get relief if you change the linen more frequently. If none of the conditions we talked about above are the cause, the most likely cause for a toddler coughing only at night are allergies caused by a range of triggers – one of the more common ones being the dust mites from the linen.

The reason for this is the fact that dust mites feed on the dead skin cells that stay trapped in the sheets and the body of the mattress.

One of the most common sleep is chronic night coughing especially if you’re sleeping with a partner. Not only do you keep them awake but you interfering with your own sleep patterns too.

Nocturnal coughing can be a sign of number of respiratory problems: bronchitis, pneumonia, heart problems and acid reflux.

If your cough is caused by a temporary issue like cold there’s probably no need to worry, should the coffee milk and pool after two or three nights it’s advisable to consult your physician

Statistically speaking most of the night coughs are a symptom of allergies or respiratory tract congestion, but there are still steps you can take to improve the condition.

Tip 1 – Adjust your sleep position

If you have issues with acid reflux in the past this is probably one of the tapes card from your doctor – sleep inclined.

The easiest way to do this is to you dedicated pillows also known as wedges. This will prevent the mucus that you swallow during the day getting back to your throat and towards your lungs.

The cremation doesn’t have to be extreme. If you want don’t want to get a special pillow, the solution can be as simple as elevating the top of your mattress by 3 to 4 inches by placing within blocks, either under the frame of the top part of the mattress or the mattress itself.

The incline flipping from this position will allow you to avoid acid reflux coming back from your esophagus and irritating your throat.

If at all possible avoid sleeping on your back, because this is one of the sleep positions that makes things worse if you’re suffering from. Due to the shape of your digestive tract you’ll see many more irritation from acid reflux when sleeping on your left side

If a heart condition is cause of problems, sleeping in an inclined position can also help significantly because the water that is naturally goes down to the lower area and has minimal effect on your breathing.

Tip 2 – take a cold shower before you go to bed

Another common cause for nocturnal coughing can be a dry respiratory tract. To learn whether this is your scenario try taking the long soothing bath in the top of hot water.

Try to inhale as much steam as you can, it will help with the dryness.

Cautionary note – don’t try disconnected if you’re suffering from asthma, but because it can worsen your condition.

Tip 3 – avoid sleeping under a fan, radiator or an air conditioner

Cold air blowing into your face can worsen your cough, or even cause it in the first place.

Move your bed so that it’s not under the air conditioner or the fan.

Tip 4 – get a humidifier

This step dies into the conversation already have about the dryness of the respiratory tract being the potential issue causing your nocturnal onset of cough.

A humidifier can help you keep a certain level committed to the house. The sting opens your respiratory tract and allows air to circulate better.

The moisture created by the humidifier will help keep your respiratory tract hydrated.

The moisture level years should be kept in the range between 40 and 50%, because dust mites and mold thrive in space that are more humid than that.

Tip 5 – wash your sheets and covers at least once a week

If your nocturnal cough is persistent, it’s likely that you’re suffering from allergies and it’s crucial to keep your sheets clean.

Dust mites are small creatures feed on that skin that sheds up your body, and they thrive because there is more food – cells of your debts can. If you are prone to allergies, chances are high that your also sensitive to dust mites.

The rule that you mentioned – washing your sheets at least once a week, also applies to your pillow and your blankets. You can minimize the risk by investing in a hypo-allergenic pillow.

Tip 6 – keep a glass of water at hand

It’s a good idea to always have a glass of water on your bedside table. If you wake up to a dry cough during the night, you can suit your throat with a sip of water. Avoid using cold or iced water, since it can only further irritate your throat.

Tip 7 – train yourself to breathe properly

Make an attempt to train yourself to breathe through your nose while you sleep, it’s just basic physiology. It’s our nature to break through the nose, while breathing through the mount exclusively is a learned behavior because most of us develop some kind of congestion in the nasal area over our lifetime.

Breathing through your nose will put less stress in your throats and relieve your night calls.

It might sound complicated, but after a few weeks of training you can learn to breathe properly.

Below is an outlines of how to do the exercises:

• Sit in a comfortable, slightly reclined position
• Relax your body and close your mouth
• Place your tongue behind your lower teeth – make sure that your tongue doesn’t touch the top of your mouth
• Place your hands on your diaphragm (belly)
• Make a conscious effort to breed in using your diaphragm rather than your torso. This is important because it helps the lungs work properly while gently massaging your liver and intestines.
• The secondary benefit of proper breathing is that it stimulates the elimination of toxins from your body.
• Inhale deeply through your nose (for 2 to 3 seconds)
• Breathe out the same way but take a bit more time (3 to 4 seconds)
• Take a break of 2 to 3 seconds before breathing in again
• Repeat this several times, while slightly increasing the duration of breathing in and out as well as the brakes in-between
• Repeat this exercise a few times a day and you’ll soon notice a change – you’ll see that breathing through the nose comes to us naturally.

In more persistent and severe cases of coughs your physician might advise taking a cough medicine. The first step is likely to be an OTC syrup. These help with the coughing two different ways.

• They soften the mucus located in your throat and your respiratory tract
• They block the natural coughing instinct
• Another option is applying VapoRub on your chest before going to bed.
• Both of these are universally recognized to be helpful remedies for nocturnal cough.

Honey

Honey is an excellent natural remedy for an irritated throat because it covers and soothes the mucous membranes of the throat. Just one spoonful can go a long way.

Rule of thumb here can be to take one or two spoonfuls of honey 3 times a day, dissolved in hot water with a touch of lemon juice.

Cautionary note – although honey is a very healthy natural remedy shouldn’t be given to children under the age of 2 because of the risk of botulism, a disease which is bacterial in origin.

Licorice root tea

Licorice root is a natural decongestant. It soothes your throat and soft in the mucus present in the respiratory tract. It also fights off and inflammation present.

You can purchase licorice feedbacks in most stores but it’s advisable to go with brands that there third party tested.

Making the licorice root tea

Unless otherwise stated on the box, infuse the licorice root in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Covered the to keep the steam and the restorative oils in the tea.

During this study 1 to 2 times a day and before you go to bed.

If you want to combine the power of honey licorice root, you can always replace the water in the honey solution (see mentioned above) with a bit of added lemon.

Gargle saltwater

In some cases of nocturnal coughing saltwater might be of help. This is especially true if the causes of the night coughs are congested breeding pathways.

To make the solution these old about half of small spoon off salt worried about 250 mL of lukewarm water until it’s been so. Use the solution to gargle, but be careful not to swallow repeat the gargling until you have used up solution and then rinse your mouth with clear water.

Use water vapor and natural oils

Steam is an excellent way to absorb moisture through the respiratory tract and sued by nocturnal costs. By adding in essential oils such as eucalyptus three you will also have the added antibacterial, antiviral and the inflammatory benefits.

Here is a short outline of how to make the solution of natural essential oils:

• Boil enough water to feel one bowl of medium-size
• Pour the water into the bowl and let it rest for about a minute
• Add 3 to 4 drops of essential oil – eucalyptus is always a good choice
• Stir quickly will until the vapor start to rise
• Bend your head above the bowl and try to be as close as possible to the steam (make sure that you’re not too close for steam to be unpleasant or burn your skin
• Place a clean towel over your head and the bowl, making a tent of sorts to trap the steem
• Breathe deeply for 5 to 10 minutes and repeat the procedure to 2×3 times a day

Essential oils are also found to be helpful for nocturnal coughs when applied directly to the skin. Always mix the essential oils with organic olive oil before applying it, because the essential oils are not meant to be applied directly to the skin.

When it comes to comparing Valerian root and Melatonin in terms of sleep, the difference is pretty clear.

Valerian is milder while Melatonin has a more direct action.

It makes sence when you think about the fact that the former is a herb that affects our brain and the later is a hormone identical to the chemical our brain “makes”.

Let us explain

As it gets dark your pineal gland secretes Melatonin that sends the signal to your brain and body that bed-time is close. On the other hand, Valerian is more of calming and relaxing agent and it works by promoting GABA (neurotransmitter that has the role of blocking impulses among nerve cells).

To put it simply – Melatonin might be the option if your main problem is falling asleep while Valerian might be your choice if the problem is staying asleep. Being a hormone, Melatonin is more likely to be habit-forming.

The most popular sleeping OTC sleep aids include both because they complement each other.

Let’s explain – if you’re suffering from insomnia, it would take high doses of Valerian to put you to sleep and with the high dosages, it’s common for people to report feeling fatigued the next day.

That’s why a touch of Melatonin makes it easier to fall asleep while Valerian lowers the chances of waking up though the night and keeps anxiety issues at bay.

You can see the highest-rated supplements

based on the Valerian-Melatonin combo below:

A hormone that naturally occurs in every living animal and plant, although it has different roles in each. In animals, the pineal gland produces it and its function is to help regulate wakefulness and sleep.

The hormone is also reported to defend from oxidative stress. We, as mammals, naturally produce it. However imbalances may occur, especially as we get older, most commonly resulting in insomnia, anxiety and headaches. Supplementing this hormone goes a long way in improving sleeping patterns and reducing stress. It’s also known for its positive effects when used for overcoming jet lag or alternating shifts.

The crucial part is to be careful now to take too much of it – we’ve recently published a guide on whether you can overdose on it and how much it too much – you can see it here.

This herb has a long history of treating sleep and anxiety disorders, and it’s been supported by recent studies.

It’s especially popular in Europe – it dates back as far as the 16th century. The organic supplement has been approved by the main worldwide drug associations, including the FDA (US Food & Drug Administration).

It works as an anti-anxiolytic, lowering anxiety levels. To put it in layman terms, It influences the GABA receptors in the brain through allergenic acid that reduces stress, anxiety and sleepless nights by acting as a sedative. However, with time, it is possible to develop tolerance towards the herb. Unlike hormones, this is a herb extract working in synergy with your brain.

It is a perennial flowering plant, it has white or pink flowers that have a sweet scent and bloom in the summertime and their height can reach 1.5 meters.

As we mentioned – the former is herb while the later is a hormone. It’s a short leap from there to understanding that a herb that has an influence on your brain is safer and less likely to form a habit.

Any hormones we introduce to our body sends a signal to the gland making it that there is now an outside source. In the long term, that can be a cause for the gland to become “lazy.” It’s something to talk about with your MD.

In terms of side effects, both are considered pretty safe in recommended doses.

Both aids are pretty common supplements and can be found in nearly any drug or health food store. Due to this, its price is pretty standard. However difference in quality can be an issue as some, not so ethical, suppliers use cheaper raw materials in order to boost profits.

To be on the safe side, it is best to go for a supplier that engages unbiased third party testing to confirm purity and quality. The next question you probably have in mind is which product is right for me? It is just a matter of listening to your body’s needs and preferences. Make a distinction between your needs to fall asleep and to stay asleep. In the end, you know your body (and your MD) know what works for you.

Make sure you always read the dosage instructions on the packaging or those suggested by your MD.

Don’t use them during the day

Always take sleeping supplements just before bedtime, rather than during the day, as they may cause drowsiness. To help enhance the effect of natural sleeping aids, you should try to improve your habits such as limit you napping during the day, introduce a daily exercise routine.

Try to avoid caffeine and similar stimulants before your bedtime, do not consume fatty, heavy foods right before trying to fall asleep.

If you have a caffeine habit, which many of us do, consider kicking it to the curb. We know that it’s easier said than done so you might consider not just stopping “cold turkey” but lowering the cups of coffee you have during the day and replacing it with kava kava.

Kava is a popular drink in the South America and has shown some amazing calming benefits. However, it’s manufacturing is not strictly regulated and before starting the replacement regimen, it’s crucial that you choose a good brands of Kava.

You can see our top picks among Kava brands below:

What to avoid

Avoid consuming alcohol with sleeping aids, as they can cause low concentration, drowsiness and have an overall sleep-inducing effect. Beware of other possible drug interactions. Long term use without consultation is not recommended, so if your problems persist, be sure to consult a professional. If you notice any unusual symptoms or side effects, stop using the supplement immediately and consult a professional.

The main benefit of natural alternatives compared to prescription capsules is the absence of side effects such as agitation, dry mouth and addiction, being the most dangerous. It is not uncommon that, for people dependent on prescription sleep pills, this soon this becomes the only way that they can rest. Withdrawal symptoms can also be difficult.

The good news is that many people say that natural sleeping supplements start working straight away. Also, given that health insurance is one of the most common issues in many countries worldwide, another good side to these solutions is that, since they are available off the shelf, they can reach people that do not have health insurance and therefore may not be able to afford seeking proper help by visiting a doctor.

Hope you found this information useful.

Sleep tight…

Click below to see our top picks

Best dog calming aids

Calming bites by Zesty Paws

Calming bites has by far the highest user satisfaction rating of all the dog calming treats we looked at – a whooping 91 %.

What’s better about it The formula is all natural and made using only organic ingredients, but that’s not what makes Calming bites the best dog calming aid among edibles. It’s not the only product out there that’s organic and safe.

Adaptil – top dog calming Diffuser

Calming bites has by far the highest user satisfaction rating of all the dog calming treats we looked at – a whooping 91 %.

What’s better about it The formula is all natural and made using only organic ingredients, but that’s not what makes Calming bites the best dog calming aid among edibles. It’s not the only product out there that’s organic and safe.

Cat calming aids

Top spray 

Cool Kitty

Composure Pro Bite – top pick among cat calming treats

Cats are very tricky when it comes to edibles and out of 14 products we looked at Composure ProBite is the only product among cat calming treats one with a user satisfaction rate of over 90%.

More importantly, we’ve seen no close runner-ups and we feel like Pro Bite was the only one worth mentioning. Other similar products we looked have a very high %s of the cat refusing to touch the edible because they smell and taste like medicine.

The chicken flavor of the Pro Bite seems to be the only cat calming treat that tastes like the real deal.

Cool Kitty  – best cat calming spray

Comfort Zone Feliway –
top pick among cat calming diffusers

Dog Melatonin

This neurohormone occurs naturally and might be the solution to sleep problems. The body of studies suggests that it is useful, especially if the anxiety is caused by separation issues or night phobias.

Dog Melatonin – is it safe?

Although natural, melatonin is still a hormone and should be used with due diligence. The side effects are not common but when they do happen they come in the form of: stomach upset and cramps, agitation, elevated heart rate and, even less common, fertility issues.

Dog melatonin – dosage

The doses listed below are provided for reference purposes only, the exact dosage should be determined by your vet: Dosage based on weight:

• 100+ lbs – 3.5-6 mg
• 30-100 lbs – 2.5-3.5 mg
• 10-30 lbs – 1.4-1.6 mg
• Under 10 lbs – 1 mg

Cat and dog melatonin brands

Based on our research and stats, these are the 10 most well-trusted cat and dog melatonin brands:

1. K9 Choice dog Melatonin
2. VitaCalm
3. NaturVet
4. MelaVet
5. PlanoPaws
6. VetriScience Laboratories
7. Elite Pet Nutrition
8. Zesty Paws
9. Deley Naturals
10. Particular Paws

Cat calming spray, diffusers and collars – do they work?

The debate on using actual pheromone-based cat calming spray vs. the synthetic “imitations” is not put to rest and it’s not likely to happen any time soon.

The stats and studies

Over the past decade or so, pet numbers have increased by a whooping 18%. The current number is closing in on 90 million pet owners with over 55 % of them being proud to own more than one pet.

With people caring for the safety of their puppies and kittens, the numbers of owners who use pheromone-based calming products has gone down in favor of their synthetic counterparts.

A number of reputable publications like the Applied Animal Behavior Science report that cat calming sprays and collars do work and the number of physicians who recommend them is on the rise.

When to use cat calming treats?

In a stressful situation, like a storm or fireworks, cat calming treats will be of little use because you won’t be able to get the stressed pet to eat it. They are more of an option for appeasing a naturally anxious feline over a period of time.

For immediate stress, a spray will be the choice because you can spread it around the house without “harassing” your pet to eat something when their primal instincts kick in.

Melatonin for cats – how useful is it really?

Melatonin for cats comes in the form of chews and it’s usually combined with other soothing herbs. These products are primarily made to address sleep issues in the feline, like twitching and restless sleep.

Among the blends we looked at that include Melatonin for cats, NaturVet Quiet Moments was the product with the highest ratings.

Comfort Zone vs. Feliway

Two brands of calming aids stand out and we’ve received a dozen of questions over the past year on the asking us to compare Comfort Zone vs. Feliway.

The difference is in the diffusers

To compare Comfort Zone and Feliway, we first have to understand the difference between natural and synthetic pheromones.

Feliway vs. Comfort Zone vs. Ceva

A diffuser with Feliway uses artificial, while Comfort Zone uses natural pheromones. The later is similar to the Ceva and Adaptil – they use potent natural pheromones. the main difference here is the range of products and ways to disperse the substance.  

Below are our TOP 3 picks. To read more click the button that says “Click here for the full review”.

Best valerian for sleep – Luna

Why is this a “big deal”?

First things first – the statistics and most recent studies suggest that the number of Americans deficient in Magnesium is a whooping 80%. That’s right, 4 out of 5 of us don’t have enough magnesium in our diets.

The list of issues connected to Magnesium deficiency range from sleep-issues, type 2 diabetes to sudden cardiac death. If you’re thinking, “How in the world do I get all these vitamins and minerals?” we’re on the same page.

That’s why the fact that Luna includes 10 mg of Magnesium per serving is a big deal.

Valerian is a potent herb, it’s one of the few herbs that, although natural, works by stimulating the same receptors as prescription sleep pills, without the plethora of side effects.

he downside is that, to see full benefits in terms of sleep, relaxation and anxiety-relief, you’d have to go with a high dose if your supplement is Valerian-only. High doses of Valerian can cause feeling lethargic the next day (about 1 in 6 users, according to the data we gathered for this guide).

Main difference

The biggest difference with Luna is the addition of a hefty dose of Melatonin. The combo of Valerian, Chamomile, GABA and Melatonin is very potent.

This means that that Luna is likely to get you to sleep faster, regulate you Circadian rhythm (sleep-wake times) and allow you to get calm and uninterrupted deep sleep phase.

On the other hand, such potent sleep formula might result in feeling groggy. With Luna, that’s balanced out by the addition of L-Theanine (known for its focus and clarity-enhancing properties).

Bottom line – with Luna, it’s not about the dose of Valerian, it’s about the unique blend. If you are looking to “kill more than one fly” in one sweeping motion, Luna might be the right supplement for you.

The relaxation complex we mentioned is potent and allows you to fall asleep fast and get solid hours on restoring sleep while the L-Theanine keeps you alert and focused the next day.

Driftoff

What’s in it?

Two veggies capsules (one serving) gives you 150 mg of the herb, 2 mg of Melatonin and 100 mg of GABA and Tryptophan and 100 mg of the following herbs extracts:

• Chamomile
• Passion flower
• Lemon Balm
• Passion flower
• Hops

Bottom line – Driftoff is lab-certified to have ZERO allergens like Preservatives & Derivatives, Gluten, Soy or any traces of animal products.

That goes both for the ingredients inside and the capsule itself. Based on our statistical model, Driftoff has a user satisfaction rate of 86%.

Vintage Bliss Night-time

Highest in Magnesium

The hefty 100 mg of Magnesium is the highest dose of Magnesium of all our top picks.

Apart from the Magnesium, the main difference between the Luna and Vintage Bliss is that the later bland includes a peg more of the herb per serving (200 mg vs. 150 mg) and is lower in Melatonin (Luna contains 6 mg vs. the 2.5 mg found in Vintage bliss).

In terms of sleep, this means that Vintage Bliss relies less aggressive and relies more on the mellow effects of Valerian and Magnesium and less on the potency of Melatonin.

Bottom line – Night-time Vintage Bliss might be the supplement for you is you are living a physically active lifestyle that calls for enhancing the ability of your body to recover fast.

The high dose of Magnesium in the blend is a sure-fire way to be positive that you belong to the 20% of Americans that’s not deficient in this crucial nutrient, often referred to as “miracle mineral.”

Reference info and honorary mentions

In the rest of this guide, we’ll take a full look at our top 10 picks. Again, the ratings you are about to see are based on our own experiences, opinions of a few experts we contacted to help us with this guide.

Above all, they are based on a pool of data we got by using our proprietary statistical model to analyze the user reviews of the best Valerian root supplements. Let’s dive in.

Top 10 best Valerian root supplements

Be Calm by Komplete Balance

Frontier Co-op dried root

If you are not a fan of capsules and prefer to use dried root, you might want to look at the USDA-Organic certified root from frontier.

The downside of dried root is the smell. Pretty much all Valerian supplements will have a somewhat unpleasant smell, but the small of capsulated extracts doesn’t compare to that of a dried whole herb.

It’s non-irradiated, which means that it hasn’t gone through the process of ionization that serves the purpose of prolonging the shelf-life by destroying all the bacteria in the herb.

That raises the question of safety

Herbs and spices that are “non- irradiated” are usually those that are either anti-bacterial or on their own or they contain good bacteria that promotes a healthy intestinal flora and thus, a hostile environment for the potentially harmful bacteria.

In the case of Valerian, it’s the former, it’s famous for its anti-bacterial properties, making the dried root safe to use.

Having said that, if you do go with an organic herb in this form, you’ll want to make sure that the manufacturing practices are certified by an USDA agent, which is the case with Frontier Co-op root.

Herb Pharm non-alcohol tincture

Gaia Phyto-capsules

Gaia is a unique brand because the the herbs used to make the product is grown on their own certified organic farms.

As with most top products we looked at, it is 100 % vegetarian and contains zero gluten.

The extract delivers 1.8 mg of Valerenic acid derivatives per serving and is lab-tested and certified to be toxin-free.

In our rating system, we’ve seen a user satisfaction rate of 84 % with this Gaia liquid extract.

Now

Nature’s Way Valerian Root reviews

One of the top value-for-money product on the list – this supplement comes as a pack of 2 with 60 servings each. A capsule contains 530 mg of the herb and recommended serving is 3 capsules.

It’s standardized to 0.8 mg of Valerenic acid.

Since the root is in natural form and not an extract, what we’ve seen as a downside is that the smell of a freshly opened bottle is unpleasant, which is only natural and most companies making the supplement in this form even include disclaimers about the smell.

So, if you receive a bottle and it feels like something might be wrong because of the smell, you can relax (pun intended), because it’s supposed to smell like that.

Sundown Valerian root reviews

How did we choose and test – our process of pinpointing the best Valerian root supplement?

It’s the internet age and there is a lot of misinformation out there on every topic possible.

There’s nothing wrong with expressing your opinion on a topic, but when it comes to health-related issues like sleep supplement we always take extra care to make sure that the information we present, although intended for educational purposes only, has some kind of precise methodology behind it.

We’ve been reviewing sleep-related products for a while now and the system we use is based three main factors – expert opinions, our experiences and statistics we collect.

Below is a 4-step outline of our reviewing process:

Step 1 – expert consultants we bring in depending on the topic.

The first step is always to narrow down the search by getting some expert opinions. In this case, the search was narrowed down to 32 products. We ten proceeded to gather data for our proprietary statistical modeling.

Step 2 – the mentioned statistical modeling is based on information we collect from experiences of users.

The crucial part here is to know what to look for and what to ignore. Let us explain. for a reference guide like this we look at every possible source of user experiences.

What we mean when we say that it’s critical to know what to ignore is that some of the data can be misleading. For our stats and ratings, we only take into consideration the experiences we know are genuine.

For example, if a product is new to the market, we have a rule of waiting at least 6 months before we consider it. the reason for this is simple – although online retailers take exhaustive measure to prevent it, attempts to “game the system” by the sellers are still a factor for us.

That primarily goes for new brands that we don’t know. It’s not likely that a reputable brand like, say, Nature’s Way, Gaia or Now Foods would be involved in this kind of shady practices. But, with new brands, we prefer to wait until the product has “matured” and we have a pretty clear picture of what we’re looking at.

Step 3 – once the search in narrowed down, we put our team of data-analysts to work.

They are given precise instructions and they comb pretty much all relevant information they can find. The data we collect are then processed by our in-house statisticians. The system was tweaked over the years to reflect the type of product we are looking at. In the case of supplementation, the factors are limited. To put it simply – what influences our ratings the most are user experiences.

Step 4 – we compile the data in a concise way that ‘s simple for you, our reader.

In this case, the whole process outlines above comes down to a single number – user satisfaction percentage.

Are the brands well-trusted?

We mentioned that, with new brands, we wait until a product is matured to take it into consideration. Around the office, we call the new-comers “toddlers”.

That aside, even with the companies that have been on the market for years, there’s no way to skip fact-checking their claims, both about the products in question and about their past reputation. That’s what we call “the trust quota” and it goes from 0 to 1.

Let us give you an example, the most well-trusted companies will have a trust quota of 1. The process is simpler if a company is registered with the Better Business Bureau.

We use this number to adjust the ratings of any new products. Let’s say that our “trust quota” is 0.9. To get to the final rating, we multiply the satisfaction ratings with the trust quota.

About the top brands

Let’s take a look at some of of the companies behind the products, their philosophy, mission statements and stories. Before we get into it, let us just say that we are not associated with any of them, nor did we get free testing samples. The products that we used were purchased at retail, like anybody else would.

The top-rated product and the one we labeled as the best Valerian root supplement comes from Nested Naturals.

About the company

Nested Naturals defines their mission to be “To provide the best natural supplements and radically honest information so that people can make the best wellness choices for themselves and the planet.“

Although their product, Luna, has been among the top few natural sleep aids for as far back as we can remember, if you take a look at their website, they seem to be a pretty relaxed bunch (pun intended). Their “about us” doesn’t have the “corporate feel”. Instead they talk about their personal approach to a healthy lifestyle. they do however, admit that they like chocolate cake. Nice touch.

Their story starts with a personal journey and pursuit of wellness of the two founders, Jeremy and Kevin. in their words, they are all about the honesty and transparency in matters regarding of “what’s in the bottle…”.

Let us be honest and open, too. In our book, Nested Natural has a trust quota of 1. This rating is separate from the quality ratings and it speaks towards the reputation of the brand. In the process of completing this guide we “mystery-shopped” with them to test out the responsiveness of their customer service and whether they stand behind their mission. We’ve seen nothing but good, things, our messages were addressed promptly with precise answers to our questions. Again, the maximum possible trust quota of 1 speaks for itself.

The runner up on our list of best Valerian root supplements, Driftoff, comes from Zhou Nutrition.

The company has a Better Business Bureau rating of A+. It also carries a trust quota of 1 (not that they know about us, but we’ve got nothing but positive things to say, based on our experience).

Their mission statement revolves around the philosophy of “bringing out the greatness inside of you“. Back when we first started working on this mega guide, it did take a moment to grasp the concept but once we did, we liked it. It goes beyond physical health and explores the trifecta of a healthy and balanced life – Physical, Emotional and relational Health.

On a more specific note, we’ve seen no specks on the canvas of ZHOU’s reputation. The mission statement above might not speak much about the quality of the products but if you dig a bit deeper, you see a business established on the solid foundations of quality control.

What do we mean by that?

Their facilities are FDA-registered and their products are USA-made. We know that in this day and age of outsourcing, bringing a US-made product to the table at competitive prices is not a simple task. But we’re more interested in the fact that the manufacturing facilities are inspected and registered with the FDA. For that to happen, one has to abide by the strict GMP Standards (Good Manufacturing Processes).

All of Zhou’s products, including the Driftoff, are backed by a 60-days warranty.

Vintage Bliss is a unique product on the list because it comes from a company that’s primary oriented towards sports supplementation and muscle building. In their mission statement Old School Labs describes their efforts to be “Creating uncompromising, premium supplements for informed customers who demand the very best.“

We admit that most members of our team (with one exception, our editor on all matters related to sleep therapy, Ivan Kolev) don’t know much about the rest of the brand’s product range.

But if Vintage Sleep is any indication of the kind of quality Old School Labs bring to the table, the word “premium” is not used lightly to describe their supplements.

Their products are US-made and come with a full refund option. based on what we’ve seen, not many people choose to use it, though.

In conclusion

This guide is updated every two months to make sure that the information presented is relevant. We don’t re-test the products unless we see a significant fluctuation in the user ratings, we simply input new data and update the stats and ratings. It’s a way to make sure that nothing slips through the cracks and we stay on top of things.

In case you have questions or comments about your experience, feel free to touch base by using the comment section below or drop us a line through our contact page.

The Sleep Studies team

It took about 10 months to gather enough reliable information to make a judgement but we‘re finaly here.

Below are the results of this 10-month long mini study.

Click a button to skip to the section you’re interested in

Best Kava powder
*Wakacon KAVA WAKA powder*

Results reported

Best Kava Extract
*Kavana Root Veg capsules*

Results reported

Best Kava Tea
*Yogi Kava Stress Relief*

Results reported

Where to buy Kava

You can buy Kava online, you just have to make sure that you are getting your product from a relable vendor and that it contains the right amounts of kavalactone, which is the active ingredient.

There are a few reliable “spots” where you can buy quality Kava, but we recommend Amazon, since you can first read the experinces of other before choosing the brand and type that’s best for you.

Origins of Kava Kava

What’s the active ingredient?

The active ingredient in the plant, which provides it with its calming qualities, is called kavalactone. It is traditionally extracted from the Kava Kava plant by grinding, pounding or chewing the root – the resulting product is then added to cold water and consumed immediately.

Many cultures across the Pacific drink the mixture in cultural, political and social events, where it assumes a ritualistic aspect – much like alcohol does in many of the Western clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants.

The difference is that Kava Kava crop eliminates most of the unpleasant and harmful effects of our favourite weekend beverages.

Introduction to the Western world

Kava for Anxiety

For those of you who are plagued by the most prevalent of today‘s health issues – namely, anxiety and insomnia, but refuse to give up the fight and feel intrigued by the many possibilities that this ancient crop has to offer, the remaining text is like a handy beginner‘s guide to the growing Kava Kava market.

Lay down your sedatives and sleeping pills for a moment, read through the article, explore your options and you may soon find that you do not need to suffer the side effects of the modern meds any longer.

Initial studies show that Kava is no hoax

Helps with insomnia

The fact that they can be used for treating insomnia is well-known too.

Kava Kava is an excellent sleeping aid which rivals the effects of modern sleeping pills, as it does not put the user to sleep artificially – what it does is it calms the person down and leads him into a comfortable drowsy state, which in turn makes falling asleep naturally a great deal easier.

If you choose a kava product instead of a regular medicine, not only will you avoid the unpleasant side effects that many of the latter pills produce, but you will also be able to rest properly and get up in the morning feeling truly refreshed and ready to face new challenges of the day which is ahead of you.

Mixing some valerian into your nightly Kava Kava blend can make the experience even more satisfying and just as natural.

Best Kava for anxiety – types of Kava

Now that we have quickly gone over the history of the plant, as well as its various uses and effects, it is probably time to jump right into the many kava-based products on the modern market and explore their benefits and drawbacks.

Along with the original powdered kava root and fresh kava root, there are four other highly concentrated options – instant kava drink powders, kava root or kavalactone capsules, kavalactone pastes and kavalactone tinctures.

Three weaker alternatives for beginners who would like to test the product out or those of you who would prefer using it in smaller quantities – those are kava chewing gum, kava strips and kava tea.

We will look at all of these one by one in order to give you an idea on how to choose your preferred method of ingesting a dose of the excellent Kava Kava:

Instant Kava

In order to get all of the benefits of the kava herb and avoid its bitter, unconventional taste, purchase some instant kava drink powders.

This option is still reminiscent of the original preparation method and is made using the actual plant matter, but there is no steeping or straining involved – all you have to do is mix the powder with water, milk or juice of your choice and it is ready to be consumed!

Just like with a regular coffee mix, you can drink it on the go before work or a social event and immediately enjoy the relaxing effects of Kava Kava. There are also a lot of different flavours for potential customers to choose from. According to our data, based on user reviews, our instant kava pick comes from Kona Kava Farms & Kava King.

Where to buy Kava Instant drinks?

We can easily just point you to some of these brand’s websites (we’re not attached in any way to any of them), but we prefer not to.

Our advice on buying Kava would be to do your research with a trusted retailer (like Amazon), read what other people had to say and then kmake your choice.

Kava capsules

Kava root or kavalactone capsules are also a great option for those of you who are constantly in a rush or cannot tolerate the traditional Kava Kava taste.

The pills should also list a kava root extract as their main ingredient, along with the amount of kavalactones in each pill – the former is extremely important, as a dose which is too small will most likely fail to work.

The amount of 70 miligrams or more is needed in order to achieve a real state of relaxation, so we highly recommend looking for such products just to be on the safe side.

The capsules themselves might contain the extract in a powdered or liquid form. As we mention, the best capsules are Kavana Enhanched Formula.

Where to buy Kava capsules?

Capsules are readily available through most Kava vendor’s websites.

But again, we reccomend going with a trusted online retailer that allows you to browse through reviews and see what capsules are the best.

You can ingest a small amount of the paste before bed, as well as add it to your tea or even a kava brew to get an extra boost.

Kava for anxiety  – tincture

There are also some kavalactone tinctures hitting the market.

These highly-concentrated kava extracts may not be as popular, but you will not need to consume a lot of the product in order to enjoy the full effects of the plant – two large drops are enough.

You can choose a tincture with a kavalactone content of 6%, but there is also a 3% option, which is recommend for beginners.

Our pick is the Ecstatic Earth tincture.

Kava chewing gum and strips

Kava chewing gum,or kava strips (or K-strips, as they are often called) are not nearly as strong as the options that we have explored above, but they offer the added benefit of being extremely convenient to consume.

These products are relatively new to the market and utilise the fact that kavalactones can be easily absorbed through our mucus membranes.

All you have to do is pop a piece of chewing gum or a K-strip into your mouth, chew it for a while or keep it under your tongue, and the goodness of Kava Kava will be released into your bloodstream in as little as a couple of minutes.

You can even add a kava strip to your favourite beverage, as long as it is not hotter than 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Both of these chewable options contain kava extract, but by choosing a flavoured variety, you will avoid the bitter taste of the herb completely.

Final thoughts

You can now comfortably say that you know pretty much everything there is to know about the various types of kava products on the market today, but you should also delve deeper into the concept of a kavalactone lineup if you want to call yourself a true expert.

There are six major groups of kavalactones and every of them works in a slightly different way.

The groups have difficult scientific names attached to them but, as a regular kava consumer is not a professional chemist, these have been replaced by numbers.

For example, ‘group 2‘ is known to be top Kava choice for anxiety, ‘group 4‘ tends to give you energy and ‘group 5‘ is a powerful sedative. Different strains of kava are characterised by different lineups, which usually contain three distinct groups. We listed it all, from the best tea to extracts, capsules, raw powders and micronized Kava.

This means that by choosing a certain lineup, you are choosing the effect that your kava product is going to have on you. As we are focusing on the plant‘s calming and sleep-inducing abilities here, you should naturally look for a lineup which contains the number ‘2‘ or ‘5‘, or both, in it.

Some of the most popular choices include such lineups as ‘4-2-6‘, as the energising quality of ‘group 4‘ tends to balance out the sedating effect. You should not be afraid to experiment when embarking on your personal kava journey – try a few different lineups and see which one of them is right for you.

Do you feel ready to mix your first kava brew?

Before you do that though, there are a few other things that you should keep in mind in order to enjoy the experience to the fullest.

When you’re purchasing a kava product, no matter which form it takes, make sure that the only part of the plant that goes into making it is the root, as the stem and the leaves of the Kava Kava herb are not fit for consumption and can actually be poisonous.

As long as you purchase your kava from a reliable and trustworthy vendor, it is completely safe. Overdosing on kava is practically impossible. If you feel your heart rate increasing after ingesting the product, do not worry – it is not a cause for concern and such a reaction is in fact quite natural.

It has also been reported that the kava herb can, allegedly, cause liver damage. You can rest assured knowing that the World Health Organisation took it upon themselves to put the claims to the test and ended up refuting them – pure, water-based, root-only Kava Kava extract has no connection to liver problems whatsoever.

The most well-known sellers of the product take great care in ensuring that the extracts which they use in the making of their remedies are always of the highest quality.

It might seem like it is good to be true, but countless lovers of Kava Kava claim that this ancient remedy can make a huge difference when it comes to insomnia, anxiety and other frequent ailments of today‘s perpetually-busy and endlessly-overstressed workers – and there are no side effects.

This humble herb is infused with century-old wisdom and breathes the spirit of simpler, slower, calmer times that may be in the past, but can still offer us some respite from the daily chaos of our hectic civilization.

As more and more countries officially recognise its surprising abilities to reduce stress and ease sleeplessness, it looks like Kava Kava is here to stay and we will be exposed to ever-increasing medicinal uses of this wonderful plant.

What doctors recommend

Credit: Dr. Tracey Marks

Smart choice with sleeping aids

Melatonin works best in synergy because it’s plasma half-life is short – 20 to 50 minutes.

In other words, to get most out of it, the best sleep aids combine it with L-theanine, Valerian root & Chamomile.

Currently rated as safest and non-habbit-forming sleep aid is Luna with a user satisfaction rate of 92%. You can see what people are sharing about Luna in the link below.

Skip to the part of this guide you’re interested in

Basic facts about Melatonin

What is Melatonin?

It’s a hormone made by the pineal gland which is located in the central part of the brain. Along with other hormones, it regulates our sleep-wake cycle. It can also be found in meats, grains, vegetables and fruits, but in small amounts.

There’s also a “synthetic” melatonin in a form of a supplement – which is what we’ll be talking about today.

How it’s regulated

The amount of melatonin in the body is related to light, during the day the gland is inactive.

When the sun goes down it the production of Melatonin kicks in and as it gets darker the level of rises and stays high all through the night. It drops with the first rays of morning sun.

What’s “Melatonin depression”?

In the short winter days our bodies adapt to by changing our internal clock and producing melatonin a bit earlier or later than usual.

The condition is known as “Melatonin depression”.

It mimics all the effects of being depressed but is not diagnosed or treated as clinical depression. Knowing what it is often enough to make the effects milder.

When to supplement

Can you overdose on Melatonin?

How much Melatonin is too much?

Generally, doses up to 5mg are considered to be safe, but a precise answer to the question “how much is too much melatonin?” will depend on a range of factors, from your weight and gender to your age and sensitivity to the substance.

The Mayo Clinic recommends the following doses:

One common cause of melatonin overdose

Body usually produces about 0.3mg per day, so anything between 0.2 to 1mg an hour before you go to bed, should work and it’s a good starting dose.

People often take pills just before they go to bed, so there is not enough time for them to take effect, so they take another one – a common way one might get into the “red zone”.

Also, it’s better to start with small dosages and work up from there. The 5 or 6mg and up to 8 are the highest doses that are considered to help you without overdosing.

Melatonin overdose symptoms

There are documented cases of effects that patients experienced when taking large doses of melatonin or taking it for a long period of time (usually more than 3 months).

What happens when you take too much Melatonin?

Some potential signs of an overdose:

• Hypothermia
• Hormonal changes (it can reduce the libido of both men and women, it’s also not to be used by pregnant women)
• Drowsiness and confusion (day after the medication was taken)
• Reduced blood flow and joint pain
• Irritability
• Mood changes (sadness, worsening depression, anxiety)
• Hallucinations, paranoia, nightmares and disorientation
• Decrease in blood pressure and decreased flow of blood to the brain
• Risk of seizures (especially if you have any type of seizure disorder)
• Allergic reaction (in some rare cases)
• Risk of liver damage (increased risk, especially with people who have problems with alcohol)
• Stomach problems (nausea, pain, vomiting, diarrhea- even at small doses)
• Increased risk of contracting immune system disorders (Hepatitis or Crohn’s disease)
• Risks to infants through breast feeding (there are still not enough information about melatonin and its effects on children, so breast-feeding mothers are advised to avoid taking it)
• Unknown effects to people with auto-immune disorders

Can you die from a melatonin overdose?

Case studies reveal only one overdose victim of melatonin so, in general, there’s no official info on a lethal dose of Melatonin.

In other words, the answer to the question “Can you take too much Melatonin?” is YES but the likelihood of it being life-threathening is, according to existing evidence, small.

Psychological reasons and addictive behavior are the primary reasons behind taking too much melatonin.

Overdose itself is considered non-life threatening and its primary symptom is confusion. Although it can be quite unpleasant it’s unlikely to trigger any serious health problems.

People react differently to it, depending on their sensitivity, and whether you can OD on Melatonin will be different for each one of us.

If your health is good and you take reasonable doses and not for a long period of time, you shouldn’t see any serious problems.

Nevertheless, we must say, whatever dose you take, there is a chance that you will experience some side effects and if you think overdosed seek medical help.

Potential side effects of Melatonin

In any dosage level you may experience some side effects, for example:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Headaches, irritability, dizziness, confusion
• Abdominal discomfort
• Mild anxiety and short-lasting feeling of depression

Interactions with other substances

Melatonin supplements can interact with caffeine, alcohol, narcotics and various medications, including:

• Diabetes medications
• Blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants)
• Blood pressure medicine
  Anti-psychotics, anti-anxiety drugs and some sedatives
• Some muscle relaxants, other sleeping pills and pain killers
• Meds that prevent seizures
• Medications that suppress the immune system
  Birth control pills

With that in mind, if you are considering taking melatonin supplements and have some health conditions, you should consult your doctor first.

When buying melatonin supplements choose the synthetic ones, made in a lab, you should avoid “all natural” melatonin which comes from cow or pig brains.

Melatonin doses for children

Melatonin overdose in children – what doses are safe for your toddler?

Not regulated by the FDA

Melatonin is regulated as a food supplement by the FDA. Therefore there are no many studies about its effect. But there are a lot of people who have used it and gave their feedback.

Can they overdose on Melatonin?

Using melatonin has proven to help toddlers with sleep problems(you can see an interesting study on that here) both with falling asleep faster and sleeping calmly through the night. Since they usually go to bed earlier than adults, it is recommended to give them their doses in the afternoon.

The doses that are recommended for the children are low (0.5–1 mg) you can start with that and slowly increase them. Remember, this is a hormone, not a medication, and often the small doses are just enough.

Besides that, you should make sure that your children have good sleeping hygiene (with or without melatonin supplements) and that means appropriate sleeping schedule, limitation on light exposure etc.

Click here to read more about Melatonin for kids here

Melatonin doses for dogs

When to use it

Melatonin is widely used in treating health problems of dogs…ranging from alopecia, insomnia to separation anxiety. It has even shown great effects when it comes to training them.

If your dog is having problems the mart thing to do is visiting a vet so he can establish a diagnosis and the right dosage depending on your dog’s size and the condition they suffers from.

Basic dosages are:

• 3 mg per dose for dogs weighing less than 25 lbs
• 6 mg per dose for dogs weighing more than 25 lbs

5 forms used

Melatonin for dogs comes in the form of tablets, capsules, liquid, implant injections and powder. The best option are tablets and you can include them in your dog’s food if he refuses to take them.

Like with humans, using melatonin can have some side effects, such as sleepiness, nervousness, stomach pain and digestive disorders, itching etc.

Very young (age less than 12 weeks) or pregnant dogs should not be given melatonin. If your dog has allergies, seizures, kidney or brain problems or some bleeding disorders, you should avoid giving him melatonin.

Treatment for Melatonin Overdose

If you experience any strong side effects or think you overdosed on melatonin, you should ask for medical help.

The first step is stopping the intake of supplement altogether, rest and not engaging in any physical activity.

The rest of the treatment depends on the case and doctors opinion.

Disclaimer

None of the information provided on this page is to be construed as medical advice. All the content presented is for informational and educational purposes only.