Melatonin vs Valerian
 | Melatonin |  | Valerian |  |
| Melatonin is a hormone found naturally in the body. Melatonin used as medicine is usually made synthetically in a laboratory. It is most commonly available in pill form, but melatonin is also available in forms that can be placed in the cheek or under the tongue. This allows the melatonin to be absorbed directly into the body. People use melatonin to adjust the body’s internal clock. It is used for jet lag, for adjusting sleep-wake cycles in people whose daily work schedule changes (shift-work disorder), and for helping blind people establish a day and night cycle. | Valerian is an herb. Medicine is made from the root. Valerian is most commonly used for sleep disorders, especially the inability to sleep (insomnia). It is frequently combined with hops, lemon balm, or other herbs that also cause drowsiness. Some people who are trying to withdraw from the use of “sleeping pills” use valerian to help them sleep after they have tapered the dose of the sleeping pill. There is some scientific evidence that valerian works for sleep disorders, although not all studies are positive. | |||
Alternatives
Reviews
| Add Melatonin review Melatonin does help me to sleep but I am having a problem with my top number for my blood pressure. It is in the 50 and 60s. Can the melatonin be causing this? I try not to take it too frequently for precaution; however, I do try to take maybe 3-5 times a week at best. Started taking 3 mg long ago, and it worked. Have reduced dosage to about 5/6 mg with no loss of effect. Lifetime insomniac, and this has worked wonders, but I've been taking it for a long time and am having issues with fatigue in daytime and will be trying to go for some time without. | Add Valerian review I take 1 1000mg capsule and it does seem to help me get to sleep. My only problelm with this herb is the terrible smell. When I open the bottle it overpowers everything. I even use a napkin to pick the capsule out of the bottle so my hands won't stink, it is really bad. Mine are from Vitamin World, maybe some other brands don't stink as bad. Before taking valerian mixed with other herbs, I would go to sleep for two hours, wake up to use the bathroom and then be awake for hours. About the time I finally went back to sleep, it was almost time to get up. Now, I am able to go back to sleep and am averaging 7-8 hours of sleep. What a difference this has made in my mood and energy. | |||
