Sleep Boosting Supplements – Melatonin & Epitalon®

What if there were safe and natural supplements that in addition to giving you a deep sleep would provide vivid dreams, eliminate jet lag, and also improve your mood? And what if taking this combination enhanced your immune system, could treat a variety of diseases, and… even could prolong your life span?

We’re talking about 2 products which can be taken in conjunction with each other. These are:

• Melatonin, now available without a prescription
• Epitalon®, the Sublingual Pineal Bioregulator

Melatonin

Melatonin is a natural hormone made by the pineal gland, which is located in the brain. Boosting this gland helps to boost melatonin levels, which in turn can help with a number of aspects including improved sleep, regulation of our internal body clock (circadian rhythm) and even boosting immunity.

In 1988, researchers in Switzerland gave a group of mice melatonin in their drinking water and another group of mice just plain water. At the start of the study all the mice were 19 months old (equivalent to about 60 years in humans) and healthy.

The results showed that the mice who had received melatonin saw a great improvement in their health and longevity, especially after 5 months of melatonin intake. Their fur quality was better, and they had more vigour than those mice who were drinking plain water.

All in, the mean survival time of the untreated mice was 25 months (78 years in humans) versus 31 months (98 years) in the melatonin-treated group!

What does Melatonin do?

Melatonin helps to set and control the internal clock that governs the natural rhythms of the body. Each night the pineal gland produces melatonin which helps us fall asleep. Research about this hormone has been going on since it was discovered in 1958. But it is only in the last few years that much attention has been paid to melatonin. One reason for this growing interest is that we are realizing that deep sleep is not the only byproduct of melatonin. We are learning that it has a significant influence on our hormonal, immune, and nervous systems. Research is showing melatonin’s role as a powerful antioxidant, its anti-aging benefits, and its immune-enhancing properties. It is an effective tool to prevent or cure jet lag, an ideal supplement to reset the biological clock in shift workers, and a great medicine for those who have insomnia. Melatonin also may have a future role to play in the treatment of cancer and heart disease, in lowering cholesterol levels, in influencing reproduction, and more. A delightful bonus is that melatonin can promote vivid dreams. We have found that 80% of all melatonin users like its sleep-promoting effects and would take it again if needed. About 10% did not feel a significant effect or felt it was too weak for them as a sleep aid, and the rest have not had a good experience with melatonin and did not wish to continue with it.

There have been controversies around Melatonin over the years, including heavy media attention when a study by MIT researchers showed it as an effective sleep inducer and the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) issued an Action Alert to its members that Melatonin may be inappropriate as a product to be sold in health food stores. This meant Melatonin became harder to buy for consumes and was primarily available via mail order.

Is Melatonin Safe?

Various research trials have been conducted into Melatonin, both on mice and human subjects. On research conducted in 1967 in mice, researchers reached a point where they could not attain a dosage level classed as a Lethal Dose (LD) – this is where 50% of test animals die. The mice in this particular trial were given 800 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight of melatonin with no significant ill effects and researchers could not concentrate the melatonin any further in the amount of liquid that the mice had to drink. This is the equivalent of 800 mg/kg to giving an average-sized human over 50,000 mg of Melatonin – bearing in mind, most people do well with a nightly dose of 3 mg or less to aid sleep, meaning that no other sleep inducer is this safe.

Because of the limitations reached in mice trials with no significantly ill effects reported, in 1990 human subjects were then given up to 6000 mg nightly for 1 month. This did lead to complaints of stomach discomfort but no serious side effects were reported (Waldhauser, 1990). When 6 healthy men were given 2 mg of melatonin each evening for 2 months, no changes in testosterone or other hormone levels were found (Terzolo, 1990).

In the Waldhauser 1990 trial, twenty young, healthy volunteers were kept in a sleep laboratory for several consecutive nights and were monitored and subjected to a battery of tests After a few nights of this routine, half of the subjects were given a placebo and the other half were given 80 mg of melatonin. Those who received melatonin spent less time in bed falling asleep and had fewer awakenings during the night. There was little or no hangover effect the next morning. In fact, the volunteers seemed to perform better in different mental tests and felt more balanced and active. They had a sensation of well-being and emotional stability. This pleasant feeling lasted several hours.

From all these trials and research, no reports of any serious side effects have yet been reported in the medical literature. Since melatonin is produced naturally, the body has evolved mechanisms to remove excessive amounts. It is metabolized by the liver and possibly other organs. Only rare individuals I have treated have reported any significant complaints. Almost all the side effects reported have been minor and have quickly disappeared upon discontinuation.

No substance on this planet can be guaranteed to be 100% safe. Our drinking water can be contaminated. Pure water can even be fatal if a person consumes enormous amounts at one sitting. No activity we engage in is fully safe either. We take a risk every time we go skiing, get in the car to go to the movie theatre, or even walk down a flight of stairs.

Epitalon® Sublingual Pineal Bioregulator

Epitalon® is a sublingual pineal bioregulator that works to boost and normalize the levels of Melatonin being produced by the pineal gland. This helps with regulating circadian rhythms and reduces insomnia to prevent fatigue.

This is a synthetic peptide derived from Epithalamin, a naturally occurring compound created by the pineal gland. This compound stimulates melatonin production which in turn helps to normalize the sleep-wake cycle in the body. In addition, Epithalamin has been shown to activate telomerase which supports cellular regeneration and boost antioxidant activity in the body.

Epitalon® is a tetrapeptide that is produced using synthetic peptide technology. Unlike natural peptide products, which are produced by living organisms, the precise amino acid sequence contained in Epitalon® is created in a laboratory setting.

The term “tetrapeptide” means it consists of 4 different amino acids; in Epitalon®, these are   Alanine (Ala), Glutamic acid (Glu), Aspartic acid (Asp) and Glycine (Gly).

How does Synthetic Peptide Technology work?

There are 3 steps to the process of creating a synthetic peptide using a lab technique called Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS).

Process steps:

1. Starting on a solid resin base, the first amino acid is attached to the resin.
2. Each subsequent amino acid is then added one at a time, in the correct sequence (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), using protected forms to ensure they bond in the right places.
3. After the full sequence is assembled, the peptide is cleaved from the resin and purified.

Once purified, the final peptide product is tested using mass spectrometry for identity, purity and bioactivity and then prepared for its final storage container and transport.

Using Epitalon®

Epitalon® is typically used in short courses or cycles to support anti-aging, sleep regulation, and cellular rejuvenation. The most common dosing protocols are based on clinical studies and peptide research, especially those conducted in Russia.

Sublingual Epitalon does have a lower bioavailability than other dosing options such as injections or nasal sprays, so it may be needed in higher doses. Standard recommendations for sublingual Epitalon dosing is to spray 3 times under the tongue twice per day before a meal in the morning and again in the afternoon.

Please note that Epitalon® is not recommended for use with adolescents or children. It is free of any side effects and is compatible with all other medications or products.