Melatonin Health Dictionary

A small reddish structure, 10 mm in length and shaped somewhat like a pine cone (hence its name), situated on the upper part of the midbrain (see BRAIN). Many theories have been expounded as to its function, but there is increasing evidence that, in some animals at least, it is affected by light and plays a part in hibernation and in controlling sexual activity and the colour of the skin. This it seems to do by means of a substance it produces known as MELATONIN. There is also growing evidence that it may play a part in controlling the circadian rhythms of the body – the natural variations in physiological activities throughout the 24-hour day.... pineal gland

Cherry Tea is a dark red beverage with an intense fruity flavour whose colour resembles ripe cherries and it can be enjoyed hot or cold. The delightful cherry scent is often blended with other aromas which results in savory and exotic mixtures. Cherry Tea Brewing Regarding cherry tea, the brewing time can vary, but the standard procedure entails a five-minute steeping process. Consequently, you will rejoice in the lovely cherry aroma of your amazingly enticing and enjoyable beverage. Health Benefits of Cherry Tea Cherry Tea is a beneficial fruity beverage with numerous health benefits. Cherry fruits are renowned for their delightfully refreshing flavour and delicious sweet taste, but they are also packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals that essentially contribute to our wellbeing. These fruits are rich in antioxidants which protect our body from free radicals and thus lower the risk of cancer and various neurological diseases, but they also delay the aging process. Cherries also contain melatonin, an antioxidant with calming effects on the brain, which helps releave irritability, insomnia and headaches, thus improving the quality of sleep. The countless health benefits of cherry tea also include anti-inflammatory properties and could potentially prove effective against pain caused by diseases or injuries. Cherry fruits are low in calories, but they contain vitamin C which unfortunately entices you to consume approximately 180 calories more a day. This could possibly result in the accumulation of some extra weight if consumed for large periods of time. Therefore, adjust your dietary plan accordingly. Side effects of Cherry Tea Cherry Tea contains extracts from the cherries which can induce an allergic reaction to people sensitive to these fruits, but it is generally side-effect-free. You can enjoy a savory cup of cherry tea at any given time of the day in order to boost your overall energy level and metabolism. The full flavour of succulent fresh cherries along with a delectable and lingering aftertaste will enchant you. Cherry tea is without doubt a delightful juicy drink with an exotic character.... cherry tea - ingredients and health benefits

This is characterised by the presence of rapid eye movements and a reduction in muscle tone. Cerebral cortical activity is prominent and its blood ?ow increased. This activity is, however, di?erent from wakefulness and may cause irregular movements of the body as well as of the eyes. Most dreams occur in REM sleep: these may represent a process of reorganising mental associations after the period of wakefulness. The analysis of the content of dreams has been subject to a variety of interpretations, but no consensus view has evolved.

Physiological changes, such as a fall in temperature and blood pressure, take place just before sleep and continue during the early stages of NREM sleep. There is an intrinsic rhythm of sleep which in most subjects has a periodicity of around 25 hours. This can be modi?ed by external factors to bring it into line with the 24-hour day. Two peaks of a tendency to sleep have been identi?ed, and these usually occur between around 14.00–18.00 hours, and 02.00–06.00 hours. There are, however, di?erences according to age, in that, for instance, infants sleep for most of the 24 hours; during adolescence there is also an increase in the duration of sleep. Sleep requirements fall later in life, but there are wide genetic di?erences in the amount of sleep that people require and also the time at which they fall asleep most readily.

The internal clock can be disturbed by a variety of external factors which include irregular sleeping habits due, for instance, to shift work or jet lag. Sleep is also more likely to occur after physical exertion, reading and social activity. The duration and intensity of exposure to light can also modify sleep profoundly. Light promotes wakefulness and is the main factor that adjusts the 25-hour internal rhythm to the 24hour daily cycle. Neural connections from the retina of the EYE act on an area in the brain called the supra-chiasmatic nucleus which stimulates the pineal gland which produces MELATONIN. This is thought to trigger the range of neurological and metabolic processes that characterise sleep.... rapid-eye-movement (rem) sleep

Known colloquially as SADS, this is a disorder in which an affected individual’s mood changes with the seasons. He or she is commonly depressed in winter, picking up again in the spring. The diagnosis is controversial and its prevalence is not known. The mood-change is probably related to light, with MELATONIN playing a key role. (See also MENTAL ILLNESS.)... seasonal affective disorder syndrome

Physiological functions that vary in a rhythmic way.

Most biorhythms are based on a daily, or circadian (24hour), cycle.

Our bodies are governed by an internal clock, which is itself regulated by hormones.

Periods of sleepiness and wakefulness may be affected by the level of melatonin secreted by the pineal gland in the brain.

Melatonin release is stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light.

Cortisol, secreted by the adrenal glands, also reflects the sleeping and waking states, being low in the evening and high in the morning.... biorhythms

Fatigue and interruption of the sleep–wake cycle caused by disturbance of normal body biorhythms as a result of flying across different time zones.

Jet-lag provokes daytime sleepiness and insomnia at night.

Other symptoms include reduced physical and mental activity, and poor memory.

Jet-lag tends to be worse after an eastward flight (which shortens the traveller’s day) than after a westward one.

Treatment with the pituitary hormone melatonin is claimed by some to reduce the severity of jet-lag.... jet-lag

A conflict is created when natural body rhythms do not synchronise with real time. Sufferers feel wide awake at night and cannot sleep during the day. Treatment is focussed on the pineal gland – the biological clock.

Symptoms: lethargy, disorientation, clinical depression and tiredness associated with long-haul flights. Treatment. Herbs for pushing forward (or back) the internal clock so that biological time accords with chronological time: Ginseng, Garlic, Gotu Kola, Kola, Capsicum. These may be supported by a good multivitamin capsule. Ginseng is a melatonin stimulant. Treat transient hypothyroidism.

Topical. Inhalant: aromatherapy oil – Rosemary.

Diet. Day before ‘take-off’ should be a ‘feast’ day, but the day of departure should be a ‘fast’ day. Coffee, tea and other caffeine-containing beverages should be taken only in the evenings of ‘fast’ days when going east, and in the mornings going west. Circadian disturbance is more easily adjusted on ‘fast’ days. This regime assists the production of melatonin, a natural hormone of the pineal gland which manipulates the body’s response to the light/dark cycle. Avoid alcohol.

Supplements. Daily. Vitamin B6 10mg; Vitamin C 2g; Vitamin E 400iu. Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc.

Note: On day of departure change watch to the time at your destination. During the flight eat only if it is daytime there. Take plenty of fluids. On arrival the body clock is already adjusted to local time – go to bed. ... jet lag

A drug used to treat glaucoma. It may initially cause blurred vision, headache, and eye irritation.pilonidal sinus A pit in the skin, often containing hairs, in the upper part of the buttock cleft. The cause is probably hair fragments growing inwards. Although usually harmless, infection may occur, causing recurrent, painful abscesses. If a sinus is infected, a wide area around it is surgically removed. Recurrence of infection is common, and plastic surgery is sometimes required. pimozide An antipsychotic drug also used to treat Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome. Pimozide may cause sedation, dry mouth, constipation, and blurred vision. pimple A small pustule or papule. pindolol A beta-blocker drug used to treat angina pectoris and hypertension. Possible side effects are typical of other beta-blocker drugs, except that pindolol is less likely to cause bradycardia. pineal gland A tiny, cone-shaped structure deep within the brain, whose sole function appears to be the secretion of melatonin in response to changes in light.... pilocarpine

n. (pl. sacra) a curved triangular element of the *backbone consisting of five fused vertebrae (sacral vertebrae). It articulates with the last lumbar vertebra above, the coccyx below, and the hip bones laterally. See also vertebra. —sacral adj.

SAD (seasonal affective disorder) a disorder marked by changes of mood at particular times of the year. Typically, with the onset of winter, there is depression, general slowing of mind and body, excessive sleeping, and overeating. These symptoms resolve with the coming of spring. The phenomenon may partly account for the known seasonal variation in suicide rates. Prevalence increases with latitude and younger people (especially women) are most likely to be affected. There is evidence that mood is related to light, which suppresses the release of the hormone *melatonin from the pineal gland. Exposure to additional light during the day may relieve symptoms.... sacrum