Herbal Remedies For Melatonin

Melatonin plays an important role in your body. This hormone regulates biological rhythms including sleep. Levels of melatonin decrease with age, creating a deficiency syndrome. Jet lag and insomnia may indicate that you have this condition. Herbal remedies such as supplements and foods can treat these symptoms, according to a 2011 review in "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition." Speak with a doctor before taking dietary aids, as they might cause side effects.

Cherries

Eating cherries can provide you with a broad range of health benefits. For example, a 2010 report in the "Journal of Medicinal Food" showed that drinking tart cherry juice alleviates insomnia. The mechanism causing this effect remains unknown, but it may involve increases in melatonin. A study published in the 2010 edition of the "Journals of Gerontology" looked at the effect of eating cherries on melatonin levels. Volunteers received daily doses of cherries for several days. Relative to placebo, cherry intake enhanced melatonin content. It also improved sleep quality. The participants did not experience allergic reactions to the cherries.

Grapes

Consuming grapes can also improve your health. Red wine, for example, has a large number of antioxidants. A 2011 article in the "Journal of Pineal Research" by an Italian research team showed that improving the resistance of wine grapes increases their melatonin content. This same team analyzed the melatonin present in different parts of the grapes. This report, also published in the 2011 volume of the "Journal of Pineal Research," revealed that grape seeds have the largest amount of melatonin.

Peppers

Peppers -- fruits often mistakenly considered vegetables -- also contain melatonin. These plants contain chemicals known to affect sleep, according to a 1985 report in the "Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics." Increases in melatonin may underlie this effect. An analysis presented in the 2011 edition of the "Journal of Chromatography" measured the melatonin content of 24 different fruits. Of the foods tested, orange bell peppers had the highest melatonin content.

Algae

Other products besides fruits also have melatonin in them. Algae, for example, produces melatonin during certain parts of the month. A 2011 article in the "Journal of Experimental Botany" showed that algae harvested during spring tides had greater amounts of melatonin than those taken during neap tides. A study offered in the 2011 volume of the "Indian Journal of Experimental Biology" tested whether the melatonin content of algae also varied with time of day. The results indicated that nighttime levels were twice daytime levels.

Salvia

Herbs contain melatonin as well. Salvia divinorum, an herbal remedy sold over the counter, has potent effects on your nervous system. It facilitates sleep through an unknown mechanism, according to a 2006 report in "Phytotherapy Research." The melatonin present in this herb may contribute to the salvia's medicinal effects, as an investigation described in the 2010 edition of "Electrophoresis" determined that salvia contains large amounts of melatonin.