Sleep Cures from Mother Nature

Does Melatonin Really Work?

Melatonin supplements are marketed as sleep aids, but how well they work depends on your needs, note researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston. If study subjects got melatonin at night, when their bodies naturally produce the hormone, the extra dose had no effect. But taken during daylight hours, it increased shut-eye by about 30 minutes, suggesting that it could be helpful for people who work the night shift or are jet-lagged after crossing several time zones. Potential side effects include headaches, stomach discomfort, and dizziness.