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Among the many health problems I deal with in my practice and with patients we work with online are sleep problems. There is a wide range of nutritional supplements, drugs, techniques and treatments that can help improve sleep, but the ones worth trying first are magnesium and melatonin. Each has its pros and cons, and in today's video we'll break it down.
I will start with magnesium because I feel it is the safer of the two and the one that one can use long term with very little chance of side effects. I find that at least half the people who try taking magnesium will see some improvement in their sleep. This means that they will either fall asleep more easily, or they won't wake up during the night. This results in them waking up more refreshed and rested in the morning. Unfortunately, the other half will see no improvement in their sleep. I have to remember that no one treatment helps all people and that's why the best approach is to personalization. Still, I think magnesium is something that someone can safely try to improve their sleep. There are many long-term studies of magnesium administration and they generally show that magnesium is safe. But caution is needed for possible electrolyte disturbances and other side effects. I remind you that when you take any food supplement you must inform your doctor.
Magnesium comes in many forms, although the one I recommend to people looking to take magnesium to improve sleep is magnesium citrate. Studies have given anywhere from 100 to 300 mg to induce sleep, although in some cases I have tried 400 mg safely.
Melatonin is more effective for sleep, but unfortunately I don't recommend long-term use. Unlike magnesium, for which there are studies of long-term administration, there are no corresponding data on melatonin, and for this reason I think that you should not take melatonin long-term. From my experience, I can say that at least 2 out of 3 see some improvement in their sleep. Again one in three see no improvement and I see this especially in coffee drinkers. I remind that if anyone has any problem with sleep
of him, it would be very reasonable to stop caffeinated coffee altogether and choose only decaffeinated coffee or decaffeinated teas. Apparently the same applies to tea and cocoa and above all to alcohol, which disturbs the quality of sleep even if it is not noticed.Returning now to melatonin, I remind you that it is clearly more effective in improving the quality of sleep, but under no circumstances should one take it for more than a few weeks. Although melatonin is more effective and improves sleep in particular, it can cause drowsiness the next day or agitation and nervousness. Also, it can lead to a mild rebound effect, i.e. difficulty falling asleep the night after not taking melatonin.
I find that the melatonin position is ideal when one uses it individually and a few times a month rather than systematically. One may choose to use melatonin once or twice a week on nights when they will be drinking alcohol to help them sleep better. However, it should not be used systematically to treat sleep problems, because long-term administration can also affect the mood, and lead to anxiety and depression, but also hormones and to show problems which are unpredictable and can be significant. Another problem with melatonin administration is finding the right dosage. The typical dosage of melatonin given is 1 to 30 mg at bedtime, and the specific dosage that is ideal for everyone varies greatly and may require a lot of experimentation until one arrives at the ideal dosage that improves sleep without creating side effects The next day. It makes sense for someone to start from a very low dose, i.e. one or two mg and increasing the dosage until he achieves the dose that helps him sleep, without causing him side effects the next day.
Dealing with sleep disorders is a complex matter that often requires an individualized approach. In my practice I help people with sleep disorders by combining many treatments, such as magnesium, melatonin and other nutritional supplements, as well as acupuncture and other techniques and treatments for the ideal result. In case you want me to help you, call the clinic at 2102628639 for an update.
If you've made it this far it looks like you're on the subject of sleep so I recommend clicking on the video currently showing to my right where I recommend some teas that improve sleep. I remind you that by pressing the like button and sharing the video you help me a lot. Thank you.