Melatonin is a hormone that your body naturally produces, mainly by the pineal gland in your brain. You’ll also find melatonin in other areas like the eyes, bone marrow, and gut. Often referred to as the “sleep hormone,” melatonin doesn’t directly make you fall asleep, but it signals to your body that it’s time to wind down. This helps you relax, making it easier to drift off.Melatonin supplements are also widely used by people struggling with insomnia or jet lag and are available over the counter in many countries. Beyond sleep, melatonin also acts as an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties.How does Melatonin work?Melatonin works hand-in-hand with your body’s internal clock, known as your circadian rhythm. This rhythm tells you when to sleep, wake, and even eat. Besides sleep regulation, melatonin also plays a role in managing your body temperature, blood pressure, glucose levels, and some hormones.At night, as it gets darker, melatonin levels rise, signalling that it’s time to rest. In the morning, exposure to light lowers melatonin levels, helping you feel alert and awake. It interacts with receptors in your brain to slow down nerve activity and reduce dopamine, the hormone that keeps you awake.Can Melatonin Production Be Disrupted?Various factors can disrupt your natural melatonin production at night, including alcohol, caffeine, smoking, certain medications, and exposure to too much light—especially blue light from devices. Supplementing with melatonin may help balance these levels and reset your sleep cycle.The "Sleep Hormone" - How Does It Work?Research shows that taking melatonin before bed can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and increase your overall sleep time. A review of 11 studies found that melatonin shortened sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep) by around 3 minutes and extended sleep duration by about 30 minutes compared to a placebo.Melatonin can also help with jet lag, a condition where your internal clock is out of sync with a new time zone. People who work night shifts may experience similar symptoms. Research suggests that melatonin can help synchronize your body’s clock with the new schedule.Before trying melatonin, it’s important to first focus on good sleep habits like maintaining a regular sleep schedule, limiting alcohol and caffeine, and avoiding bright screens before bed.Additional health benefits of melatoninWhile melatonin is mainly known for its role in sleep, it has other potential health benefits as well.Supports eye health: Melatonin’s antioxidant properties may lower the risk of age-related eye diseases like macular degeneration.Helps treat acid reflux and GERD: Melatonin may protect the lining of your esophagus, helping to reduce symptoms of acid reflux.Reduces symptoms of tinnitus: Some studies suggest that melatonin may help manage tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and improve sleep quality.Alleviates migraines: Melatonin may help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks by blocking pain pathways.