ILC and Melatonin

yogacindynj

I've been taking 3-10mg of melatonin for a while--although I also do a headstand every night before I go to bed.  Headstands help to stimulate the pineal gland, which produces melatonin.  If you've never done a headstand before, you don't want to just go right into it, but there are other yoga poses that help to build the strength to do a headstand and also give some of the same benefits.  One of the best is to do a down dog, except with your forearms on the ground (fingers interlaced), letting your head hang down between your arms and head just barely grazing the floor.  If you know of a local yoga studio, you could go to a class and ask the teacher about this.

I used to teach a lot of yoga--now I occasionally teach workshops for bc survivors and always tell them about this.  Happy sleeping!

suzieq60

I asked my oncologist about melatonin today and he said he would be hesitant in recommending owing to the high incidence of melanoma where we live - sunny Queensland - Australia.

balsie

yogacindynj~ Nice to see another lover of yoga on here....love it and have to say if has helped me a ton.  I have practiced in kundalini yoga for years.  An ounce of yoga is worth a pound of cure!

Yeah for Yoga

Balsie~

balsie

I meant ounce of yoga........yikes

dlb823

suepen ~  Living in sunny southern California, your post about a possible connection between Melatonin and melanoma (which I'd never heard) caught my attention.  I've just Googled it, and the only connection I can find is a possible benefit using Melatonin to treat melanoma.  Can you elaborate on why your doctor said he would be hesitant to recommend it?  I'd certainly be interested to know the source of his information.  Thanks!   Deanna

suzieq60

He implied an increase of melatonin in your body could cause melanoma - the nastiest skin cancer ever which kills you.

I'll see what I can find out over here.

Sue

Anonymous

sue----if you  google "melatonin and skin cancer", every website talks about melatonin preventing skin cancer (melanoma), not causing it.  All my doctors (including my oncologist) and my pharmacist (who recommended it for sleep) know I take it and have never mentioned any correlation with melanoma. Perhaps you misunderstood your oncologist? (seems he's got it backwards).

anne

suzieq60

Thanks, I'll check into it. I'm sure I understood him correctly but he may be wrong after all.

Sue

Rabbit_fan

Hi Debra16 - you should check out the Alternative and Complementary forum - there is a ton of info there on supplements, and a lot of activity and support.

hmh23

Just thought I'd let you know that my doctor ok'd melatonin and COQ10 as the only supplements to use along with a Multi Vitamin.  My daughter uses melatonin at night to help her sleep. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and it allows her to keep her migraines at bay by helping her stay asleep.  I intend to start it this week.

Luna5

Suepen....melatonin actually also acts as a natural aromatase inhibitor...I have worked my way up to 25 to 30 miligrams per night mixing them 3  5 mg tablets and 5 1 mg sublingual tablets at bedtime and 3 3mg timed release tablets at around 9 pm.  I finally just slept my first 7 hour stretch a few nights ago...the first time in at least 6 or 7 years.  I also use a sleep mask for total darkness and ear plugs to help out.  Our bodies produce melatonin during darkness.  I believe my lack of sleep contributed to my BC.

I take 400 mg of CoQ10 per day as well.

Google has lots of info on these but I have never read anything bad about melatonin except that if you take too much, you will be sluggish all day.  Most people only need 3 or 5 mg per night.  My body has just gotten so out of whack on sleep that it takes me more...hopefully my body will re-learn how to make its own...but since one of my docs says it also acts as a natural aromatase inhibitor I really want to keep my dosage higher since I do not want to take and of the AIs or Tamox.

Please check out Natural Girls...very nice...very knowledgeable...very welcoming

suzieq60

Thanks Luna5,

I'm having my last chemo today and have it written down already to challenge him on what he said previously. I am a good sleeper normally except when on steroids for this chemo crap. I certainly found no evidence of melatonin causing melanoma after my extensive googling - he must have misheard me as he is a very good onc - one of the best here.

Sue