Complementary and alternative medicines patients are talking about: melatonin.
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain in response to darkness. Melatonin is made available when tryptophan is converted to serotonin and then enzymatically converted to melatonin in the pineal gland. Serum levels are low during the day, with peak levels occurring from 2-4 am.
Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA. leeco@mail.nih.gov
Colleen O
CO
Lee
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000075202:Contraindications; D004347:Drug Interactions; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D012449:Safety; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D014195:Travel
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin