Melatonin, The Dream Hormone

[Sol Invictus]

Melatonin, The Dream Hormone

Richard Holmes
January 2005

Background & biology

Melatonin is a hormone which is produced naturally in the human body by the pineal gland, which is situated near the middle of the head and is about the size of a pea. The pineal gland was originally thought to be a "vestigial" gland with no function, and it was only in the 1960s that its purpose began to be discovered by western science. Melatonin is the most effective anti-oxidant at work in the human body and is also thought to play a significant role in regulating natural cycles within the body. Output is nocturnal, starting sometime between 9pm and the individual's bed time and continues until about 6am.

Melatonin with respect to dreaming and mysticism

Many people have reported that when taking melatonin supplements, their dreams gradually become more colourful, more vivid, and hence easier to remember. This effect ties in with the Yoga teaching that the pineal gland is the seat of the mystical "third eye" or brow chakra - the source of mystical visions and perception. And mysticism and vivid dreaming very much go hand in hand.

My experiences with Melatonin

After I read a lot of stuff on the internet about melatonin, I thought I just had to try it. I took about ten over a ten-day period, taking each pill an hour or so before going to sleep. After a few days I noticed that I had a very slight ache in the middle of my head. I'm not sure what this was due to, but as I've heard that the pineal gland can start to underfunction as you get older, I hoped that it was the gland "waking up" again. To try to maximise effects, I concentrated on this point in my head to try to maximise blood-flow. Also at the same time I was trying a bit of inversion to maximise blood flow to the head as well.
It's a while ago now, but towards the end of the ten days, I did notice that my dreams were becoming much easier to remember. But the most interesting experience was that one night while sleeping I found myself walking around in a very dark room with dark wooden furniture. This was only a momentary impression, but the clarity of the furniture was so startling (in comparison to my usual dreaming) that I immediately thought "this is just way too clear for a dream" and promptly snapped out of it and found myself back in my bedroom - but paralysed inside my sleeping body. Anyone who has had this waking paralysis will know that it's not a very nice feeling. I could vaguely feel my discomfort as I lay in bed, but couldn't see or hear a thing. Luckily the alarm clock went off almost immediately, which woke me right up. But as far as the dream went I have never before or since had such a vivid dream.

Increasing melatonin levels via Yoga, Tantra, TM, etc

Meditation has been shown in studies at Adelaide University to significantly increase output of melatonin. This is true of Transcendental Meditation and also other forms of meditation.
Also candle-gazing, the Tantric practice of tratak, and various Yoga techniques are good ways of generating higher melatonin levels.

I have personally tried candle-gazing 10 minutes before going to bed and over a number of nights, it definitely seems to make a big difference to dream content - though it seems to be essential to clear your mind completely of thoughts over those 10 minutes. (I just need to do it a lot more regularly.)


Increasing melatonin levels via dietary means
Various foods contain small amounts of melatonin and this can make a difference. However these foods should be eaten in the evening as melatonin is mostly flushed from the system within an hour of entering the bloodstream.
Oats
Sweet corn
Tomatoes
Bananas
Ginger
Barley


Increasing your levels of melatonin artificially
You can simply take a melatonin pill every night before bed, but many medical professionals warn that no studies have been made of the effects of taking this hormone long-term, so this is a potentially risky idea. (Note that in Australia and New Zealand, melatonin is available by prescription only.)

Factors inhibiting melatonin output
Because melatonin relies on darkness and sleep to activate production, staying up late or trying to sleep with bright lights on will inhibit production. Also heavy work late at night before the onset of sleep is said to be detrimental to melatonin output.

[Beorn]

But the most interesting experience was that one night while sleeping I found myself walking around in a very dark room with dark wooden furniture. This was only a momentary impression, but the clarity of the furniture was so startling (in comparison to my usual dreaming) that I immediately thought "this is just way too clear for a dream" and promptly snapped out of it and found myself back in my bedroom

I have had dreams of such extreme clarity all my life, that to hear of some "virgin" explaining his experiences is amusing.

The only problem I face is my lack of strength in controlling the dreams.
For the life of me, the dream will not take the route I wish it to. Instead, it takes me upon such aspects of my past, present and future that I often wake up in either deep depressions or glorious elation.

...but paralysed inside my sleeping body.

..or in my case, a sense of being attacked by an immense evil presence.

[Treffie]

..or in my case, a sense of being attacked by an immense evil presence.

Interesting, if you're referring to night terrors, I have plenty of experience with that!

[Beorn]

Interesting, if you're referring to night terrors, I have plenty of experience with that!

A night terror, also known as pavor nocturnus, is a parasomnia disorder characterized by extreme terror and a temporary inability to regain full consciousness. The subject wakes abruptly from slow-wave sleep, with waking usually accompanied by gasping, moaning, or screaming. It is often impossible to fully awaken the person, and after the episode the subject normally settles back to sleep without waking. A night terror can rarely be recalled by the subject. They typically occur during non-rapid eye movement sleep.

I suppose it might well be. I have to be honest and say I had never thought of them that way.
The last powerful one was when I was twenty. I awoke to see the morning light just creeping through the darkness, but also to a darkened shadow of half a man looming over me from out of my window/curtains.

I couldn't move. The "being" had no discernible parts of its body upon me, holding me down, but just stayed there looking at me.

I tried everything to move, scream, etc.., but nothing would release me from the moment.

After a while I noticed the shadow had gone and I screamed out in absolute fear. The first time being able to do so.

I had always put it down to "other" aspects of me, but you mentioning night terrors brings reasoning to this.

[Treffie]

^Sounds familiar

Scared the holy s*** out of me.

[Brynhild]

Interesting, if you're referring to night terrors, I have plenty of experience with that!

I used to have night terrors, and I've since resolved those areas of my life which caused them.

Needless to say, it was a horrible experience!