A Natural Sleep Aid To Reduce Covid Mortality

January 16, 2022

716

Melatonin, a natural sleep aid, has many important functions in the body. We all know it as an important sleep aid, especially in the elderly. The older we get, the less melatonin our body’s produce. Melatonin is a hormone synthesized mainly in the pineal gland, but also other organs and in most cells of the body. This hormone is synthesized in the mitochondria, which is responsible for energy on a cellular level. Besides being important as a sleep regulator, melatonin plays an important role in cancer prevention, prevent or improve certain autoimmune disorders, has anticonvulsant activity, is a potent antioxidant, and helps increase glutathione levels. Remember in a previous article, I discussed the importance of glutathione with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC).

Melatonin is a very versatile hormone. As noted in the Journal of Critical Care: “Melatonin Plays in important role In sleep and circadian rhythm regulation, immuno-regulation, antioxidant and mitochondrial protective functions, reproduction control, and regulation of mood.” Besides aiding in sleep, we see it used in Alaska during the winter season, helping during days of no sunlight. This condition is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Similarly we see many people using this supplement for “jet lag” with time zone changes.

Melatonin may help in the treatment of certain bacterial diseases, such as tuberculosis, because it has the ability to boost immune function. Over the past two years, melatonin has emerged as a surprise weapon against Covid-19 by aiding in excessive oxidative stress, reducing immune response in cytokine storm, reducing acute lung injury, and helping in acute respiratory distress syndrome. The antiviral activity is seen in other diseases such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), viral hepatitis, and Ebola to name a few.

Based on recent findings, melatonin may offer similar protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. One possible mechanism of action is the effect it has on p21-activated kinases (PAKs) a family of serine and threonine kinases. These compounds have generated much attention in medicine over the last decade. One PAK in particular, PAK1, is considered a pathogenic enzyme on a cellular level. Activation of PAK1 may be linked to conditions such as aging, inflammation, malaria, and immunopathological cancers. It has been proposed that coronaviruses trigger a PAK1 signaling pathway by binding to the ACE2 receptor, the point of entry of the SARS-CoV-2 into the human body. Melatonin may be incorporated into the treatment of Covid-19 as an alternative. Remember kinases are involved in the cytokine storm (inflammation), which is the most deadly part of Covid infection.

On December 31, 2021, Melatonin Research published a report, which found “melatonin” significantly lowered mortality when given to severely infected Covid patients.” According to the study it was observed that this hormone lowered the mortality rate by 93% compared to the control group. The trial included 158 hospitalized patients between the ages of 18 to 80. During the second week of infection, a time when severely infected patients can take a drastic turn for the worse, the melatonin group fared much better. The data from this research supported another study back in 2020, where patients diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia received 36mg to 72mg of melatonin intravenously per day, in four divided doses. All of the patients improved within 4 to 5 days, with no deaths. This study was a huge find in the fight against Covid infection.

A 2010 paper in The Journal of Critical Care noted that melatonin also helps prevent and reverse septic shock, by decreasing inflammatory cytokines, preventing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced oxidative damage and metabolic changes, suppressing gene expression, and preventing cell death.

When it comes to viral infections, melatonin does not actually target the virus itself. It aids the host by lowering the overreaction of the host cells to the pathogen. This allows the patient sufficient time to develop an immune response. When combined with vitamin D, both supplements together synergistically enhance mitochondrial function. One other interesting property of melatonin is patients who used it as a supplement had a lower risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. This data was analyzed from the Cleveland Clinic’s Covid-19 registry.

The doses of melatonin when used against Covid-19 are significantly higher than the normal sleep ones. Doses can be 100 times higher to treat Covid-19. Research has shown no adverse effects for doses ranging from 20mg up to 100mg. Dr Mercola recommends starting low at 1mg or less. The dose is best at night, before bed. He also suggests taking the the sublingual form, either as a spray or sublingual tablet. Sublingual dosages enter the blood stream directly, avoiding the digestive tract.

CONCLUSION

Melatonin is a must for everyone’s medicine chest. We have discussed above so many therapeutic uses. The most surprising benefit of this supplement is the ability to help fight Covid-19 infection during the inflammatory phase (cytokine storm), which occurs after the replication stage, usually after the first week of infection. The cytokine storm is responsible for most of the Covid mortality. As mentioned above, combined with vitamin D, it can be used prophylactically for Covid-19. One last thing, melatonin is very inexpensive, costing just pennies a day. May Yahweh keep you all safe and well!