Melatonin And Meditation: How They Relate

Among the scientifically proven effects of the practice of meditation are those that affect the chemistry of the body. Meditation stimulates hormones that are very important to our health. Today we will see how melatonin and meditation are related.

In addition to improving and increasing energy and peace of mind, there is research showing that regular meditation practice increases melatonin levels. This hormone helps us in the regulation and quality of sleep, since the levels of melatonin in the blood increase during sleep and improve the quality of rest.

Melatonin is created by the amino acid tryptophan . This hormone is produced in the pineal gland. A gland known several hundred years ago as “the seat of the soul” and in many Eastern traditions it is considered one of the points where to direct the flow of energy during meditation.

What do studies tell us about melatonin and meditation?

The relationship between melatonin and meditation was thoroughly studied by a research team at the University of Massachusetts in 1995. This study yielded very significant data on this relationship.

The aim of this study was to test the association between regular practice of mindfulness meditation and increased physiological levels of melatonin. To do this, urine samples were collected overnight from study participants for the detection of 6-sulfatexymelatonin.

This element is a degradation product of melatonin that gives us precise data on the level of melatonin in the blood. Previous studies have already shown that melatonin is photosensitive, but this study also suggests that it is also psychosensitive.

Melatonin and meditation

The results of the study were overwhelming: among the individuals who meditated, there were significantly higher levels of melatonin than those reached by those who did not meditate.

Another similar study found that the practice of meditation before sleeping raised melatonin levels during that night, although not during the following nights in which the meditation was not practiced. This suggests that meditation should be a regular practice for this purpose.

The evaluation of the physiological correlates of higher states of consciousness during sleep provided valuable information: people who meditated regularly spent more time in slow-wave sleep, with higher theta-alpha power, and with background delta activity. They also found a significant improvement during the REM sleep phase.

How does it work?

Meditation practices regulate the adrenal pituitary hypothalamus, and as a consequence, regulate cortisol and catecholamine levels as well. It has also been shown that meditation increases dehydroepiandrosterone, pituitary hormones such as growth hormone, thyroid stimulant, prolactin, and of course, melatonin.

Melatonin exerts a hypnotic effect on the individual thanks to the inhibition of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, in addition to acting as an antioxidant and immunomodulator. In addition to being an important antioxidant, it generates a pleasant feeling of well-being.

Meditation is offered as a good alternative by increasing concentration; not only because of its impact on melatonin levels , but also because of its effect on the levels of its precursors, especially serotonin and norepinephrine. In short, it decreases liver metabolism and increases the synthesis of the pineal gland.

Melatonin and aging

The secretion of melatonin is greatly affected by the aging of people and, therefore, we greatly alter the quality of our sleep as we age. As we age, our sympathetic and parasympathetic activity are greatly reduced.

This causes autonomous activation and as a consequence, a decrease in the restorative quality of our sleep hours. On the contrary, with the practice of meditation, autonomic functions are modulated during sleep. The activity of the theta waves of the frontal midline, originating in the anterior cingulate cortex, would control the parasympathetic activity.

In conclusion

From all the literature and studies mentioned, it can be concluded that the regular practice of meditation, especially vipasana meditation, produces global changes and benefits. These changes have many similarities to the restorative and self-regulatory functions of sleep.

If through the practice of meditation we can modify several of the sleep-generating mechanisms, there is no doubt that we are facing an element that can considerably improve our health and restore body and mental homeostasis, in addition to opening a wide scope to understand better the mechanisms of sleep and consciousness in the human being.