Melatonin Mystery ...

Information from Doctors Corner on melatonin:

More than 20 million Americans take melatonin supplements, spending between $200 million and $350 million each year. Depending on who you ask, melatonin is either just another hormone or a medical miracle. According to some supporters melatonin can conquer insomnia, prevent jet lag, battle cancer, rejuvenate your sex life and slow aging. All of this for only $4 to $8 per bottle. Unfortunately, there's no reputable evidence to back up any of these claims. ....

Melatonin appears to be safe when used as instructed. However, whether or not it helps with sleep is open to debate. There is no solid evidence to support using melatonin supplements to prevent insomnia, jet lag, fight cancer, enhance sexuality or slow the aging process. More study is needed and until research is complete use of melatonin supplements is not recommended.

So, don't take that melatonin, right? It's dangerous ...

But looky, looky at what the FDA just did:

The FDA has approved a new prescription sleep aid called Rozerem, which will reportedly treat insomnia without causing dependence. ....

The new drug, which will be available by late August, works differently from other sleep aids by helping to regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle. This will provide a new option for relief to the one-third of American adults who suffer from insomnia to one degree or another.

Rozerem works by stimulating the melatonin receptors in the brain, which regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

Ah, so it's okay for folks to meddle with their melatonin indirectly, as long as it's through their friendly neighborhood medical monopolists! Look for more of this sort of thing when Codex regulations get shoved down our throats ...