Available in pill, droplet, liquid and chewable form, Americans spent more than $437 million (in 2017) on melatonin supplements, mainly for their sleep-inducing capabilities. But there are downsides to hitting the sack with melatonin, like the increased risk of headaches and dizziness, a groggy, almost hungover feeling come morning, potential nausea, and, when taken in large doses, potential effects on the ovaries.
Although melatonin is considered natural (synthetic versions do exist, too, which are usually derived from animal glands), some sleep experts suggest avoiding it altogether, instead opting for plant- and herb-based alternatives like valerian root and holy basil leaf, amongst others. We opted to formulate our nighttime supplement, MindYourMind, without a single drop of melatonin, and these are the reasons why.