Various remedies promise to help with falling asleep and staying asleep problems.
However, consumers should be critical of products containing melatonin.
Sleep disorders are a widespread problem, and it is estimated that over eight million people in Germany suffer from difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
Those who are affected cannot recover sufficiently at night.
A lack of sleep is also linked to reduced performance during the day and difficulty concentrating.
Even the development of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure are said to be promoted by sleep disorders.
Melatonin preparations against sleep disorders: Prescription required in Germany
People with insomnia have often tried everything: valerian tea before going to sleep, regular bedtime and even ban on smartphones in the evening because blue light * can prevent people from falling asleep.
Stone pine beds or stone pine slices that are placed next to the bed are also said to promote sleep with essential oils that have a relaxing effect.
Quite a few people will have stumbled upon melatonin supplements while looking for natural sleeping pills
.
This also includes sprays containing melatonin.
Falling asleep with the sounds of nature
Fan sound, rain, thunderstorm, forest, cricket, waves, heartbeat or so-called "white noise": The White Noise Machine from Roffie (promotional link) provides a relaxing environment through sound therapy that is supposed to help you fall asleep.
Melatonin is a sleep hormone that controls the day-night rhythm of humans.
Our body produces the hormone itself, it is obtained from serotonin.
But melatonin is also available in tablet or spray form.
As a dietary supplement, it is available without a prescription in Germany, but
above a certain dosage the products are subject to a prescription
.
They are not only used to promote a healthy sleep rhythm: Melatonin is also said to have an anti-aging effect because it is supposed to reduce the effects of free radicals that can damage cells.
Also read
:
Sleep disorder announces dementia: Researchers find surprising connection
.
Melatonin tablets are said to prevent jet lag
The portal Fitbook Dr.
Hans Günther Weeß, psychotherapist and head of the interdisciplinary sleep center at the Pfalzklinikum in Klingenmünster.
It should also be able to develop positive effects
when
traveling
: "Taken daily, melatonin can help to get used to the time difference and thus avoid jet lag," says Weeß.
Beyond that, however, there is no scientific evidence that melatonin can influence the sleep rhythm.
In the video: If you fall asleep in front of the television, you risk being overweight
For melatonin products that contain over 1,000 milligrams of active ingredient, there is a prescription requirement in Germany because the tolerance of melatonin cannot be adequately proven by studies.
Therefore, side effects cannot be ruled out either
.
Up to a dose of 1,000 milligrams of melatonin, experts speak of dietary supplements that are available without a prescription.
This also includes melatonin sprays.
Stiftung Warentest took a close look at six such products, with disappointing results.
The consumer organization has not found any indication that the artificial supply of melatonin can improve the quality of sleep
.
(jg) * Merkur.de is part of the Germany-wide Ippen-Digital editorial network
.
Sources
:
www.deutsche-apotheker-zeitung.de
;
www.fitbook.de
;
www.aerzteblatt.de
Survey on the subject
Read more
: Man goes crazy because of sleep experiment - because he only sleeps four hours at a time.
You will never sleep badly again with these eight tricks
You will never sleep badly again with these eight tricks