Question

Since the pineal gland secretes melatonin which increases sleepiness with a hormone, how does it work with people who have chronic insomnia? Is the gland damaged? Is the size of the gland different?

Answer 1

• The pineal gland secretes melatonin, which is a hormone that helps regulate circadian rhythms. Melatonin is produced according to the amount of light a person is exposed to. The pineal gland releases greater amounts of melatonin when it is dark, which points to melatonin's role in sleep.
• Melatonin levels increase after the onset of darkness and peak in the middle of the night between 11 PM and 3 AM. It is sometimes called the "nighttime hormone" or the "sleep hormone." Melatonin seems to promote sleep and can influence the timing of the sleep period.
• Melatonin may be effective in treating circadian rhythm disorders in which the desire for sleep is disrupted in its timing, resulting in difficulty falling asleep (insomnia) or inappropriate sleepiness.
• Little is known about the relation between pineal volume and insomnia. Research indicates that pineal gland volume is significantly smaller in people suffering from insomnia.
• If the pineal gland is impaired, it can lead to a hormone imbalance, which can affect other systems in your body.Sleep patterns are often disrupted if the pineal gland is impaired. This can show up in disorders such as insomnia.