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Dr. Stengler: Melatonin is one of them, which again you would never think of, because most people know melatonin as your sleep hormone. We use it a lot with people naturally to help them fall asleep — it's the hormone that, when it becomes dark out, stimulates the pineal gland in your brain to release melatonin, which makes you drowsy and sleepy. But melatonin is also secreted in the gut.
Host: People probably didn't even know that.
Dr. Stengler: Most people don't know that, and most doctors don't either, but you actually secrete 500 times more melatonin in your digestive tract than you do in your brain. That tells you something — it tells you melatonin has an effect on your digestive tract. Studies have shown melatonin actually reduces the amount of stomach acid secreted by your stomach — not so much that you're totally suppressing your production, but helping to normalize it. And most importantly, it's been shown to help that lower esophageal sphincter valve close properly, so the stomach acid can't come up. That right there is the most important fact — helping that valve to close properly.
Host: When you put patients on melatonin, how long does it usually take for them to see some difference in their heartburn?
Dr. Stengler: As far as heartburn, if they've had chronic heartburn, it normally takes one to three weeks to really get the full effects of melatonin kicking in. It's more of an accumulation effect, so you have to be a little patient with it — it's not an instant cure, but we're working more at the root, getting that valve to close. With melatonin, side effects generally aren't an issue; if someone takes too much, they feel too drowsy in the morning, but other than that, it's a very safe supplement to use. It's available as an over-the-counter supplement.
Host: And you're having them take it at night, right?
Dr. Stengler: Right. We have people take three milligrams before bedtime. You can do the sublingual form that dissolves under your tongue, or the capsule form — both work very well.
Most people know melatonin as a sleep hormone, and wouldn't think to use it to treat acid reflux (heartburn).But did you know that the body secretes about 500 times more melatonin in the digestive tract than in the brain? Studies have shown that melatonin is quite useful in treating heartburn in the following ways:
These things are key to treating heartburn. Watch this two-minute video on treating heartburn naturally with melatonin. If you suffer from chronic heartburn, give us a call at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine in San Diego. You can schedule a consultation to see if melatonin treatment is right for you.
