Many people know that meditation has a variety of different benefits for your physical, emotional and spiritual body, and that the act of meditation is able to alleviate various medical problems, and improve the secretion of a variety of hormones, enzymes and other important nutrients which the body needs for a variety of different functions. 

Melatonin is one of these important hormones which the body produces naturally, but due to our stressful lifestyles and many other factors, the natural secretion of this important hormone is inhibited. 

What is Melatonin? 

Melatonin is a hormone which is naturally secreted by the pineal gland, it is a by-product of the amino acid tryptophan.  The name Melatonin is from the Greek words “Melos” and “Tosos” which mean “black” and “labour” respectively. 

What is the Pineal Gland? 

The Pineal Gland is a small endocrine gland which is also known as the pineal body or the third eye.  The pineal gland is an important gland as it regulates many different functions within the body. The pineal gland is situated in the centre of the brain, between two thalamic bodies.  The shape of the Pineal Gland resembles a pine cone, which is why it is often depicted as a pine cone. The Pineal Gland is the only part of the brain which is not separated from the body by a blood-brain barrier.  The Pineal Gland secretes hormones like Serotonin, DMT and Melatonin. The Pineal Gland is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light, which makes the pineal gland a photosensitive gland and an important regulator in the body. 

Why is a healthy Pineal Gland important? 

The Pineal Gland secretes hormones which are important for the normal functionality of other parts of the human body, it also regulates sleep patterns, sexuality and it protects the body from free radicals. The pineal gland is larger in children than it is in adults, it shrinks as we grow older.  The Pineal Gland, or Third Eye, works in harmony with the hypothalamus gland and helps to regulate thirst, hunger, aging and sexual desire as well as many other rhythms within in the body. 

The Pineal Gland and Spirituality 

The Pineal Gland which is also called the Third Eye is important for spiritual growth.  When you have opened your third eye you will experience a variety of improvements in every aspect of your life including spiritually.  The Third Eye is considered to be the soul connection between your body and your God or your higher senses. When the third eye is open you will find it easier to find truth and peace as you learn to listen to the quiet voice of your God. 

Benefits of the Pineal Gland 

The pineal gland needs to be fully functional for the production of melatonin, but apart from this important hormone the other benefits of having an open pineal gland are as follows: 

Clarity of thought 

Improved concentration 

Ability to make decisions with ease 

Insightfulness 

Improved memory 

Improved general health 

Feeling at peace with yourself and the world around you 

Vivid dreams 

Improved imagination 

Astral projection 

Although these benefits are desired, the effects of a blocked pineal gland or third eye include feeling confused, jealous, pessimistic and cynical.  Even though you may be confident in some areas and insecure in others the insecurity is linked to a blocked pineal gland as stated by various medical practitioners and religious leaders. 

What affects the production of melatonin? 

The most significant factor that reduces the production of melatonin is stress, but another factor which inhibits the production of melatonin even in people who are not under a lot of stress is bad sleeping habits or problems with sleeping. 

Even though sleep affects the production of melatonin, melatonin regulates sleep patterns, therefore people who are highly stressed will feel worse because they are not getting enough sleep and people who have trouble sleeping will battle with daily tasks which causes stress.  One could say that it becomes a vicious circle. 

Why is melatonin important? 

As previously stated melatonin is important for sleep, but there are other side effects that you will experience if your melatonin levels are too low.  Some medical conditions that have been linked to low melatonin are: 

Seasonal affective disorder 

Depression 

Anxiety 

PMS 

Apart from melatonin being an important hormone that regulates your sleep and other biological rhythms, it has also been proven that melatonin levels affect certain types of cancer and other chronic medical conditions. 

Many people who lead a busy lifestyle and don’t take the time to prepare healthy and nutritious meals have grown accustomed to supplementing the nutrients and vitamins their bodies need to try and keep themselves as healthy as possible.  There are melatonin supplements available which are usually used to overcome the effects of jet lag, but they do have negative side effects so it is better to implement changes to your life to help with the production of melatonin. 

When is melatonin produced? 

Generally the pineal gland will produce melatonin in the early hours of the morning while you are asleep, although melatonin is still produced throughout the day there is more melatonin produced at night.  Research has shown that children with pineal gland problems reach sexual maturity a lot sooner than other children, this is because melatonin regulates the sex hormones and the development of the sexual organs, which only begins after melatonin levels have declined.  Young children have higher levels of melatonin than adolescents and adults. 

Further research has shown that melatonin levels increase at night which is the body’s natural clock for you to feel sleepy just before you go to bed.  During the daytime the pineal gland reduces the amount of melatonin that is produced allowing you to feel alert. 

Melatonin production increases at night because the pineal gland is more active at night.  Melatonin levels peak before bedtime which makes you feel sleepy and starts the biological cycle for a restful sleep. 

The human body is all about rhythms, sequences and cycles, during the day light is stimulating the hypothalamus which causes the pineal gland to rest, but at night the absence of light stimulates the pineal gland, allowing the hypothalamus to rest.   

What does Melatonin do? 

We have already explored the reasons why melatonin is important and when it is naturally produced by the pineal gland.  Although research is still being conducted on the complexities of the hormone, there are a lot of studies that have been conducted to provide a list of functions which melatonin has in your body.  Here are some of the things that melatonin does: 

Regulates sleep 

Activates the immune system 

Acts as an antioxidant 

Increases bone marrow production 

Deepens self-awareness 

Regulates seasonal (photoperiodic) functions 

Inhibits cancer cell growth 

Anti-ageing 

Protects the body from radiation during cancer treatments 

Research has also indicated that high levels of melatonin increases the body’s defences naturally which prevents the development of some cancers. 

With melatonin being such an important hormone and the benefits being both physical and spiritual many people want to increase their bodies production of melatonin, but taking melatonin supplements can be more detrimental than it is beneficial.  A safe way to increase the production of melatonin in the body is with meditation. 

How does meditation benefit melatonin production? 

Although many people believe that research which involves meditation is not conclusive, there are many different studies that have been conducted with people who have never had any experience with meditation before as well as control groups where no meditation was performed. 

Various studies have concluded that meditation boosts the production of melatonin naturally.  Advanced research has also indicated that people who meditate on a regular basis have higher levels of melatonin when compared to people who do not meditate on a regular basis. 

How to use meditation to improve the production of melatonin 

Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, but if the pineal gland is blocked the production of melatonin is reduced, therefore it is important to clear the pineal gland so that the natural production of melatonin is improved. 

Meditation and some lifestyle changes will clear the pineal gland, combined with a regular meditation practice the natural production of melatonin is naturally increased. 

Here are some ways that you can clear the pineal gland to improve the production of melatonin. 

Tip 1 – Dietary Changes 

Some of the dietary changes that help to open the pineal gland and increase the production of melatonin include eating specific food groups.  Pineapples, bananas, oranges, cherries, garlic, watermelon, honey, coconut oil, and seaweed. You can also limit or remove caffeine and sugar from your diet.   Eating food which is rich in tryptophan like turkey and other poultry, fish and eggs and drinking cherry juice. Try and keep your diet to natural food groups, avoiding processed foods as much as possible.  Raw chocolate and Chaga mushrooms are known to help clear the pineal gland. 

Tip 2 – Supplements 

Although melatonin supplements are not a good choice there are other supplements which will help to clear the pineal gland.  Hydrilla verticillata, Chlorella, Spirulina, Iodine, Ginseng and Borax are all good supplements you can take. 

Tip 3 – Essential Oils 

Essential oils can be used to stimulate the pineal gland.  Some effective essential oils are Lavender, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Parsley, Davana, Pine and Pink Lotus.  You can either inhale them directly, add them to your bath water or put them into a diffuser. 

Tip 4 – Crystals 

Certain crystals are very effective in opening the pineal gland, these include amethyst, laser quartz, moonstone, pietersite, sapphire, rhodonite and sodalite.  The crystal must be indigo, violet or dark purple. Place the crystal on your brow in the middle of the eyes for approximately 30 minutes a day. 

Tip 5 – Magnets 

Magnets also help to clear the pineal gland because they cause the body to be more alkaline than acidic.  It is important that you only use magnets while you are awake. Attach a magnet to your forehead for a few hours each day. 

Tip 6 – Sun gazing 

The sun is a powerful tool for the body, as little as 15 minutes of sun gazing at sunrise or sunset will naturally awaken your pineal gland. Gazing at the sun for a few minutes during sunrise or sunset will not damage your eyes, but if you find it difficult you can close your eyes slightly. 

Tip 7 – Avoid Sodium Fluoride 

The sodium fluoride that is used to purify tap water is not healthy for you at all.  Even showering in water that does not pass through additional filtering has negative effects on the body as the sodium fluoride is absorbed by the skin.  Toothpaste that includes fluoride is also bad for you. Install water filters in your home in the kitchen and the bathroom and don’t buy fluoridated toothpaste.   

Tip 8 – Meditate 

Studies have shown that meditation does help to clear the pineal gland and increase melatonin production.  Whether you are someone who has meditated before or completely new to meditation research has shown that just a few minutes of meditation each day has positive results on the natural production of melatonin.  There are many different meditation practices, but research has shown that even the simplest meditation practice is beneficial. 

The easiest way to start with a meditation practice is to set aside a few minutes every morning and every night where you can be completely alone, in total silence.  You don’t have to start with 30 minutes or even an hour, you can start with as little as 5 minutes. 

After a few days of meditating you will find that falling asleep and staying asleep is a lot easier, you will also reap all the other benefits of practicing meditation.  As you get used to the new practice you can increase the time you spend meditating slowly and give yourself new goals. 

Tip 9 – Early to bed 

The average human being needs approximately 8 hours of sleep a night.  Anything less than 8 hours doesn’t give your body enough time to go through the natural procedures which happen while you sleep.  Stress plays a large role in sleepless nights, but meditating before bed increases the production of melatonin and makes you feel more relaxed which makes it easier for you to sleep peacefully.  It will take some time to condition your body to go to sleep earlier, but it is important that you continue with the new routine otherwise you will not reap the benefits. 

Tip 10 – Switch off 

Light stimulates the hypothalamus which inhibits the pineal gland from producing melatonin.  Computers, TVs, mobile phones and lights all emit light which prohibits the pineal gland from functioning correctly to increase the production of melatonin.  Even if it’s only for 15 minutes before you plan on going to bed, make sure that you switch everything off. Give your body time to unwind, meditate to relax and then climb into bed and enjoy a good night’s sleep. 

Conclusion 

By changing some of your current habits and implementing some new practices into your lifestyle you can successfully open your pineal gland which will increase the natural production of melatonin and provide you with the benefits of being healthier, less stressed and able to enjoy a good night’s sleep. 

The body is all about balance, when there is no balance you get sick and get diagnosed with a variety of different diseases.  Even though each person is unique and some practices will work well for some people and not at all for others, you can find the practices and solutions that work well for you as an individual and experience a fuller, healthier life. 

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