Everyone has heard of melatonin and its ability to aid in falling asleep. For most of us melatonin is something that can be purchased in capsules as a ‘vitamin’ from a drugstore or health food store. Others may know more about the mechanical attributes of melatonin within the pineal gland as a signifier of darkness to help maintain an individual’s circadian rhythm. Some may also know that melatonin is a precursor to the production of serotonin.
The hormone twin flames of melatonin and serotonin are necessary to help regulate many autonomic functions of the nervous system. (1) Furthermore, serotonin acts as both a neurotransmitter as well as a hormone, but leans heavily on the presence of melatonin for its existence. What most people do not know is that melatonin is also created within each and every individual cell of the human form when exposed to the invisible spectrum of light called near infrared light. When melatonin is created in this fashion it demonstrates many more positively powerful effects on the body.
If you have been wondering how to increase your melatonin levels to balance your circadian rhythm, improve sleep quality, or simply to feel happier and healthier, you will definitely want to find out either side of melatonin’s production!
Despite what previous research has taught us, new data shows that melatonin can be synthesized in the mitochondria through exposure to near infrared light. You can now easily and safely increase the presence of melatonin in your system by simply exposing yourself to more near infrared light during the sunrise, sunset, or in your sauna!
You Have the Power to Make it Happen. Melatonin Production Occurs as a Result of Exposure to Near Infrared Light Within Each Cell of Your Body
Exciting new research shows that there are more ways to increase melatonin than previously thought. For many years scientists believed that melatonin was produced in the pineal gland. They would not be incorrect; however, new research reveals that melatonin is also produced within the cells of the body by virtue of photobiomodulation.
Photobiomodulation is a cellular response to red and near infrared wavelengths that positively affects mitochondrial metabolism. Now we know that it also increases melatonin production at the cellular level.
Take a look at how scientists previously viewed melatonin production:
With this previously conceived model of melatonin production, it meant that most of us were at the mercy of the changing of seasons. As melatonin is a necessary precursor to serotonin production, many mood disorders such as Seasonal Affective Disorder were thought to be a result of a lack of melatonin during the darker months of the year.
This graph tells a very grim story of a reality that no longer needs to be true for you.
New research suggests that melatonin is not only produced in the pineal gland with exposure to daytime sunlight spectrum, but also within the cellular structure with the correct exposure to longer wavelengths of light, namely near infrared light.
A recent article published in the journal for the National Library of Medicine entitled: ‘Melatonin: Both a Messenger of Darkness and a Participant in the Cellular Actions of Non-Visible Solar Radiation of Near Infrared Light’(3), tells us of a new reality where we as individuals can be in the driver’s seat of melatonin production by simply ensuring that we have access to greater amounts of near infrared light. This can occur either naturally via the sun in the evening and mornings when near infrared light is at its strongest or via human made devices that release near infrared light.
This article writes of the old way of perceiving melatonin production:
“Throughout the history of melatonin research, almost exclusive focus has been on nocturnally-generated pineal melatonin production, which accounts for its circadian rhythm in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid; these light/dark melatonin cycles drive the daily and seasonal photoperiodic alterations in organismal physiology. Because pineal melatonin is produced and secreted primarily at night, it is referred to as the chemical expression of darkness.” (3)
With new research, it is understood that melatonin can be synthesized within the mitochondria of each cell. Melatonin created in this way has wide ranging positive effects on our bio-chemistry. When the organelle called the mitochondria are positively affected by exposure to near infrared light this process is called photobiomodulation (PBM). As it turns out, when melatonin is synthesized in the energy plant of each cell, aka the mitochondria, new and positive results occur to many different organs and systems in the body.
Near infrared light is special among all wavelengths of light in how it interacts with nearly all cells of the body, as it is written in the aforementioned article.
“Optically, the red/NIR portion of sunlight uniquely interacts with virtually all of our cells based on the biological windows between 650 nm and 1200 nm. NIR light penetrates the body to a depth of several inches”. (3)
This article continues to write about the mechanistic aspect of near infrared light (NIR) on melatonin production here.
“…evidence also shows that near infrared radiation (NIR), which occupies a major portion of the wavelengths of sunlight, promotes melatonin production and the beneficial effects of sun baths or photobiomodulation therapy may be, at least, partially mediated by the increased local melatonin production induced by NIR.” (3)
It is now known that there are 4 major ways that individuals can increase the presence of melatonin in the body.
- Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland with exposure to the full range of color light (400 nanometers to 500 nanometers).
- Diet: In take of melatonin through certain foods augments its presence in the body.
- Exposure to melatonin via the skin, and all other orifices of the body.
- Melatonin is powerfully increased with exposure to near infrared light when the mitochondria of each cell reacts to this light frequency and synthesizes melatonin.
You can see the visual activity of each of these four mechanisms for creating melatonin in the graph below.
You may wonder why the presence of melatonin in your body is so important. Find out what portions of health melatonin effects by reading on.
Why is the Presence of Melatonin So Important?
- Antioxidant
- Improved Sleep
- Cellular Repair
- Wound Healing
- Mood Enhancement
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Age Related Macular Degeneration
- Soft Tissue Injury Repair
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Serotonin Uptake
- Oncological Care
Most will be shocked when they read this list and find out how many aspects of health are positively affected by an increased presence of melatonin, and specifically melatonin that is synthesized by mitochondria as a result of exposure to near infrared light.
The article entitled: ‘Melatonin: Both a Messenger of Darkness and a Participant in the Cellular Actions of Non-Visible Solar Radiation of Near Infrared Light’ (4) reveals exciting new data on the lack of presence of melatonin in cancerous cells versus their healthier counterparts.
“Thus, the mitochondria of cancer cells have only about half the melatonin levels in the mitochondria compared to normal cells consistent with the depressed levels of melatonin in cancer patients.” (3)
According to this research by improving the presence of melatonin within each and every cell via photomiodulation, it may be possible to improve some oncological cases. (3)
This same article goes on to write about several other positive effects of improved quantities of melatonin in the body.
“…retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, soft tissue injuries, acceleration of wound healing, and recently, to Alzheimer’s disease increase ATP production, and improve mitochondrial homeostasis.” (3)
In addition to the presence of cellular melatonin, it remains true that melatonin produced in the pineal gland as a result of exposure to the color light spectrum, also positively affects serotonin levels, circadian rhythm, sleep, immunity, and overall mood stability. (2)
With this abundance of melatonin, the body adapts itself to operate at higher levels mimicking that of a youthful and vitality filled body. So, how can you actively increase melatonin levels through mitochondrial synthesis?
There are two main ways that you can do this. The first, is simply going outside and capitalizing on the presence of near infrared light that naturally occurs in the sun’s spectrum in the early morning as the sun rises or in the evening as the sun sets.
Secondly, you can increase mitochondrially synthesized melatonin by exposing yourself to near infrared light in a full spectrum sauna, or via a near infrared bulb.
By Using a Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna You can Increase the Presence of Melatonin in Your Body Easily and Safely
Melatonin has so many benefits to health that it is natural to want to learn how to increase its presence in your body. If you are lucky enough to own a full spectrum infrared sauna you already have near infrared ceramic heating panels at your disposal. This means that every time you use your sauna you are improving the presence of melatonin in your body.
If you want to focus on exposure to near infrared light only, you simply need to disconnect your far infrared light heaters (though this is not necessary). If your sauna also comes with color light you are also simultaneously affecting the production of melatonin the old fashioned way in the pineal gland!
You should try to expose your body to near infrared light daily, and it is best to improve the quality of your sleep if you can in the evening.
If you do not have access to a full spectrum infrared sauna you can always just go outside and watch the sun set to receive a dose of near infrared light! It is also possible to purchase near infrared light bulbs to increase melatonin production in the mitochondria of nearly every cell of your body.
There are many ways to increase the presence of melatonin in your body to embark on a beautiful new journey of health and light!
Please remember that increasing the presence of melatonin in your body is not a substitute for professional medical care.
Sources Cited:
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22572-serotonin
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7831660/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9855654/