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Have you noticed yourself dreaming often? Is it amusing when you find yourself waking up from bizarre dreams that seem so real? But have you ever wondered why you seem to have a lot of dreams?
If you are a sleeper who always wakes up with sweet and beautiful memories from dreamland, you might be surprised that your melatonin hormone is one of the reasons why you’re receiving the pleasure of dreaming.
A large number of people using Melatonin Sleep Cream Lotion have reported that the supplement is effective in inducing restful sleep. It also makes more dreams.
Now the question is, is there really some truth to this? Let’s find out below.
What Are Dreams?
To figure out whether or not melatonin plays a role in dreaming, let us first define what dreams are. So, what exactly is a dream?
According to sleep studies, a dream can be a series of thoughts, images, and sensations that are mostly revealed involuntarily during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. It can also be cherished ambition, ideas, and imaginations that are cached in your subconscious mind.
Many people believe that dreaming is a suggestion for having a relaxing and soothing night’s sleep. But hold that thought. The truth is, dreams are not necessarily a sign of deep sleep.
As we mentioned above, dreams mostly occur during REM, which is the final stage of the sleep cycle. Generally, in order for you to dream, you must have cycled through the first three phases – the NREM (Non-REM) phases of sleep.
The first phase of NREM usually lasts about 5 to 10 minutes. During this stage, your eyes are closed, but you can easily be disturbed by loud sounds and random disturbances. Once you have passed the first NREM, you go to the second phase, where your mind and body are getting ready for deep sleep.
The third phase of NREM is when deep sleep takes place. It is during this stage that it will be hard to wake you up as your body tries to repair and re-energize.
The deep sleep stage usually lasts for 45 to 90 minutes. Then, your sleep cycle will progress to the REM stage, where dreaming happens.
So are dreams a sign of deep sleep? The answer can be yes and no.
In healthy individuals with regular sleep cycles, you basically cannot dream unless you have passed through the third NREM stage or the deep sleep stage. Therefore, if you are able to dream, then it’s a sign you have cycled through the third NREM phase, or the deep sleep stage.
However, people who have poor sleep patterns and sleep disorders usually skip sleep phases. Although it is rare, there are individuals who cycle through the NREM phases throughout the entirety of their sleep.
Additionally, some people who are roused during the third NREM phase usually go into the REM phase the next time they get their Zzzs. Dreams cannot be a sign of deep sleep in such cases.
Does Melatonin Give You Dreams?
Now that we understand what dreams are and when they occur, let’s dig deeper into the role of melatonin in dreaming.
Melatonin is the master of your circadian rhythm. It is responsible for sending signals to your body that it is time to doze off.
Because melatonin regulates your sleep-wake cycle, it can influence the duration of your REM sleep. More REM sleep equals more dreams. This explains why people who are taking melatonin supplements are reporting an increased occurrence of dreams during sleep.
So if you are struggling with sleeping, your doctor may recommend that you take melatonin supplements. And once you start your melatonin therapy, you can expect more dreams—good ones, hopefully!
Melatonin Sleep Cream Lotion
Speaking of melatonin supplements, it is worth mentioning that melatonin is available in pill form and cream form. The topical route not only gives you the same effects as capsules but is more bioavailable to the body than orally.
Melatonin Sleep Cream Lotion comes in a transdermal form, allowing the hormone to penetrate your skin and deliver the benefits of melatonin to your body without having to swallow a pill. Actually, using melatonin in cream form is deemed the better method of taking the hormone since it doesn’t have to be digested or passed through the liver. Oral forms usually lose up to 90% of their value.
But what you also need to know is when to use Melatonin Sleep Cream Lotion in order to achieve a night of quality sleep. So the next question is: How long does melatonin take to work?
As melatonin in your blood peaks, it usually takes 30 to 60 minutes before your body goes into sleep. Therefore, it is recommended that you apply Melatonin Sleep Cream Lotion at least an hour or two before your desired Zzz time. It gives your melatonin hormone a window for transmitting signals to the different parts of your body to invite sleep.
Conclusion
No matter what your reasons are for using Melatonin Sleep Cream Lotion, always check with your doctor to see how much supplementation you need. Too much melatonin in your bloodstream can interfere with your regular sleep-wake cycle, which can be detrimental to your health. To reduce side effects, always start with a pinch of application and increase only as necessary.