Melatonin - re-purposed as a line of cancer treatment
A supplement I take as part of my “cancer starving” protocol - Melatonin
As always, I want this blog to be as helpful as possible, as well as somewhere for me to have a space to write words and thoughts about living with cancer. Annnnddd, with that in mind, I’ve been reading up on Melatonin recently and it took me on a sideways path to learning more about the Pineal Gland, which has been really interesting to say the least. Melatonin forms part of my metabolic “cancer starving” protocol but learning more about its function and the knock-on effects of melatonin levels in the body has been fascinating.
The Pineal Gland and its importance to health
At this time of year, with the days starting to shorten and the nights setting in earlier, we tend to feel a bit more tired and maybe a little less energized. I can’t believe that we waved goodbye to summer and welcomed Autumn with the passing of the autumnal equinox this past Saturday! This synchronising with the seasons is part of the circadian rhythm and is closely linked to the function of the pineal gland; a pinecone shaped gland the size of a grain of rice, that sits at the centre of the brain; some people refer to the pineal gland as “the third eye”.
The main role of the Pineal gland is the production and release of melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that makes us feel sleepy. Darkness triggers the release of melatonin and bright light halts its production; however, the sleepy vibes melatonin does for us, do more than switch us off for the night. *Side note – it’s important to sleep in darkness with no phones on!
Melatonin has actually been found to have protective effects against over 100 different health conditions, with beneficial effects ranging from weight regulation to brain protection. Removal of the pineal gland has been found to result in accelerated ageing and cancer growth. I was only made aware of this hidden gland and its purpose in recent years. I also read it has the highest calcification rate amongst all the organs and tissues in the body…so what can we do to look after this important gland?
Also interestingly, Serotonin which is the brain chemical which results in feelings of positivity and focus is converted to melatonin during the hours of darkness and sleep. With less hours of night-time during the summer months, less of the serotonin is used with mood uplifting consequences as there’s more of this hormone to be used round in our waking hours. You might have heard of seasonal affective disorder; SAD, which is directly linked to this process, causing feelings of lethargy and depression in some people, due to the lower levels of serotonin in the winter months. When I made this connection, it made a lot of sense to me, as I tend to sometimes suffer a drop in energy and moods during the winter months. (I was made for summer babyyy).
Also, a cool fact (or so I thought so anyway) – In mammals, light is sensed by the retina at the back of the eye and messages are then relayed to the pineal gland. In most reptiles, birds and fish, the gland itself has light detecting functions, sensing light directly through the skill in a similar way to the eye itself, so another reason why the gland is often called the “third eye”.
Some of the less commonly known actions of Melatonin include: -
It’s an antioxidant and has anti-aging properties, protecting proteins and DNA.
It inhibits the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain which can lead to Alzheimer’s.
It has antitumour affects; it can help slow the progression of cancers through inhibiting multiple cancer metabolism pathways. It’s something I take daily, as part of my “starving cancer” via nutrition, supplementation and medicine, approach. I first came across the anti-cancer affects of Melatonin in Jane Mclelland’s NY Times bestseller “How to starve cancer” and I’ve come across its affects in lots of other books, research papers and so on.
Melatonin also helps to regulate energy metabolism and helps maintain glucose balance. Low melatonin levels is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Calcification of the Pineal gland – why does this occur?
So, I mentioned above about the Pineal gland having the highest calcification rate amongst all of the other organs and tissues in the body. Let’s explore this more… In more recent years, researchers have taken a greater interest in the Pineal gland and its functions. Essentially, build-up of calcium phosphate over the gland, impairs its ability to produce melatonin, which in turn has concerning health effects. People with a greater degree of calcification were found to be more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s, strokes, migraines, and schizophrenia. One of the links made for a build up of calcium on this gland is the consumption of excess fluoride. This excess may come from drinking water in areas where fluoride schemes are in place, as well eating non-organic foods, where fluoride-based fertilisers are used and pesticides using fluorides are sprayed on crops. In addition to this, not to scare you people but the tea plant (where tea bags come from) is known as a hyper-accumulator of fluoride. Invest in your health and go organic people!
In Wales, we’re lucky our drinking water is no longer “fluoridated”. Go Wales!
The “Third Eye” – spiritual links
The pineal gland is believed to be the location of the energetic “third eye” or “Anja” Chakra. In Sanskrit, it is known as “the seat of intuition”, translations of the Sanskrit name also include “to perceive” and “beyond wisdom”. When this chakra is awakened, it is thought this energy point can bring intuition, spiritual insight, and wisdom.
Some researchers are also now suggesting that DMT, the hallucinogenic substance that is naturally occurring in some rainforest plants, is also made within our brains, creating experiences such as dreams, imagination, creativity and altered states of consciousness, including near death experiences and psychosis. The people doing this research have suggested the pineal gland is the likely site of the production of this hormone. However, research is still in its early days and studies are limited. A lot of the research papers I have read, are backing the theory that DMT is released in high amounts at birth and death. It’s all very interesting.
Supporting the Pineal gland and Melatonin levels
Light Exposure:
The number 1 most significant factor influencing melatonin secretion is light exposure. Lighting, the TV, mobile phones or computer use can be enough to prevent the night-time release of melatonin. It would therefore be considered good practice to dim the lights around the house after sunset and minimise the use of screens at least an hour before bed. It’s important to sleep in a dark room, maybe using black-out blinds if street lighting is an issue. It’s also good practice to sleep with your mobile off. I’ve been doing this for about 6 months, and it’s been a game changer for me personally.
Another thing to add, is that it’s important to ensure you get enough light exposure throughout the day, so plenty of time outside, because effective melatonin release at night is dependent on its complete shutdown during the day.
Minimizing fluoride consumption:
Buy organic produce as much as possible, particularly in the produce most prone to chemical and fluoride contamination. Look up the “dirty dozen” 12 foods you should buy organic according to the Environmental Working Groups list. This list includes, strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, bell peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, blueberries, and green beans. Also, if you live in an area where there is fluoride being added to your water source – get a water filter.
Reducing stress:
Yep, here we are again – reducing stress levels is key to overall health. More topically and specifically; As cortisol (stress hormone) levels fall, Melatonin levels rise. Therefore, practicing good relaxation routines should be a non-negotiable for us all. Herbal teas, Ashwagandha mushroom supplements, CBD, breathwork, a hot bubble bath, a good book or a cwtch with a pet (or little niece or nephew in my case) can work wonders!
Prayer and meditation:
Studies have shown that people who meditate often produce more melatonin than those who don’t. People with a belief system, a higher power or God, tend to surrender and let go of their worries with more ease, which results in less stress or less holding of a negative emotion or feeling.
So that’s everything in terms of the key messages on Melatonin and the Pineal Gland. I hope you found it as interesting as I did! – Rewind, 5 years ago and I would never have thought this kind of stuff would interest me, but it truly does. I’ve become a bit of a health geek and this sort of stuff keeps me going. I appreciate it might not be as interesting to some of you, however I feel like I wish I had taken a bigger interest in my health, and the workings of my body, years ago, as If I had, maybe I would have been able to read the “warning signs” that my body wasn’t happy, and something wasn’t right. I feel like I was so forward focused and blinkered to some degree, that I ignored the basics, and I was ultimately out of touch with my body. I feel like a lot of people in the modern world are like this and so it would be great for this type of post to speak out to people who might be on a similar path as I was, for years. Prevention of chronic disease is key, a pro-active approach is needed. Our health is everything. ~ Health is not the absence of disease but the presence of vitality.