Name: What is melatonin -- and should you take it to fall asleep?
Uploaded: 2021-12-01T15:20:40Z
Duration: 2 min 20 s
Description: Melatonin is the hormone that tells our brains and bodies it's time to sleep. But if you think melatonin supplements will significantly improve your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, you may have been misled. Sleep scientist Matt Walker shares how this "hormone of darkness" really works.

Matt Walker: What is melatonin -- and should you take it to fall asleep?

What is melatonin -- and should you take it to fall asleep?

Melatonin is the hormone that tells our brains and bodies it's time to sleep. But if you think melatonin supplements will significantly improve your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, you may have been misled. Sleep scientist Matt Walker shares how this "hormone of darkness" really works.

Melatonin is known as the hormone of darkness because it signals the brain that it's night and time for sleep. Despite its popularity as a sleep aid, research shows melatonin supplements only help people fall asleep 3.9 minutes faster and improve sleep efficiency by a mere 2.2 percent. Its primary job is to regulate the timing of sleep, not to generate deep rest. Focusing on sleep basics—like regular routines, a cool bedroom, evening darkness, and morning light—provides a much greater benefit.