The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 08/26/2020 2325 posts
★★★★★
In this latest update from Dr. Neel, he mentions that although the amount of new cases in his area of Texas have slowed a bit, the current strain affecting his area is definitely more difficult to treat than the previous strain he was working against. He has shown a willingness to raise the melatonin dosing level to help deal with this current strain because with this strain it has taken 3 days to start to see improvement whereas with the previous strain he was seeing improvement in just one day.
One thing he didn't mention is the number of patients he has treated as of today(8/26/2020). The last time he mentioned the number, he said over 400 patients treated. He still not has reported any deaths as of this update. Here is a link to the update:
https://devinenews.com/masks-to-melatonin-how-it-works-why-it-works/
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 08/25/2020 2325 posts
Since it appears that Covid-19 is going to be here longer than anticipated by the administration, I am continuing to update this thread as I find relevant information regarding this infection. It is worth noting that overall, since the administration has taken over keeping track of Covid-19, from the CDC, in mid July, the number of new cases for the US have been declining steadily. On July 24th, there were 78,586 new cases that day and it has steadily declined from that day forward. Can this even be correct considering the elevated new cases in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
This recent study (June/2020) is in agreement with the idea of using melatonin against Covid-19, but their hypothesized dose rate is approximately 8 times greater than what Dr. Neel is using on average (1mg per kilogram/day) at 8 mg/kg/day and higher for severe cases! To put that in perspective, if you weigh about 175 lbs or 80 kilos, you would have to take about 640 mg of melatonin per day for severe Covid-19 infection!!!
https://www.melatonin-research.net/index.php/MR/article/view/83/562
I'm a fan of melatonin, but that is the highest dosing I have ever heard of in humans and even greater than what Dr. Shallenberger is using in his stage 4 cancer patients!!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 08/15/2020
★★★★★
Here is another upcoming melatonin / Covid-19 study that is going to be done in Spain using 60 mg / day and what makes this study different is that they are injecting those 60 mgs of melatonin and this will be a randomized, placebo controlled, double blind study which is also a first when it comes to melatonin / Covid-19. I don't think they have a randomized, placebo controlled, double blind study for Hydroxychloroquine yet :
https://www.docwirenews.com/abstracts/clinical-trial-to-test-the-efficacy-of-melatonin-in-covid-19/
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 08/02/2020 2325 posts
Melatonin and What Type May Be Best for Covid-19:
Previously I had stated that when it comes to Covid-19, the type of melatonin should not be an issue, but Dr. Neel had stated that he was using the type of melatonin that dissolves in the mouth or under the tongue (sublingual).
I thought the only significance of that type was that he felt it would be possible to give to patients already on a ventilator and that was it, but this recent report suggests that there may be more to sublingual melatonin than that! Other sublingual supplements are often said to have better bioavailability in their sublingual forms over regular capsules or pills. Perhaps this is also true for melatonin in its sublingual form? Melatonin on its own has poor bioavailability. Roughly, oral melatonin only offers a maximum of 15% bioavailability at best. So this offers some creedence that even a small increase in bioavailability may have significant ramifications when it comes to melatonin?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10883420/#:~:text=Subjects were administered, in a, absolute bioavailability of approximately 15%.
Given that information, the following report from a Covid-19/Melatonin patient makes a little more sense and I may need to rethink the use of sublingual melatonin on the chance that it is better absorbed by the human body???
https://devinenews.com/family-of-8-hit-hard-by-coronavirus/
Perhaps type of melatonin does matter??? Since I have been taking melatonin in the capsule form, I may have to get a bottle of sublingual melatonin to see if I respond differently to it? This may take a little bit of time since I have other experiments already in my queue.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Anon (Anon) on 08/02/2020
Or the boy's ability to produce melatonin has been compromised.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 08/02/2020 2325 posts
★★★★★
Below is a link to an article about a 4 year old boy in Texas who got sick shortly after his father tested positive for Covid-19.
Of note related to this story is that 4 to 7 year olds are at or very near the peak of natural melatonin levels seen in humans suggesting that melatonin can not prevent infection, but it can apparently reverse it in short order based on this and many other reports! This could be useful information for all of those people who have kids or grandkids! Here is a link to that article :
https://devinenews.com/local-4-year-old-battles-103-9-fever-days-after-dad-tests-positive-for-covid-19/
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 07/26/2020 2325 posts
Very recently I found out that some 10 mg melatonin capsules also contain vitamin B6. This will not work for high dose melatonin (HDM) treatment as it can deliver to much B6 and this can be unsafe and unhealthful to take in that much B6 everyday! The B6 is added for the purpose of increasing the absorption of melatonin. Stay away from these types of melatonin that contain extra B6 as they should not be used for HDM.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Missm (New York) on 07/26/2020
I had Covid in March and coughed almost five months without cure. I discovered that quitting all dairy immediately caused my coughing to stop! But still left with difficulty breathing, runny nose.
I found that NAC 600 mg twice a day has really helped.
Then I do a steam as I do not own a nebulizer with Theranaturals glutathione, one capsule and one drop of eucalyptus essential oil. This glutathione is made for nebulizers. Eucalyptus is beneficial for lungs.
I do not do HP.
You could try above.
Covid takes a long time to recover.
Melatonin
Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 07/25/2020
Dear Art,
Thank you for the information!
Yes, as a matter of fact, my mother in law does have A-fib!
She is actually taking a small amount of melatonin right now. She has been in a nursing home for 9 months and when her sleeping pill prescription ended, they asked if they could give her melatonin instead. Well, I was sure happy about that! I don't know how much yet.
I actually didn't realize that COPD is what they used to call emphysema. But it makes sense.
Thank you again!
~Mama to Many~
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 07/25/2020 2325 posts
Freda,
I answered this question in the original reply I made to Nancy and there is further information re: COPD in my reply to Mama to Many.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 07/25/2020 2325 posts
Hi M to M!
Thank you for saying so! I know you are probably already aware of the following, but I am putting it in for others who may not be. COPD is common, so it is worth putting this info up. Some people refer to it as emphysema, but that is an older term and COPD seems more common now as a blanket term. There are some similarities with chronic bronchitis.I'm not sure about the H2O2 for COPD simply for lack of studies to add confirmation to the anecdotal evidence, but the anecdotal evidence is compelling.
In COPD patients who are stable, the amount of H2O2 in the exhaled air is approximately 7 times that of normal controls while patients who are in an exacerbated state are almost 3 times higher than stable patients and about 21 times higher than control patients.
So H2O2 inhalation will add to these already significantly elevated H2O2 levels. This brief abstract discusses H2O2 exhalation levels in people with COPD:
https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/ajrccm.154.3.8810624
Melatonin clearly has studies that show it benefits COPD as does NAC, which is purported to significantly reduce exacerbations at two 600 mg doses per day.
Generally elevated oxidative stress is considered to possibly be the single most important factor driving COPD disease progression, so these two seem quite useful and melatonin is the most potent antioxidant in the human body as I described in the original post. Maximum radical scavenging is desirable.HDM made it possible for me to get rid of a cough that I had had for months that was not getting better, only worse. With HDM it started to lessen in two days and was gone by the third day.Vitamin C is synergistic with melatonin and adds to both its antioxidant abilities as well as its antiinflammatory qualities.Quercetin is also useful for COPD and quercetin is also synergistic with melatonin increasing its antiinflammatory activity.
Vitamin D reduces the number of acute exacerbations also and it is almost always good to be vitamin D replete for overall health, especially with so many people being insufficient or deficient. Getting into the upper half of the reference range for 25 OH d is worth looking into at whatever vitamin D dose is needed to get there. Simply put, some people require more vitamin D to achieve a specific 25 OH d level. The 25 OH d reference range is 30 ng/ml ~ 100 ng/ml
Some essential oils such as eucalyptus are thought to be helpful with COPD also. Not everyone can tolerate melatonin. Does your mother in law have Afib?
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Freda (Canada) on 07/25/2020
Hi Art
Would you recommend melatonin for severe Copd and not inhaling H202? Thanks.
Melatonin
Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 07/24/2020
Dear Art,
I really appreciate this post on Melatonin, H202 and COPD. It is timely for me. We are getting ready to move my mother in law into our home and she has COPD, in addition to other health problems.
By the way, I continue to take Melatonin at night for sleep and it has definitely helped me!
Thank you!
~Mama to Many~
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 07/24/2020 2325 posts
Nancy11,
This is going to be a long answer.
To briefly answer your question, yes, I would lean toward "melatonin only", at least until you find that your breathing difficulty has improved significantly back toward your normal. This should help allow your lungs to heal to the extent that melatonin is capable of doing.
Once and if you improve from the melatonin supplementation, then you can consider whether you want to add H2O2 to the mix. Melatonin is likely to work against H2O2 as it is a radical and melatonin neutralizes radicals and melatonin can enter any tissues in the body and is proven to significantly affect the lungs.
More on this below and a possible workaround.This is a tough question for me, because I look at H2O2 as a very potent oxidant that can potentially lead to excess oxidative stress and I see that as the reason it would very likely be effective at destroying SARS CoV-2 that exists in the lungs via inhalation of H2O2, but once the virus is destroyed in the lungs, do you really need to keep inhaling a potent oxidant (H2O2) into COPD lungs that already have elevated levels of H2O2 as shown in existing studies?
I know there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that suggests H2O2 inhalation may be beneficial for COPD and in one sense that seems likely as it will very likely kill bacteria in the lungs that may thrive in the lungs of people with COPD and help to feed the disease process.
On the other hand, studies have shown that exhaled H2O2 is elevated in people with stable COPD compared to controls and is almost 3 times higher in COPD patients whose condition is exacerbated as opposed to stable.
This data could mean that the body is able to produce enough H2O2 for COPD lungs on its own, or it may turn out that even though the body produces more H2O2 in the lungs as the disease severity increases, it is not able to produce enough to reach maximum efficacy.
I have not seen data to confirm that additional inhalation of H2O2 will be beneficial, though the anecdotal evidence suggests it may be.
So inhaling H2O2 will add even more H2O2 to the already elevated levels in patients lungs with COPD and this is where the anecdotal evidence and the science seem to part ways as the science so far does not seem to support the inhalation of H2O2 in patients with COPD.
Oxidative stress is elevated in COPD as is inflammation and these two work together in a vicious cycle to increase each other as elevated oxidative stress increases inflammatory cytokines and mediators which also creates more oxidative stress ultimately creating an environment that is conducive to disease progression.
If you could look inside your lungs to see how they are reacting to inhaled H2O2, that would be very useful, but that is not possible and with no practical way to know if there is enough or too much H2O2 in the lungs, the melatonin may help with this aspect of H2O2 inhalation.
Melatonin, on the other hand, has many studies that show that it is beneficial for COPD patients and two of the effective mechanisms of action are its potent radical scavenging and very potent antioxidant activities as well as its inhibition of inflammatory cytokines which may have the potential to break that vicious cycle that can be quite active in COPD.
Another consideration is knowing that melatonin level drops when the disease is in an exacerbated state, exactly when more melatonin would likely be needed! Melatonin levels also decline with age.
Melatonin is the most potent antioxidant in the human body because it elevates the gene expression Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Glucose-6- Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) and Catalase (CAT) while increasing Glutathione. Melatonin doesn't stop there though. It is also a potent scavenger of Peroxynitrite (ONOO) which is elevated in COPD and has negative effects, it scavenges Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) / Hydroxyl Radicals, Reactive Nitrogen Species and H2O2 which are all mostly elevated and damaging in COPD and help extend disease progression.
Melatonin is also able to do something that other antioxidants like vitamin C and E can't.
Vitamins C and E can each neutralize one oxygen radical while melatonin can neutralize as many as 10 oxygen radicals because each time it reduces one oxygen radical, melatonin becomes a different metabolite of itself and each of these metabolites can in turn neutralize another oxygen radical.
Add in the antiinflammatory qualities of melatonin and it is a potent molecule to use against Covid-19 and COPD!So given all of the above, for myself, if I wanted to try one or both of these and if I believed they both had potential to help people with COPD, I would discuss it with my doctor to see if he thought that either one or both might be helpful for me and would be compatible with my current medications. If he or she approved the use of both, then I would consider an appropriate plan of attack.
I suggest that anyone reading this also get their doctors approval before trying to implement such a regimen.
Given that melatonin is likely to work against H2O2 by neutralizing it directly or indirectly through the upregulation of Catalase or other antioxidants which will also neutralize it, I might consider a rotating approach where I use one for a day or two followed by using the other for a day a day or two. This could possibly allow the H2O2 to work while the next phase allows melatonin to give the lungs a break and neutralize the elevated radical levels in the lungs as well as lower the elevated inflammatory levels in the lungs.
H2O2 is highly likely to do some damage in the lungs and the idea being that melatonin may nullify or repair some of this damage while helping to work against COPD through its known multiple actions against COPD.
So that is my idea of how I might use these two substances under my doctor's supervision based on my experience with both substances and the available studies I was able to find. I did not include any study links in this post because it is long enough already.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Nancy11 (Florida) on 07/23/2020 3 posts
H2o2 use and melatonin:
I have just got over a median case of covid. I have copd and my breathing has worsened since, I just started taking or doing the hp protocol today. I have noticed in your article that melatonin fights off h2o2, so would it be advisable to say I should just do the melatonin to try to recover my lung capacity, I am not on any meds at this time.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 07/22/2020 2325 posts
★★★★★
Dr. Neel has treated over 400 Covid-19 patients now, as of July 22, 2020!
Since his patient load has increased very considerably, so has his knowledge and understanding of the use of HDM (High Dose Melatonin) in Covid-19 patients. This seems like one of his most informative updates so far!
Dr. Neel is now seeing patients who are in multiple higher risk categories and treating some of them is no walk in the park. Dr Neel is now using even higher doses of melatonin in these harder to treat patients at dosing that is closer to what Dr. Shallenberger uses in almost all of his non cancer patients and similar to what Dr. Reiter has used in some of his studies. Dr. Shallenberger uses much higher dosing in his cancer patients though.
Dr. Neel also mentions that he is now seeing many more young patients than in the previous 3 months. He also mentions that people with asthma are having a harder time with Covid-19 than his patients who don't have asthma. He is also seeing more young patients who are developing gastrointestinal issues. He does not mention any deaths in this latest update.
He also mentions that he is seeing at least one strain of virus that seems to be more virulent. The information he includes with this latest update does not seem to bode too well for the supposedly soon to be available vaccinations, if the virus is mutating significantly. Here is the link to this latest update:
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 07/20/2020 2325 posts
★★★★★
July update From One of Dr. Neel's Patients Describing Her Experience
This is an update from one of Dr. Neel's patients describing her experience using high dose melatonin (HDM) to treat her Covid-19 case. She adds confirmation to what Dr. Neel has been saying about the rapid onset of action by HDM (High Dose Melatonin).
Also of interest in this update is the fact that Dr. Neel appears willing to go slightly above his proposed dosing schedule of 1 mg of melatonin per kilogram if he deems it necessary.
This is essentially one patient's play by play of her experience with Covid-19 and HDM:
https://devinenews.com/ms-ovalle-shares-battle-with-covid-and-what-got-her-through-it/
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Gertjr (Madison) on 07/12/2020
You can always do the usual anti-virus things--vit C and D, lysine, chicken soup, healthy diet, plenty of water, sleep, fresh air and sunshine. Melatonin surely can't hurt and may help. Whenever I am exposed to anything, even stress, I try to fall back on the tried and true remedies.
Melatonin
Posted by Anon (Anon) on 07/11/2020
Someone posted that melatonin does cause next day drowsyness at first, but after you take it for a while it does not.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 07/11/2020 2325 posts
Karen S.,
Dr. Neel has never mentioned a preventative dose because melatonin is not likely to prevent Covid-19, only lessen the symptoms and help the body fight the virus off on its own without the deadly complications often seen in Covid-19 patients. Dr. Neel has only given melatonin to patients who have shown symptoms and tested positive for Covid-19 and these patients have turned their symptoms around in one day after starting HDM.
Many people have reported next morning drowsiness with melatonin, myself included. I don't necessarily consider that a negative for someone with Covid-19 as rest is likely good for someone with Covid-19 to help maintain a more effective immune system. Dr. Neel is currently recommending 1 milligram of melatonin for every kilogram that the patient weighs. So if a patient weighs 80 kilograms, then they would take 80 milligrams of melatonin.
That is the advice he is giving to other doctors who are wanting to use melatonin on their Covid-19 patients.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Karen S. (US) on 07/10/2020
Does taking the high dose melatonin cause drowsiness since its a sleep aide. I want to start taking it but am not sick at this time for prevention off Covid???? I have been exposed and want to be proactive and start on regimen before I do become ill.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 06/29/2020 2325 posts
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/21/2020 2325 posts
Deborah,
You can try using a nationally known brand like the ones that Amazon carries and then that way it will be delivered to your door without you having to go to the store and this way you can lessen any possible exposure to Covid-19.
I agree about the "melatonin hangover" that you mention because I have gotten it before, but it gets less noticeable the longer I use melatonin. It makes me feel lazy and I don't want to get out of bed. For myself, I take it a little earlier in the evening and that seems to help me.
It is worth mentioning that the dosing that Dr. Neel is using in his Covid-19 patients is a relatively high dose and he is only using that dose as long as the patient is testing positive, so he is giving a high dose for a relatively short period of time.
Thank you for your comment!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/21/2020 2325 posts
Sorry, I forgot to answer that. I added that study into the post for the specific reason that quercetin and zinc are one of the popular combinations being suggested as a possible treatment for Covid-19, but it is unproven and untested yet. I just wanted to show that melatonin can be compatible and possibly synergistic with other supplements such as quercetin!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Deborah (Los Angeles) on 04/21/2020
Thanks, Art. I will take the melatonin a bit earlier.
But what about the combination of the Quercetin you mentioned. Is that necessary with the both together?
Melatonin
Posted by deborah (Los Angeles, Ca) on 04/21/2020
★★★★★
Hi Art,
I've been using melatonin 5mg in PM for sleep dissolve from CVS, but you mentioned the combination of Melatonin and Quercetin...?? ? where do I find that or is it not combined in the Melatonin you are suggesting.
I have been using this from CVS, and sometimes it works and other not.. Then I just take one more at a later time of the PM, like 2:30am when I wake up and can't sleep. My mind is very active and does not shut off... I do wake up sluggish, so I also think Melatonin has an effect when one wakes up...but then it wears off.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/21/2020 2325 posts
Thank you, Ed!
I'm listening to your podcast as I type! Interesting. I am at the melatonin discussion right now!
Dr. Neel seems to be having very good results in his Covid-19 patients using melatonin at 80 mg/day divided into four doses, but I am waiting for the hospital in the Philippines to announce who is going to publish their science paper discussing what they saw in their Covid-19 patients. They seem to be having similar success to Dr. Neel in their melatonin/Covid-19 patients!
Thank you for the links!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Ed Jones (tennessee) on 04/21/2020
★★★★★
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/21/2020 2325 posts
Jane,
That is a rare side effect of melatonin. For myself, I would have to weigh the potential benefit of using melatonin for Covid-19 against the side effect. In a hospital setting would be the best situation because then the doctor and nurses would be able to monitor you and keep you safe!
As I mentioned in the post, some people can not tolerate melatonin, but the majority of people can. If the hallucinations are significant, your doctor may not want you to use melatonin.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/21/2020 2325 posts
Rami,
Hopefully your tolerance of melatonin is good enough so that you can keep it in mind should it ever be needed and hopefully, you won't ever need it!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Rami (Santa Cruz) on 04/21/2020
★★★★☆
Jane.
Yes. About 20 years ago when I took it and I felt like I was on an acid trip all night long. I tried it again (I'm in my 70s) and it only makes me dream a little wildly. I can feel after taking it what it does to my brain. I am a meditator so I think I'm just a little sensitive. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
Melatonin
Posted by Jane (Texas) on 04/21/2020
Has anyone else experienced hallucinations when taking melatonin? I have used it twice for insomnia and both times experienced disturbing visual phenomena.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/21/2020
Thank you, Deirdre!
Dr. Neel has not mentioned any type of maintenance dose so far and I suspect he won't because the one patient where he tried to reduce her dose from 80 mg/day down to 40 mg/day resulted in the patient developing a cough which went away when he increased her dose back to 80 mg. I think this is what he is finding to be an effective dose for adults and so far has not suggested any type of maintenance dose. Melatonin can not stop you from getting Covid-19, but what Dr. Neel is finding is that it can help keep the virus from instigating the cytokine storm which has resulted in the deaths of patients around the world. He also finds that patients are responding positively to melatonin in just one day! A maintenance dose is not likely required since it is the higher dose that he is using in his patients that is actually making the difference.
On a very related note, if melatonin becomes scarce as other supplements like vitamins A, C, D and zinc have become, it may make more sense to save the melatonin that you have until it is actually needed.
Thank you again!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/30/2020 2325 posts
Deirdre,
Dr. Neel has finally mentioned a maintenance dose, but it is for patients who are already recovering, not as a prophylactic because he has mentioned that Melatonin does not directly kill the virus. So basically he has been starting his adult patients around 80 mg total per day and then once they are well improved he will consider having them go down to a maintenance dose in the lower range around 5 mg/day, but he is the one making that call, not the patient and this is likely a very important part since you may feel much better before you are completely well!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Deirdre (CT) on 04/21/2020
Dear Art,
Thank you very much for this fantastic article. You put so much time and effort into researching supplements and then give out your information freely on Earth Clinic for everyone to benefit from.
A giant thank you from all of us at Earth Clinic. We appreciate you so much!! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
A friend is asking what a daily maintenance dose of melatonin would be. She's buying bottles for her whole family in anticipation of a run on melatonin, thanks to your article.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/21/2020 2325 posts
Well, you can't argue with what worked for you in 6 weeks, Tom! Thank you for the ACV report!
The only difference is that Dr. Neel is suggesting that his patients are already seeing improvement after a day of melatonin at high dose. The patient in the Philippine hospital with Covid-19 pneumonia who was about to be put on a ventilator improved significantly after just 3 days of high dose melatonin and they didn't have to put him on a ventilator and then was released 9 days later! The other possible benefit is that none of his patients ended up worsening to pneumonia after Dr. Neel started them on high dose melatonin!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/22/2020 2325 posts
★★★★★
Hi Deborah,
Yes, it appears that those supplements and combinations can be very helpful judging by the comments on them across the internet.
Vitamin C seems to be most effective through IV, which can be hard to get and is pricey. Liposomal C can be similarly effective as IV vitamin C, but it too is pricey.
Zinc can be helpful also, but zinc needs an assisting ionophore such as Hydroxychloroquine or quercetin at high dose in order to help get enough zinc into the infected cells and disrupt the viral replication process.
Covid-19 has those spike proteins and these attach or dock to a specific cell receptor and once they dock, they inject RNA into the cell and hijack the cell to turn the cell into a virus making factory until the cell dies and all of the viral particles inside are released and move on to other cells to infect in the same way as the first viral particle did. When enough zinc can enter the cell with the aid of an ionophore, then the zinc can disrupt the viral replication process effectively. Zinc on its own seems to have limited access to the cells. The ionophore assists with cell entry by zinc.
Iodine has already been discussed extensively on EC.
There are a some specific things about melatonin that make it practical for this purpose.
1. It is relatively inexpensive and although a limited number of cases, Dr. Neel has seen improvement in just one day in his patients so it is fast acting and it alleviates the symptoms making it easier to tolerate the disease while it is active in your system.
2. It has shown that it is effective along side Hydroxychloroquine, and based on the available studies, it has shown synergy with other supplements such as the quercetin + melatonin study in the original post for this thread.
3. Melatonin has a very good safety profile as it should considering the the pineal gland produces it and excretes it every night.
4. Melatonin level peaks around the age of 5 years and the level declines very sharply from puberty on and is very low by the late fifties and beyond, the same age as those who are at highest risk for succumbing to Covid-19, as the chart inside the initial post clearly illustrates.
5. Melatonin is easy to obtain in the US. I don't know if you have shopped for the items on your list lately, but they are simply hard to come by right now, while melatonin is still available the last time I checked.
6. Melatonin actually attenuates part of the immune response so as to greatly reduce the chances for a cytokine storm and allows the immune system enough time to create antibodies to fight the virus the way it should and all the while making more antibodies to destroy the virus.
Dr Neel is essentially just using melatonin with oral vitamin C, but the hospital in the Philippines is using melatonin by itself and melatonin + Tocilizumab / Actemra which is a specific IL-6 inhibitor that is sometimes used for arthritis and cytokine storms. The doctor who commented on it said that Actrema and melatonin seem to do the same things.
7. Melatonin appears to be effective on its own which makes it an inexpensive and very simple treatment with a good safety profile while significantly ameliorating C-19 symptoms while further allowing the immune system to do the job it was meant to do!
8. Melatonin in hundreds of studies has shown its ability to protect the major organs of the body and with the latest available information from patient autopsies, C-19 is showing that it is also attacking the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs and possibly the brain because viral particles have been found in the brain.
9. In reality, most of the possible drugs are still being trialed which means they are not available to the masses until one of the trials proves that that particular drug is effective enough and then the FDA will have to review the trial and approve the drug for off label use and all that means that it will be a bit of time until one of those drugs is ready for use by the public for Covid-19. Given the worldwide demand for such a drug, there may simply not be enough available to meet demand, even with a ramped up production plan.
Bottom line, will there be enough to go around?
This sounds like a pretty good case for melatonin, at least to me it does.
Given all of the above, it certainly seems worthwhile to have a conversation with your doctor about melatonin before you actually need to take it.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 05/01/2020 2325 posts
Lisa,
Thank you for the tip!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Lisa Rains (Ohio) on 04/30/2020
★★★★☆
Art,
Thank you for the great info! I have been following Dr. Klinghardt on YouTube. I think that you (and everyone else here) would greatly appreciate the wealth of information he is sharing. Stay well!
Lisa
Melatonin
Posted by Deborah (usa) on 04/21/2020
Dr. Brownstein has been giving his patients natural medicines such as iodine, vitamin C, zinc, and other protocols, and none of his patients needed a ventilator.
He's got videos on YouTube. Some of his patients are even testifying about their experiences.
Melatonin
Posted by Tom (Boulder) on 04/21/2020
★★★★☆
Very helpful! However I just got through 6 weeks of Covid 19. No homeopathic remedies came close except for ACV. I drank 3 bottles. I drink it straight.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/21/2020 2325 posts
You are very welcome, Eden!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Eden (Texas) on 04/21/2020
★★★★★
Art,
Thank you for this!!
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/22/2020 2325 posts
Deborah,
Zinc is proving to be quite popular as it is thought to disrupt the viral replication process and having sufficient zinc in your system without overdosing makes good sense! I ordered zinc picolinate because it has shown in at least one study to be more effective than other forms of zinc supplements in terms of bioavailability. That order took close to a month to arrive, so clearly plenty of interest in zinc!
Earth Clinic belongs to Deirdre Layne and I am just posting information like other people on EC! I really like EC and reference it often! I will pass your thank you along to Deirdre and EC!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Deborah (Los Angeles, Ca) on 04/21/2020
★★★★★
understood, I'm taking zinc as well and thank you for your site and info.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/22/2020 2325 posts
Jan,
Those are good ingredients in the list, but you may want to check with your doctor to make sure that they are all compatible with whatever prescriptions you may be taking, just to be safe! Be sure to specifically ask your doctor about melatonin if you do plan to take it at some point!
Here is a link to known side effects of melatonin and this list may not be complete as people don't always report every single side effect they may have:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/melatonin-side-effects/faq-20057874
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Linda Tritton (Essex, England) on 04/23/2020
Hi Jan,
What is the name of this product you have please and is available in England?
Melatonin
Posted by Jan M. (United States) on 04/21/2020
Dear Art,
Thank you for your information. I am over 70 and I sleep at least 12 hours a day. Perhaps if I got to sleep faster it would help. I am going to try some melatonin. You said not all can tolerate it. What would be the symptoms of that? I have ordered a product with melatonin in it. It has other things meant to help improve sleep. I think I sleep so much because I don't sleep well. I have sleep apnea.
The ingredients in the product I ordered are:
Melatonin
shwagandha extract
Hydroxytryptophan
L-theanine
Magnesium
Zinc
Arginine
Lysine
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/22/2020 2325 posts
Romina,
You're welcome!
I thought the very same thing, but I was previously able to do the same as the children's study that I linked to in the post which was 70 mg / day for 90 days to children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. They showed good effects in that study and since I experiment on myself a lot, I decided to try it so I would know.
Yes, I did have the melatonin hangover for about two to three weeks, but it slowly went away over time. The good thing is the high dosing that Dr. Neel is using is only temporary and that is probably a good time to rest anyway and if the treatment significantly reduces symptoms, I'll gladly take his dosing rate over the more symptoms!
As far as I can tell about the high altitude sickness idea, the idea is interesting or maybe a better word would be intriguing, but I think it is unproven and as related to Dr. Neel's melatonin protocol, it doesn't seem to matter either way as melatonin seems to help the body recover on its own and fight the virus with the assistance of melatonin. This could help to achieve 'herd immunity" and offer help in the future should the virus mutate extensively and is not sensitive to the antibodies created. I want to consider this scenario in case the virus returns each year like the cold and the flu. If Dr. Neel is correct, melatonin may be the way to move forward in a relatively safe manner, especially if the economy is opened soon.
Thank you for your reply!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Romina (Fort Lauderdale ) on 04/22/2020
★★★★★
Thank you for this post, Art!
I am wondering how people can tolerate 80 mg of Melatonin per day without being completely out sleeping all day?
I have been talking 5-10 mg Melatonin daily for years but I can't even imagine taking 70-80 mg/ day.
Wouldn't that cause sedation?
Also what is your take on the latest findings about COVID19 presenting more as a High Altitude Sicknesses than an upper respiratory viral infection?
Thanks a lot!
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 05/10/2020 2325 posts
Bern,
When you say, 'I have gotten one', do you mean one bottle of melatonin? If that is the case, I don't know what strength the capsules or pills are or how many are in the bottle. Let's say that the bottle has 60 tablets or capsules and that each tablet is 10 milligrams.
Dr. Neel is using 80 milligrams per day, so that means 8 capsules or tablets per day, so that means the bottle will only last 7 1/2 days. If the capsules or pills are 5 mg, then the bottle will only last 3 3/4 days. What I am doing for myself is making sure I have enough melatonin to last a month, so the bottles I bought are 10 mg and there are 60 capsules in the bottle. One bottle will last a week, so I bought 6 bottles for myself to make sure I am able to go about 6 weeks if needed.
Remember, Dr. Neel has barely been using his HDM protocol for just about 6 weeks so he is himself still learning about dosing, but he mentioned that he has taken two of his patients down from 80 milligrams per day to 5 milligrams per day because they had improved very significantly.
As far as when to start, Dr. Neel is starting his patients as soon as they show symptoms and test positive for Covid-19. He only has 14 patients so far and this is what he says he has done and seen very good results so far. In his patients who were showing significant symptoms, he said that they showed the beginning of improvement in one day, but he kept their dose at 80 mg/day.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Bern (Ghana) on 05/09/2020
★★★★★
Art,
Does that mean I shouldn't use melatonin since I am not infected? Because I have gotten one. Thanks.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/22/2020 2325 posts
Trina,
You sound like a great mom still watching out for the "adult kids"!
Dr. Neel has not yet suggested melatonin as a preventative. In fact he has only given it to patients who have tested positive for Covid-19. I don't think melatonin directly attacks the virus, but seems to manipulate the immune environment so as to give the body and the immune system a better situation to fight and destroy the virus itself, while ameliorating symptoms and preventing an over response by the immune system which can lead to a cytokine storm or pneumonia.
On the outside chance that melatonin joins the growing list of "scarce supplements", it may be better to save the melatonin until it is actually needed to insure that you have enough melatonin at that time!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Trina Peterson (United States) on 04/22/2020
★★★★★
Art,
Really great info. I use melatonin and tart cherry ever evening but I will add this to my son's supplement "cocktail" that I have given him. He is a grocery clerk. I give him the info, he researches it for himself, and then we have a curbside pick up at mom's dinner and I make him a to-go bag adding new supplements. I'm really thankful for this article. I need my people safe! I love the hope of this.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/30/2020 2325 posts
David,
If you have Covid-19 and heart pain, you need to see your doctor at once and let him know, because Covid-19 has shown the potential to damage the heart. Covid-19 is nothing to be taken lightly as it can damage the heart and can be fatal! This is a no nonsense disease that has shown that it can take lives as though they are nothing, even if you are young! Please let your doctor know what you are feeling right away!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by David (United States) on 04/29/2020
Art,
I have had a slight heartache caused by the Corona virus.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/24/2020 2325 posts
Hi, Rhonda!
Unfortunately, yes, melatonin can have different effects in everyone. Are you certain it was the increased dosage that caused the headache? If it was, your doctor may be able to offer you something to relieve the headache if you end up using melatonin for Covid-19. It appears that the melatonin course can be fairly short if it is applied at or near the first symptom or symptoms with a Covid-19 test. This is when Dr. Neel is applying it to his Covid-19 patients with very good results to date. Even with the headache situation, melatonin has a better safety profile than every drug that is currently being tested for Covid-19, so it is still worth keeping in mind as a potential option!
Thank you for your comment!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Ed (Tennessee) on 05/04/2020
Herbatonin is food made melatonin.
Ed Jones
Nutrition.com
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 05/03/2020
T Hunter,
You are correct that cherries contain melatonin and Montmorency cherries probably have the most melatonin in them, but they only contain miniscule amounts of melatonin.
Here is some information on the melatonin content of cherries.
Cherries, in particular the Montmorency variety, contain melatonin—about 13 nanograms of melatonin per gram of cherry. Recall that there are a million nanograms in a milligram, so a kilogram of cherries would contain 13,000 nanograms or 0.013 mg of melatonin.
Based on the above paragraph, it would be impossible to get anywhere close to the amount of melatonin that Dr. Neel is suggesting. As mentioned above, 2.2 pounds of cherries would only contain 0.013 mg of melatonin. Dr. Neel is working with roughly 80 mg of melatonin/day or over 6,000 times as much as 2.2 pounds of cherries. It appears that sweet cherries have even less melatonin in them.
On the other hand, most of the currently trialed drugs for Covid-19 have side effects that are likely significantly worse than melatonin.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by T Hunter (United States) on 05/01/2020
I refuse to consume artificial man made melatonin which can cause headaches, sleep walking etc..., eat cherries or drink the juice for natural melatonin. There are also softgel cherries.
Melatonin
Posted by Rhonda (Ohio) on 04/23/2020
★★★★★
Hi Art.
I take 10 mg every night. I have COPD. I have tried to take a higher dose but I got a terrible headache. Are the effects different for everybody?
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 05/01/2020 2325 posts
Hi, Annette,
Dr. Neel has not as yet suggested dosing until symptoms and a positive test are in place and then using his high dose melatonin protocol until well and at that point possibly shifting to a lower maintenance dose of possibly 5 milligrams/day. Thank you for your question!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Annette Garcia (United States) on 05/01/2020
Hi Art,
So would you suggest taking a smaller dosage as a preventative or just have it on hand in case we become ill?
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/26/2020 2325 posts
★★★★★
Dr. Neel is recommending adult patients take 80 mg of melatonin every 24 hours and has seen improvement in each of his patients in just 24 hours with a reduction in symptoms. Since that is his suggestion and it is my intention to use melatonin if I were to get Covid-19, assuming I have not already had it, I tried taking 80 mgs last night in 4 divided doses.
I took 20 mgs at 7:00 pm, 20 mg at 8:30 pm, 20 mg at 10 pm and 20 mg at 11:30 pm.
I woke up this morning expecting the "melatonin hangover" that I initially felt in a previous months long test of melatonin at 70 mg, but to my surprise, there was no melatonin hangover! I actually felt quite rested and not sluggish at all! I did not include vitamin C even though he has mentioned its use with the melatonin because in the Doctor's Hospital trial of melatonin, they didn't use vitamin C and they got rapid results with melatonin, so I just thought I would keep it simple for now. Well that and my vitamin C order has not arrived yet!
To be fair, I do take 30 mg of melatonin a night in 3 divided doses as what I have previously described as melatonin 123, almost every night, so I'm sure that is a contributing factor to why going from 30 mg to 80 mg didn't produce the hangover or have any other obvious effect on me.
So now I know that 80 mg / day of melatonin should not be a problem for me and again, I reiterate that I am not recommending that anyone else do what I am doing, I am only describing my own experience.
If anyone chooses to utilize Dr. Neels melatonin protocol it should be done under a doctor's supervision in order to be safe and make sure melatonin is compatible with everything you are taking.
I have an idea (speculation at this time) about melatonin and Covid-19 that is based on the available literature about melatonin and Dr. Neel's results in his small group of patients as well as the little information that the Doctors Hospital in Manila has shared so far.
I think that melatonin may alter the immune environment in such a way that the virus can not cause a cytokine storm or allow pneumonia to get started because melatonin's potent reactive oxygen species scavenging abilities as well as its reactive nitrogen species scavenging abilities in conjunction with its potent antiinflammatory qualities including inhibition of IL-6 and other inflammatory mediators and inhibition of lung inflammation by way of modulated expression of Apelin 13 as well as inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome, very effectively seems to reduce lung inflammation and damage to a level that is no longer dangerous and it does it very quickly based on Dr. Neels results. In the Philippines, it even seems to work fast and well with patients who already have pneumonia.
Three main things attributed to Covid-19 that has shown the ability to kill patients are severe Covid-19 induced pneumonia, the now famous cytokine storm and the addition of a ventilator. Melatonin seems to be able to prevent or ameliorate the first two items which automatically ends the need for a ventilator!
Melatonin is also protective of all major organs which is important since autopsies are showing liver, lung, kidneys and heart damage that is attributed to Covid-19. Viral particles are also found in the brain, so it is felt that it is possible that Covid-19 could also cause damage to the brain if not checked early enough.
So if you eliminate or greatly limit the 3 ways that Covid-19 has shown the ability to kill patients, then how much of a threat is Covid-19 once melatonin is introduced?
My speculative answer to that question is very minimal. All of these actions of melatonin that work contrary to the normal disease process can allow the body to do what it is naturally supposed to do, destroy invaders to the system which in this case if the SARS CoV-2 virus. The body can now defend itself without the deadly cytokine storm, against the now marginalized virus.
This is what studies suggest as possible and what Dr. Neel is showing in his patients which means that the studies tend to confirm Dr. Neels results and those results tend to confirm the studies.
Given the above, melatonin seems to convert the killer virus into something that is not deadly at all. If the virus mutates as it has already with the known A strain, B strain and C strains that are already seen in different areas, there is a chance that by the time a vaccine is developed, it may not be effective against the current strain if that strain has mutated extensively.
These mutations have occurred fairly quickly suggesting that extensive mutation is a very real prospect when it comes to SARS CoV-2. Whereas the known actions of melatonin are likely to be able to deal with mutations of this virus.
It will take further testing of melatonin against SARS CoV-2 in Covid-19 patients to take this from speculation to fact, but if Dr. Neel's patient base continues to grow and other doctors take his lead as it appears may be likely, then that point of clarification and understanding may not be far away at all.
Melatonin is showing the potential, via its ability to control and reverse the ability of Covid-19 to be so destructive within the human body, to actually take many people in the "at risk groups"off of that list! So this could make the virus more of a nuisance than a killer!
Melatonin may actually be the answer to safely controlling the virus while allowing the economy to open again because it makes the virus tolerable to humans with minimal to no deleterious effects. Yes, people will still get infected, but melatonin appears to make such infection "livable" while allowing the body to make plenty of antibodies against SARS CoV-2. Still speculation at this point, but continued positive reports on melatonin can potentially turn speculation to reality!
My other thought is, how many other practical choices do we have with what is currently known and available?
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/27/2020 2325 posts
Anne,
Good to hear that melatonin is useful for you!
I took another 80 mg dose last night to confirm that Dr. Neels dose of melatonin would not be a problem for me and it went similarly to the day before where I woke up a little earlier than usual and felt rested. I slept through the night on both nights of melatonin at 80 mg.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Anne M Gray (Los Angeles) on 05/24/2020
No Lavi, it doesn't make me dependent for sleep as I can only speak for myself.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 05/24/2020 2325 posts
Lavi,
Do you mean is the melatonin addictive in terms of sleep, the answer for me is no. I have taken melatonin for years on and off with no problems when I have stopped, but now I take it everyday to avail myself of the many health benefits that melatonin may potentially offer. I am currently in the process of a longer term test of 80 mg/day to make sure it will be compatible. I already did a three day test and now I am testing it for a month to two months to assume a worst case scenario. So far no problems.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Lavi (Canada) on 05/24/2020
★★★★★
Does that make you dependent for sleep?
Melatonin
Posted by Anne M Gray (Los Angeles, CA) on 04/26/2020
★★★★★
My doctor prescribed melatonin as a sleep aid several years ago and I have had no health problems related to taking it. I take it every night 20 minutes before bedtime (5 mg).
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/26/2020 2325 posts
★★★★★
I thought this would be a good time to add information to this post that explains what the science experts on melatonin think about its use for Covid-19. The first quote is from Dr. Russel Reiter and mentions what he thinks about what Dr. Neel is doing with his Covid-19 patients:
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
One of those supporting the idea is Russell Reiter, PhD (Professor of Cell Biology at UT Health Center in San Antonio). Reiter's thoughts were included in an online article last Wednesday.
Reiter is one of the world's leading melatonin researchers and he is also the editor and chief of the Journal of Pineal Research and on the editorial board of 7 other journals.
Last Wednesday, April 8th, he stated, “I understand Dr. Neel has treated patients successfully with melatonin. This is certainly newsworthy. Likewise, his rationale for the use of melatonin as a potential treatment for COVID-19 is important. A published report supports his rationale, COVID-19: Melatonin as a potential adjuvant treatment”, stated Professor Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D in an interview. “Dr. Neel's rationale for the use of melatonin as a potential treatment for COVID-19 is justified on the basis of the actions of this molecule”, said Reiter who was a part of this report that was published in February-March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, co authored in conjunction with several medical professionals in China.
Here is an article by Dr. Reiter discussing melatonin
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jpi.12360
Next quote:
The following information is about two more researchers who also support this idea in their research paper titled, “Potential utility of melatonin in deadly infectious diseases related to the overreaction of innate immune response and destructive inflammation: focus on COVID-19.”
The authors, Assistant Professor at UT Health Center in San Antonio Dunxian Tan, and a German Professor Ruegiger Hardeland, suggest that “The underlining mechanisms for the high mortality commonly involves free radical attack and destructive inflammation in numerous tissues and organs.”
For example, the targeted tissue for COVID-19 is the lung, they explain in the research paper.
“Massive inflammatory reaction is caused by the exaggerated innate immune response of the host against the pathogens. This hyperactive innate immune response is associated with the release of a large quantity of cytokines referred as a “cytokine storm”…..This becomes a vicious cycle; if this vicious cycle is not interrupted.”
It goes on to assert that “All of the authors mentioned above believe that melatonin is a molecule which has the capacity to break this vicious cycle. Melatonin is a powerful free radical scavenger to reduce the tissue oxidative damage and it is also an effective anti-inflammatory agent to depress the “cytokine storm”. As a result, melatonin may increase the tolerance of the host to the pathogens and save precious time for the patients to develop an adaptive immune-response and finally recover from the pathogens' attack. In addition, melatonin also promotes the adaptive immune response by increasing T lymphocyte proliferation and B cells to generate specific antibodies. Melatonin has a huge safety margin and is readily available.”
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/30/2020 2325 posts
Sithina,
Dr. Neel is using about 80 milligrams total per day divided into four (4) 20 mg doses in his adult patients, but I believe he actually has a range of from 50 milligrams to 100 milligrams, depending on patient's size and severity of symptoms. The doctors Hospital in Manila has reported using a dose range of 36 to 72 milligrams/day in their patients. Both locations are giving that dose divided into four doses per day to achieve the daily dose
Thank you for bringing up the dosing as I wouldn't want his protocol to be mistaken on something as critical as dosing!
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Sithina (Sri Lanka) on 04/29/2020
Is is milligrams or micrograms?
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/27/2020 2325 posts
So I went another night (3 nights) at 80 mg and I slept through the night which is unusual for me. I woke up a little earlier than usual and feel rested. So this seems to be the pattern from taking 80 mg per evening, uninterrupted sleep through the night and waking a little earlier than normal. I can live with this so I am about as prepared as can be now to use melatonin if I get Covid-19.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 04/28/2020 2325 posts
You're welcome, Kristie!
I hope you find it useful.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Kristie (Tennessee ) on 04/28/2020
★★★★★
Art,
Thank you for sharing this!
