Topical Melatonin Lotion for Pain Relief: Recipe + Success Stories

I have stage IV cancer with Lepto Menengeal. It has caused several nerve and muscular issues. A friend and I made this lotion and it is incredible. Long story, short; my feet absolutely do not tingle anymore. I use the TML twice daily. The second time we made it using beef tallow instead of cetaphil. That requires a little different method to mix, but I prefer a creamier thicker lotion. Both require some essential oils to overcome the smell. The cetaphil lotion smells like gin and the tallow one smells like beef and required a bit more lavender. The smell does dissipate once it's applied to the skin.

This stuff is amazing. It works! Thank you so very much! What a God send!

I have an idea to simplify making the melatonin lotion since you don't use a milligram scale. Make just 3 ounces of lotion at a time instead of 4 ounces in the following way :

• Take your four-ounce jar and add one level full one-quarter measuring teaspoon of melatonin powder into the jar.
• Add one ounce of gin to the melatonin in the jar. Replace the lid and shake well until the gin looks clear again.
• Add 2 ounces of Cetaphil lotion to the jar. Replace the lid and shake until well-mixed.

This is the simplest I could figure out for using measuring teaspoons. The 3 ounces will still last a very long time. Remember that my friends said that they apply sparingly.

Art

Yes, unfortunately, outside of the US, generally requires a prescription in many places in the world. I find the logic for this restriction unfathomable given the excellent safety profile of melatonin which is safer than ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen or aspirin which they allow you to buy in unlimited amounts and these generally offer little to no other health benefit other than pain relief. Add in the many health benefits that melatonin has shown in humans, animals and plant life and the restriction becomes even more absurd. I mean how does a government organization that is supposed to be operating for your health and safety make such a judgement about something that is so healthful for you?

To give a little perspective, acetaminophen/Tylenol toxicity is the number two cause of liver transplantation worldwide and the number one cause in the US! It is responsible for 56, 000 emergency room visits per year and causes 500 deaths per year, but you can buy all you want from any grocery store.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441917/#:~:text=Acetaminophen toxicity is the second, year in the United States.

On the other hand, from 2012 to 2021, there were two deaths in children and these were attributed gummies candy style melatonin that the children ate like they were candy because the parents left them out. So if you take that same 9 year period and estimate that 500 people die per year from acetaminophen, that's 4, 500 deaths compared to 2 for melatonin.

https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/body/sleep/melatonin-overdose#:~:text=A study of poison control, sleepiness, vomiting and trouble breathing.

A relevant quote from the article ;

' A study of poison control calls in the U.S. found the number of melatonin poisoning–related calls increased six times from 2012 to 2021. Of these calls, more than 4, 000 teens and children were hospitalized and two died. '

To give a bit more perspective, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin are all NSAIDS. In the US alone, 15, 600 deaths occur per year and 107, 000 hospitalizations due to NSAIDS as discussed here :

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-it-bad-to-take-ibuprofen-every-day/#:~:text=The risks of improper ibuprofen, a year in the U.S.

A relevant quote from the article :

' One study estimates that NSAIDs — non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat pain and inflammation — are responsible for 107, 000 hospitalizations and 15, 600 deaths a year in the U.S. '

Possible side effects of ibuprofen use

When used incorrectly, especially chronically, negative effects can include:

• Diarrhea.
• Gastrointestinal problems, including bleeding.
• Heart attack.
• Heart failure.
• High blood pressure.
• Kidney damage.
• Liver toxicity.
• Low sodium levels.
• Nausea.
• Stroke.
• Ulcers.
• Upset stomach.'

When you look at this list, melatonin has been shown in studies to help many of these items, not cause them.

This to me says that the people running these government regulatory agencies should reconsider their positions on melatonin requiring a prescription when the named NSAIDS above can be bought with no restrictions at all!

I think the same should apply to borax also as it banned in many areas of the world, yet how many people die form borax in the US each year, where you can buy it in any quantity in any laundry aisle in the country everyday with no restrictions. If you can find the number of people who die from borax consumption each year in the US, please post it because I couldn't find that number. There are words to describe this situation more accurately, but I can't say them here.

Art

I dissolved the melatonin first in the gin in a beaker with the magnetic stirrer. I separately dissolved the capsule of HA in distilled water in another beaker before adding it to the melatonin/gin. Once mixed, I then poured the concoction into an empty glass spray bottle and tested it on my hands.

One spray was a perfect amount for the top of each hand. It absorbed rapidly and left behind silky soft skin.

• 1 gram of melatonin powder
• 1.5 oz of distilled water
• 1.5 oz of gin
• One hyaluronic acid capsule (60 mg per capsule)

1. Gram Scale : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TBJBFRK
2. Magnetic Stirrer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072K24X5P
3. Glass Beaker Set (small): https://www.amazon.com/Borosilicate-Measuring-Set-V-Shaped-Kitchen-Restaurant/dp/B0BC7QZFX6
4. Hyaluronic Acid: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013OUKO8
5. Melatonin Powder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JV46FFU/
6. Gin - local liquor store

I'll update later on pain relief and skin improvement and whether or not the formula clogged the spray nozzle! Thank you, Art! Very excited to try this.

1. Is it safe to use Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion long-term, given its chemical make-up?

2. Would using virgin coconut oil be a safer alternative to Cetaphil?

3. Since we use vodka in place of alcohol, would substituting vodka for the gin give the same positive results?

Thanks in advance for your help!

What I am referring to is a measuring teaspoon that is one fourth of a level full teaspoon that is part of a set that bakers use in baking as illustrated below. They are available at such places as Target, Walmart, markets etc. in the baking section. More specifically, look at the one marked 1/4 tsp (1/4 teaspoon). This is the size I use, filled level full with melatonin powder to make a 3 ounce bottle of melatonin lotion. The directions for making it are in the original article here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/topical-melatonin-pain-relief-success-stories.html

Art

I am almost pain free at this point. This is very unusual for me given that the weather has been very cold. That usually exacerbates my arthritis. At this point I don't see any swelling in my back vertebrae. They usually swell first and then hurt like the dickens. I put the lotion on once in the morning and once before I go to bed. I use stopain with it. The swollen joints in my fingers have started to decrease in size and are no longer sensitive to the least touch...yay! I should have taken a before and after picture. The bumps on my finger joints have almost decreased by half size! I still have some back pain if I stand on my feet too long (more than 20 minutes) in a stationary position. So I try to keep moving.

Art

Apparently larger amounts of melatonin can be dissolved in fatty acids with shorter length carbon chains. This also means that more melatonin will dissolve in short and medium chain fatty acids such as virgin coconut oil than in long chain fatty acid oils like vegetable oil, olive oil, tallow and lard:

"In order to identify suitable oils for the development of melatonin-NE, melatonin solubility in seven oils was determined. Triglycerides with the shortest fatty acid chains (C4) were better solvents for melatonin, with solubility of approximately 4.5 mg melatonin/g of oil. Triglycerides with the longest fatty acid chains, C18, had the lowest melatonin solubility; 0.23 mg melatonin/g of oil. All other oils displayed a melatonin solubility between those values"

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0939641120301259

I've also found from the research that you can dissolve much larger amounts of melatonin in DMSO(Dimethylsulfoxide) than you can using water, alcohol or oil. In fact, DMSO is perhaps the perfect vehicle to directly transport any orgainic chemical compound(with a molecular mass of less than 1000) through the skin into the blood.

I've recently been using various individual organic and inorganic chemicals on myself such as sodium thiosulfate, magnesium chloride, methylene blue and borax -- as well as using a drop of essential oil per dose like Thieves oil, Peppermint oil -- dissolved in a teaspoon of DMSO + water for various skin or blood problems. This was a very useful exercise. I had a hard growth or bump under my skin at the back of my neck that I could not dissolve or remove -- it's been there for over 20 years. So every two days I would mix 5 drops of 99% DMSO + 5 drops of water + 3 drops of 1% Methylene Blue(MB) and just dab it profusely around the small hard bump on my neck. Eventually, after about a month or so, the bump reduced in size, went flat and then completely disappeared. Interestingly, the blue stain on the back of my neck from the DMSO + MB always disappeared within about 30 mins.

Art

This is the recipe that I used which I adjusted down to work with 900mg of melatonin:

900mg melatonin (90-10mg capsules)

1.35 oz (40ml) gin

2.25 oz (66.5ml) lotion

I added the gin to the powder and it did not dissolve completely but it may have if I added more, I just assumed that the other ingredients perhaps did not dissolve in the gin. I then added the lotion and mixed it well. It is a bit grainy in texture but goes on smooth and absorbs great.

Now the good news, it works!!! I have fibromyalgia and I am always getting new pains and some go after a while and some stick around and are so bad I can't sleep. My newest pains were in my neck, shoulder, arm and hand and it was bad. I applied the lotion to my shoulder, neck and arm and when I woke up the next morning after sleeping the whole night! The pain was greatly reduced I couldn't believe it!

I am continuing to use it every night and just a touch during the day if I feel the need but my shoulder is 80% better, my arm and neck are being a bit more stubborn but at least 50% better and my hand is also 80% better. I have applied it to a sore bunion and that is pain free now!

I had started to use the magnesium oil in a spray bottle a while back with minimal help with pain but I continue to use it because I know it's good for me.

I also want to mention that I have tried all the prescriptions for Fibromyalgia non of which worked or worked enough to justify the side effects.

I do also take PEA400 (Palmitoylethanolamide) which has also helped me a fair amount and I would recommend to other Fibromyalgia sufferers.

The excellent results from using the melatonin lotion make me a little emotional because being in constant pain is hard on your spirit and I have finally found some relief and I can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge with everyone! Thank you Art!

In that article I describe how my friends made their melatonin lotion using melatonin in bulk powder form which is supposed to have no fillers. Your capsules have a lot of fillers and it will take 100 capsules to get to 1 gram or 1000 mg. Try and picture how much powder a 100 capsules will generate.

On ebay Canada they sell this bulk melatonin powder product, which looks like what they used :

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/204288878158?itmmeta=01J2G3Q0TTK52XFG5DQZHKECPN&hash=item2f9090e64e:g:YyYAAOSwg8VmTLf7&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA4AklIXHM+Dx/nPS44ilXYx2w/+ZPX4T4WBngGGsApNY/q3xQQ/P19K/sqK+H8YpdhFpbFG0/k/Z81N3Ro9zbQaTc10h9AzkrrF06H7SEaNGaHafi9ikEA3zXGROCvxN38NXn8AkJ6fC3FQxOea4mhdrWfhI6Wo7W2aN+FbV+maZJBgJcDiZZgmwOQcWJVR/JKUrviBCeFmoGGQR4rHPTFG0ZWQusXqMRdk5XMPWROPK1htr4JrhGoZygGNeA5I549feMCOSwSbilQL8HLzypBePMhYRGQegI8Jg/Bav8ZMO9|tkp:BFBMwI3cg5Rk

Art

I just want to thank you for always going the extra mile to make it easier for people to understand the information (links, pictures, etc.).

I've learned so much over the years from you and others like you (e.g., Mama to Many) who not only write an informative post, but are considerate while doing so.

Cheers!

Yes, vodka can work, but in my experience it requires more vodka than gin to fully dissolve the melatonin powder, resulting in a more watery lotion. I don't recommend using rubbing alcohol. If you want to use gin, perhaps you can leave your large bottle with a trusted friend to hold for you until needed again and only take enough to make one bottle of lotion at a time.

Art

Thank you very much for your important feedback on melatonin lotion and fibromyalgia! Many people suffer with this disease and your feedback will let many of them know that they have a viable way to get relief! I am very happy that it worked so well for you, Helen!

I'm sorry you can't get the bulk melatonin powder in Canada and have to use 90 capsules just to make one batch! These type of government restrictions are incredible for something that has a better safety profile than almost any prescription medication!

Please keep in mind that many people who have tested melatonin lotion have mentioned that the benefit seemed to modestly increase for the first two or three weeks before leveling off by the third week.

Art

My wife wants to tell you that using your lotion in 4 days healed her trigger finger.

Thanks a bunch

Gary

' Hi Art,

My scalp eczema usually flares up in January and February. I put the melatonin lotion on it...guess what? All gone and no roughness or itchiness...yay! '

This is a new indication for me as I have not heard from anyone else that it has helped their scalp eczema before this.

Art

You are very welcome!

Thank you very much for the feedback on melatonin lotion and I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but very happy that it is helping you so much! The positive feedback I am getting from a growing number of friends who are testing it has been impressive, as are your results!

I would just like to mention that among the myriad of health effects that melatonin has, it also has anticarcinogenic effects of its own as well as synergy with chemo and radiotherapy while helping to reduce the negative effects of chemo and radiotherapy. It also crosses the blood brain barrier when taken orally and possibly topically.

Thank you again, Deborah and best wishes!

Art

I just now had time to measure out a gram of melatonin powder. This is a very inaccurate way to measure because measuring spoons vary by country and by manufacturer. I have several measuring spoon sets and all of them are different from each other, but this is what I found with one of my sets and using a digital milligram scale. A one quarter teaspoon at level full equaled 760 mg. I added a one eight teaspoon at level full and this brought the total mg up to 1, 120 or 120 mg more than my friends used for their mixes. If you divide the one quarter teaspoon of 760 mg in half, that equals 380 mg which should be very close to one eighth teaspoon. So when you add that 380 mg to the 780 mg, that equals 1, 140 mg. So the 1, 120 mg is close to the 1, 140 mg suggesting that this is about as close as I will be able to get using measiring spoons to get close to a gram. It takes 1000 mg to equal one gram, which is the desired amount of melatonin that my friends used in a 4 ounce mix.

So if your measuring spoons are similar to mine, It will take one level full quarter teaspoon plus a one eight teaspoon that is just shy of being level full to get to the desired one gram or 1000 mg area.

Because this is not an accurate way to measure, I am not recommending that you do this just letting you know what my level full one quarter teaspoon and level full one eight teaspoon weigh on my digital milligram scale when weighing melatonin powder.

Art

' Hi Art, I am only taking 1 25mg Losartan (I was taking 50mg) and my bp has been well in the normal range. I've taken it in the a.m. and p.m. and it's running about 122/75. That's a good reading for me.

The weather outside is frightful (as the song goes). It was about 29 last night but warmed up to the 50's today. That usually sends my aches and pains on the increase. I did stay inside today, but did really well. I was surprised especially since I was on my feet a lot last night standing at a ladies golf party and talking to people. Usually that would kill my back. However, I used the cream and stopain 2 times today and have really done well. My neck hasn't bothered me in a couple of days now and my back will give me a little ouchy feeling, but nothing like I would usually expect given the weather. I also have used it on my left shoulder, hip joints and knees. And, yes, any pain I had there seems to have gone away for now. We'll see. I'll keep you informed.
On another note, I was diagnosed with thyroiditis...maybe from the machines they but down my throat from an endoscopy I had done a couple of months ago. It had been kind of an on and off problem with swallowing. It got really bad last Tuesday where just swallowing my saliva was painful. So I decided to try the cream and the Stopain and guess what? There was a huge improvement by the next day. Within 3 days the swelling in my throat has pretty much disappeared. I don't know if there is any correlation, but I thought I would just share that with you.
take care,

She also more recently wrote this to me :

' Art, thanks I'll try that...the muscles of my head get so tight they hurt...

BTW I was having ankle problems and used the lotion and Stopain with good results.'

Art

Item #4 mentions that one of my friends found significant relief for migraine headaches which usually last them about a week and now are over in less than a day. This new study (May, 2024) adds confirmation to the idea that melatonin relieves migraine headaches as discussed here :

https://ijms.sums.ac.ir/article_49688.html

Here is a relevant study quote :

' Our study shows that melatonin was more efficacious than the placebo in the reduction of frequency and duration of migraine attacks. It was equally safe as the placebo and might be effective in the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. '

Art

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/melatonin-spine-health.html

And here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/topical-melatonin-pain-relief-success-stories.html

That was about 2 months ago and yesterday this acquaintance wrote to tell me this :

' Hi there. An update. Have used your treatment and would say that it works. It has taken the swelling out of the neck area and the lump on the side of the neck (caratoid?) Has gone. Also, I woke one morning with a very sore right calf No reason that I know of limped through that day and half the next then used your cream. Used it again the next day and although slightly tender would say that the problem was solved. '

' I used E45 moisturising lotion ( because I had it in the house) . I was sceptical. Couldn't see how it could work but it does. '

So these are two more examples of things that melatonin lotion has worked effectively for.

Art

My friend called me and asked if I could suggest anything to help him with the pain caused by the fractures that was keeping him up at night. I gave him a bottle of melatonin lotion and told him to apply it sparingly twice a day and it should relieve the pain and allow him to get better sleep.

I further told him that the lotion is likely to help his fractures heal because melatonin seems to promote bone healing and repair as discussed here :

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.826660/full#:~:text=Thus, it indicates that melatonin, associations between melatonin and osteogenesis.

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

' Moderate osteogenesis and angiogenesis is involved in both bone repair and fracture healing (25). Currently, accumulating evidence has indicated the associations between melatonin and osteogenesis. ' ( osteogenesis = the formation of bone)

I got a text from my friend today and he said that the lotion has greatly reduced his pain and allows him to sleep very well. He also asked me if he could use the lotion for other body areas where he has pain, but he did not elaborate on what areas he was referring to and I told him it might help and to try it. I also mentioned that it may also help with healing of the fracture. He was very happy and said he will keep applying it!

Art

Thank you for the feedback on the melatonin lotion! I very much appreciate it! You can try adding more lotion to your mixture to reduce the amount of available melatonin per application and, as my friends did, make sure that you are applying it sparingly. It doesn't seem to take much to be effective and the effectiveness seems to increase with continued applications. You can also try just using less melatonin in your initial mixture.

As far as the tiredness related to the application, I have seen this in some people. It seems that people who are very sensitive to oral melatonin also seem to be more sensitive to topical melatonin. If increasing the lotion content or decreasing the melatonin content doesn't help with the tiredness, about all you can do is try your applications later in the day so the tiredness comes when you would normally expect to start getting tired.

As far as feedback, yes definitely! The more feedback we get on this forum, the better for all of us. You are the first on this forum to give an idea of how it works for you. My friends noticed that the positive effects seem to increase with continued applications. All three are barely finishing their first bottle of lotion.

I have two other friends who started recently and both report positive results so far. Today, a third friend started using it for neck pain that did not respond to borax or the DDD/HA/Stopain remedy, although both of those remedies worked for the desired purposes for her. The neck pain seems to be a separate issue and she said she will let me know later in the week if the lotion is helping her neck issue for which she has no diagnosis.

Thank you again for the important feedback, Sharon!

Art

https://homeopathy-allyson.blogspot.com/2020/05/aging-spines-feel-young-again.html

"From Earth Clinic (https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/spinal_stenosis.html#mr):

Spinal Stenosis Cure that absolutely works, never do back surgery, the doctors are not good enough yet and they will ruin your nerves terribly! Dr. Debra Katchen, MD and homeopathic doctor wrote an article “Aging Spines Feel Young Again” (unfortunately, homeopathy.org makes you become a member $ 75 to get into their website for the article but I use this remedy so I put it in my phone. Here it is, dirt cheap, need to do for six months and then I would do it every few years to keep the stenosis away, there is a lady on Youtube who also did it and has a testimonial how great it worked...

Take one tablet of strength 30C HEKLA LAVA pills in a 6 oz glass of distilled or purified water, let it dissolve, put in fridge and daily take 2 teaspoons (am and on preferably) and in addition, take four tablets under your tongue of CALCAREA FLUORICA strength 6X once a day for 6 months. (Amazon, iherb, Swanson, Vitacost to compare prices, there is a company brand Hyland in these small like chapstick containers is pretty popular but other companies have those pills). You will start feeling better about 3 months in but continue for the 6 months. Really, really works!!"

I just wanted to mention that I used the homeopathic remedy that you are referring to for two friends with spinal stenosis. It cured one friend, but did not help the other. The friend that it did not help had multiple diagnosed spinal issues including cervical spinal stenosis and that may be why it did not help that friend. The friend that it did help had a diagnosis of only lumbar spinal stenosis.

Art

The melatonin lotion uses gin and melatonin in an amount that is at least a saturated solution before the lotion is added to the gin and melatonin, so there is no room to add any more melatonin to that mix anyway.

According to the original three friends who use it, it is more effective for them than taking 100 mg of oral melatonin which offered them no pain relief at all for the issues that they reported about, so it must be a fairly potent locally delivered dose they are getting from the lotion, but adding more melatonin to the gin is not likely to be additive.

I take 132 mg of melatonin per day and it offers me no pain relief that I am able to discern, but the lotion absolutely does which tends to suggest that it is reaching very high local levels that my 132 mg of oral melatonin can not!

Art

1. As regards the safety of Cetaphil lotion, I chose it for its longevity as it has been around for many many years in thousands of users which should have well exposed safety issues with it. I am not saying it is the only lotion that can be used, but it is readily available online and in stores. I think most lotions will also work if an individual has a preference.

2. Coconut oil is a natural product that has a known safety profile, but I would never have considered it because many people do not like the smell of coconut oil and some people already consider Cetaphil to have a less than desirable smell, even though the fragrance is extremely light to me. Some people do not like the oily feel of coconut oil until it is absorbed fully. If you try a coconut oil mix, let us know how it works for you.

3. Vodka will work similarly to the gin. I chose gin because of the juniper berry content and botanical content and it seems to have a very mild alcohol smell that essentially disappears once the mix is complete.

Art

I didn't actually add any links for ingredients in the article, but I believe this is the link that EC put into the article for melatonin powder :

https://www.amazon.com/BulkSupplements-Melatonin-Powder-25-grams/dp/B00JV46FFU/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=earthclinic-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=1dbf8479885aa6ed0a8c480eedd56512&camp=1789&creative=9325&th=1

This bag will be enough for 25 four ounce jars of the mix described in the article.

This is the common lotion that my friends used to make their melatonin lotion :

https://www.amazon.com/Moisturizer-Hydrating-Moisturizing-Hypoallergenic-Non-Comedogenic/dp/B099N2SLT9/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3CQUNU7QV4GQO&keywords=cetaphil+lotion&qid=1700004762&s=hpc&sprefix=cetaphil+lotion,hpc,183&sr=1-3

This bottle will make approximately eight 4 oz. batches of the lotion.

This is the gin that they used that cost under $20 for the bottle at Costco:

https://www.costcuisine.com/post/costco-kirkland-signature-london-dry-gin-review

This bottle will make approximately over 23 of the four ounce mixes. They chose this gin because of the number of listed botanicals (9 botanicals) in it as well as the price.

I am not recommending these three products, just showing what my friends used for their mixes. I would think that similar products would work similarly.

Art

I will ask EC if they can add these other two links to the article.

Oral melatonin at higher dosing had no benefit for my three friends as far as their spinal, muscle and joint pains as all three were already taking oral melatonin. The lotion was able to help them in a way that the oral dosing could not and this is likely because the lotion allows significantly higher local tissue concentrations of melatonin that their higher oral dosing could never achieve as the oral dose is essentially dispersed throughout the body whereas the lotion gives a higher tissue concentration in the specific area where it is applied.

Art

I believe that based on a human fibromyalgia study utilizing melatonin, that the melatonin lotion(ML) should be useful for fibromyalgia pain.

In addition, also based on a human study, I believe that magnesium chloride spray, generally referred to as "mag oil" may be additive to the ML.

Here is a typical mag oil product on Amazon :

https://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Oil-Spray-STRENGTH-Essential/dp/B01N0KQ9QJ/ref=sr_1_6?crid=19VMS06AB5Z70&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.205sAfn2UmAcD-3HmhcmjrQo770fyIZ5axVGz2Ykw1Q7_2fmcZMBUFRRu8auHUISUkjS8SqtPEbKil70YVLPS5R_HUEMAnaRzaX7bbQDHQQPZbdHVArG_9a0fbxMoiEOP5zFDwhMZCZ83Hw8xtksFagK-OKhqVWsZLpkNfqJhsA_saQ7hLibXlsi-j6jdm2vbzr9mFRIObYw5K2HcS1S2-nHaOy88HEkSOoZZZ3UYVMq6PNVSV4S0-EgMA9oy8wOw-VzfVsXc1KQQsY3jAGRqiKLXEPmunCU2FBIfVeIZ8s.0bjgkLA68bZ6OCwug5WZVkGxndN3UxS_YiJyf8mFc-Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=mag+oil+spray&qid=1719279744&sprefix=mag+oil,aps,176&sr=8-6

It may be worth trying both individually and together to see which is the best option for you.

Please come back and let us know what your testing results determine.

Art

Thank you for the feedback on using Aloe Vera Gel as a substitute for Cetaphil lotion to make melatonin lotion. I make the same aloe/melatonin mix because I can apply it to my face without irritating my eyes. Melatonin is considered beneficial for the skin among its many attributes and aloe gel has shown the ability to act as a transdermal penetration enhancer while also being beneficial for the skin, so the two together seems like they should be more beneficial for the skin than either one alone. I am satisfied with the aloe/melatonin combo for my face but I haven't written about it previously on EC.

I still use the Cetaphil mix also because it can be more moisturizing in areas of application over dry skin.

I remember you saying you were going to make the lotion about four months ago, but I never saw your feedback. Did it help your hip and back pains and have you found any other uses for it?

Thank you again for the feedback!

Art

Thank you for the feedback!

When applying to the neck, testers have reported best effects by applying all the way up to the top of the neck, above the hairline to the base of the skull.

I tried applying the lotion to my face, but it really irritated my eyes. The aloe/melatonin mix did not irritate my eyes at all when applying to the face area around the eyes.

Art

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38347109/

Here is a relevant quote from the study :

' Comparing retained vs abolished secretion, only 23% (4/17) of patients with a lesion above T8 retained melatonin secretion, compared to 80% (4/5) with a lesion below T8 (p = 0.022). '

Art

Can I substitute Alcohol (70%) with GIN to mix with naproxen?

I don't think there is currently enough human data to draw a definitive conclusion for your question, but this 2023 review article gives some very good clues and when you take into consideration the known anticarcinogenic effects of melatonin as well as its very good safety profile, it definitely should be a molecule of interest when it comes to skin cancer / melanoma :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589909023000059#:~:text=Skin cancer, such as HSP70 and Nrf2.

Here are a couple of relevant quotes from the review :

' In skin tumors, melatonin has inhibitory effects on melanoma in vitro and in vivo. Fischer et al. found that the oncostatic effect of melatonin was related to its concentration and co-culture duration with melanoma cells, but was also relevant to the specific melatonin receptors expressed on the membranes and nuclei of cells. Cells expressing nuclear receptors exhibited stronger growth inhibition, whereas cells expressing MT2 receptors on cell membranes were more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of melatonin [49]. Reiter and colleagues found that mice with knockout of NQO2 (which encodes melatonin-binding sites in the cytoplasm) increased their susceptibility to carcinogens and were more likely to develop skin tumors [27]. Lv et al. analyzed RNA-sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. They found the melatonin system in the tumor microenvironment to have predictive value for the prognosis of skin melanoma. Patients with a high melatonin synthesis/metabolic index had a better prognosis and fewer patients were at an advanced stage of disease, whereas patients with a low melatonin synthesis/metabolic index had higher immunogenicity, which suggested a stronger response to immunotherapy. In the group with a low melatonin synthesis/metabolism index, the enrichment of genes related to hypoxia, inflammation, proliferation, metastasis, and DNA damage implied that melatonin could inhibit tumors through these processes, but the detailed mechanism has yet to be elucidated. Lv et al. demonstrated that the melatonin synthesis/metabolism index was an independent predictor after including disease stage for adjustment in multivariable models, which suggested that melatonin might affect the prognosis through biological mechanisms other than inhibiting carcinogenesis and proliferation [50]. Melatonin also modulates melanin synthesis. Alvarez-Artime et al. found that in a murine melanoma cell line (B16–F10), melatonin could alter the cytoskeleton, reduce the level of cyclin-dependent kinase-1, and slow-down mitosis to leave tumor cells in the G2/M cycle for a long time, thereby inhibiting proliferation of B16–F10 cells [51]. Studies have demonstrated that in melanoma, melatonin can reduce production of the antioxidant enzyme SOD in tumors [52]. Those reports suggest that melatonin may be a candidate drug to treat skin cancer by producing ROS. However, Ozben and colleagues stated that melatonin also produced ROS and caused tumorigenesis [53]. Therefore, the anti-tumor properties of melatonin through the production of free radicals need to be studied further. Bonmati-Carrion et al. showed that melatonin induced the apoptosis of melanoma cells [54]. In that study, melatonin (millimolar range) reduced the viability of melanoma cells significantly. This effect was shown to be related to activation of an apoptotic pathway triggered by an increased level of ROS, but the mechanism was not clarified. Perdomo et al. found that melatonin could regulate the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and activate the microphthalmia transcription factor, which regulated melatonin synthesis. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β could increase ROS and melanin by itself or by inhibiting the Nrf2 signaling pathway [55]. However, contrary evidence suggests that melatonin can reduce melanin production [56], which suggests that melatonin exerts anti-tumor effects by influencing melanin production. '

' Accumulating evidence has shown that melatonin has anti-tumoral properties, but also exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidation effects by controlling tumor augmentation. In melanoma, melatonin can induce apoptosis through several pro-apoptotic proteins, such as HSP70 and Nrf2. Furthermore, it exerts anti-inflammatory effects through the NF-κB pathway and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, which could be sites for therapeutic intervention [72]. The anti-cancer property of melatonin makes it a promising candidate for adjuvant therapy in melanoma. Also, compared with other chemical products, the natural metabolism of melatonin in human cells has lower toxicity. Hao et al. demonstrated melatonin synergistically strengthened vemurafenib-induced inhibition of proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, and “stemness” weakening in melanoma cells. Melatonin inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB p50/p65 and their binding to iNOS and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoters, thereby suppressing expression of iNOS and hTERT [73]. Scholars have elucidated that melatonin can inhibit angiogenesis in tumor tissues by complex mechanisms, thereby restraining growth and migration of tumorous gastric, breast, and ovarian cells [74]. In melanoma, angiogenesis is an important indicator of tumor aggressiveness and poor clinical outcome, but studies investigating this role of melatonin in melanoma are lacking. '

So the above quotes give known methods of action by which melatonin should offer anti skin cancer / anti melanoma effects, but actual human studies are lacking, which is hard to understand why they are lacking given the very good safety profile of melatonin in humans.

I am of the opinion that lotion may not be the most optimal delivery agent for this purpose.

Art

Yes, vodka can work as substitute for gin, however a friend recently wrote me that when she ran out of gin, she tried using vodka to make her melatonin lotion and for some reason, she found that it required significantly more vodka to dissolve the melatonin and this ultimately made the finished lotion much more watery. Both products were labeled 80 proof, so it is hard to understand this discrepancy. She said she would go back to gin in her future batches as she is having very good benefit from the lotion she had been making with gin.

It is important to dissolve the melatonin in order to end up with an effective melatonin lotion.

Please come back and let us know how melatonin lotion works for you.

Art

I chose gin as the solvent for the melatonin powder because it is much safer than using something like isopropyl alcohol or DMSO, it is relatively inexpensive and it is easy to find and purchase. Gin can be consumed, but isopropyl alcohol is poisonous to consume. My intent was to make it easy for people to test and use melatonin lotion.

In order to be most effective, the melatonin has to be dissolved before adding the lotion. If you just add the melatonin powder to the lotion without dissolving it first, the lotion will be significantly weaker or possibly be ineffective.

There are other solvents that can be used, but they are harder to acquire and generally cost more to buy. Your best bet, if you don't want to use gin is to ask a compounding pharmacy to make up a melatonin lotion for you using a non gin solvent, but keep in mind that most solvents have the potential for side effects. As an example, another solvent that can dissolve melatonin is dimethyl formamide (DMF) which is readily absorbed through the skin and is thought to have the potential to cause liver damage. With the the lotion made with gin, the gin evaporates fairly quickly once applied to the skin.

Another solvent that can dissolve melatonin powder is DMSO, but DMSO can carry many molecules through the skin. I think there are many molecules in many lotions that would be unhealthful to carry through the skin into the body in any meaningful amounts.

If you decide to try a compounding pharmacy, please let us know your results.

Art

Since you feel Cetaphil lotion is not too bad, the gin is essentially diluting the lotion which means that you are getting less of the bad in the final mix, but if you have a preference for another safer lotion in place of the Cetaphil Lotion, you can try that and let us know how it works for you.

The Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is readily available, not too expensive and many people are already familiar with it.

Regarding the use of gin, it is because of the juniper berry and botanical content which imparts a fresh scent and may offer other benefit imo. Here is a link discussing a few of those important benefits :

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/juniper-berries

Here are some relevant quotes from the article :

' Juniper berries are high in vitamin C, flavonoid antioxidants, monoterpenes, and coumarins, all of which may offer various health benefits.'

' Juniper berries contain essential oils and flavonoids that offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.'

' Some rodent studies indicate that juniper berry extract may improve high blood sugar levels, though research in humans is lacking.'

' Some animal research suggests that juniper berry extract may improve heart disease risk factors, but studies in humans are lacking. '

' Test-tube and animal studies indicate that juniper berry extract provides strong antibacterial and antifungal effects. However, human studies are needed to confirm these benefits.'

Again, for me the importance is in the effects of the lotion as unobtrusively as possible as well as the ease with which it can be made by the majority of people at home and not so much in the fine tuning to personal tastes.

If you do try VCO or another lotion, please come back and let us know how it works for you.

Art

Thank you for saying so!

Actually I consider melatonin powder relatively inexpensive as it applies to this lotion which only requires one gram per four ounces of lotion at a cost of roughly one dollar of melatonin per mix which does not seem like much for an active component imo.

Usage rate will vary by the amount being applied and the area being covered. If you are only applying to the neck or lower back, the lotion should be fairly long lasting as my friends mentioned in their answers to my questions. All three reported applying sparingly which would also add to the lifespan of each jar.

None of the three have used up their first four ounce jar yet. Lydia is the one I consider to be using the most as she is using it on her lower back, neck, shoulders and muscles that are impacted by her disease and she is still using her first jar.

Very importantly, all three are finding significant benefit with their lotion with only two applications per day with benefit beyond what Stopain was able to offer them with regular use. Melatonin has a very good safety profile. All three have told me they enjoy the simplicity of making this lotion themselves at home.

Art

One of my friends that I wrote about in the original post, Lydia also noticed that applying all the way up the neck to the base of the skull is also working better for any neck pain she still has. She said she thought she was applying it to her whole spine, but had never even thought of going above the hair line, but is happy that she is doing that now.

There are nerves at the top of the spine that travel to the head and face and apparently the melatonin lotion can help calm them when they become inflamed.

Art

' Art, just a quick update. Last night I had what I thought was a migraine. I applied the lotion and Stopain and by bedtime it had receded quite a bit. By morning it was gone. Usually my migraines last a week. So this was really great! '

Art

In the original article I wrote about melatonin lotion, I described how my friends made their melatonin lotion using the bulk powder form of melatonin which has no fillers or additives. On the other hand, capsules and pills have multiple fillers which will not work very well for making the lotion because the fillers are a significant amount of extra powder. You might try following the original recipe which calls for using bulk powder such as this, which appears to be available on ebay Canada :

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/204288878158?itmmeta=01J1APMD6T1P5D4VSQ0DEZE0KG&hash=item2f9090e64e:g:YyYAAOSwg8VmTLf7&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA4AklIXHM+Dx/nPS44ilXYx1wQY86elI4equeDRL4UoWu1bQPl8e/NyLVJ2JF9oOMExAUPjhVWmWk6nLy5/yWZXP5+qvlUGSvYl57YqdAqNlNRDL+8gPvtoLlkx21zxIJpqQEjGtQNyzsUL+R+WEoqCQrp3QzpimWdOZdMS3MU4e6vmYepGUa0ZQ7gg+DEU/H1D6Z95xLJs/U0UpyqGtjIv/LxYSIcFViLCWee4U1XA6lbG81YHGbCeAqF/uPGCC735rrIoT3JDkWPdMQA+sm5ZlfL/sb2FK+/tMx+W2+bO6W|tkp:BFBMvtPR1opk

Art

The amount of melatonin to dissolve in 1.5 oz of gin is a one quarter measuring teaspoon that is level full.

Art

I misunderstood your question. The only way I know of to get an accurate measure of 100 mg of melatonin powder is to use a digital milligram scale. The quarter teaspoon that I mentioned in my previous reply will be approximately 750 milligrams so you would need about one eight of that 1/4 teaspoon to get in the area of 100 mg.

I don't think 100 mg of melatonin in the 3 oz. bottle of melatonin lotion would have much effect as it will be a very weak mix.

Art

My friend who used it for migraines told me she applied it sparingly to the back of her neck, temples and scalp. She said she applied from just below the lowest part of the neck to the top of the neck, which is above the hairline at the base of the skull and then applied it to the scalp and temples. She said her migraines would always last about a week and the ML would have them gone in less than a day with significant symptom reduction while the migraine was active. which she said was the best relief she had ever gotten.

Please let us know how it works for your daughter, whether it is helpful or not.

Art

My friends used the term sparingly when describing how they were applying it. It will depend on the area you are applying it to, but as a basic example, when applying to the neck, just slightly larger than a pea size daube of the lotion covers the back of the neck. Once you apply that amount to the neck, you get a feel for just how much lotion is needed for just about any area of the body you will be covering. It is just enough to rub around the area and it is quickly dry. By the way, because the lotion is liquid and tends to flow, a pea size, if left to sit for a moment is the approximate diameter of a dime once it has finished flowing.

This same amount will also cover the back of the hand including the back of the fingers. Start with one application per day and then add a second application only if needed.

The aim is to use the least amount as possible and spread it around the selected area before it dries. I hope this answers your question.

Art

I am very happy that your wife was able to relieve her trigger finger issue and pain so quickly! Please tell your wife she is welcome! Thank you, Gary, for coming back to let us know about another benefit from melatonin lotion as the list is growing fairly quickly!

Art

Of course I am of the opinion that melatonin seems relevant in the discussion of any type of cancer because of its multiple methods of action when it comes to cancer. There are many studies which discuss these methods of action of melatonin, so I have not linked to those as you have probably already read many of them.

I will link to a few studies that may be of interest to you :

HESPERIDIN

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/13/5152

Here is a relevant study quote :

Hesperidin, a flavonoid commonly found in citrus fruits, with its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties, and cardio-preventive factor for disease prevention, is well-known. Furthermore, its anticancer potential has been suggested to be a promising alternative in cancer treatment or management through the modulation of signal transduction pathways, which includes apoptosis, cell cycle, angiogenesis, ERK/MAPK, signal transducer, and the activator of transcription and other cell signaling molecules. Moreover, its role in the synergistic effects with anticancer drugs and other natural compounds has been described properly. The present article describes how hesperidin affects various cancers by modulating the various cell signaling pathways.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jcmm.17902

Here is a relevant study quote :

Hesperidin showed significant anti-angiogenesis and anti-proliferative effects in mice bearing 4T1 breast cancer, suggesting this compound as a potential treatment either with or without standard treatment (doxorubicin) to be used in future clinical research. The role of hesperidin as an inhibitor of angiogenesis, tumour growth and metastasis was confirmed in this study. It is suggested to consider clinical studies to investigate the effects of this agent in humans.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8626310/

A relevant quote from the review :

In summary, hesperidin and its aglycone hesperetin have good in vitro anti-cancer activities in BC models based on their inhibition of cell proliferation, migration (hesperidin only) and BCSCs (hesperidin only) as well as their induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In in vivo BC models, they exert their anti-cancer effects by inhibiting tumour growth, metastasis (hesperidin only) and neoplastic changes in tissue architecture (hesperidin only). The co-administration of hesperidin with doxorubicin or tamoxifen as well as the co-administration of hesperetin with doxorubicin or letrozole can enhance the anti-BC effects of the clinically available anti-cancer drugs.

PIPERINE

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ptr.7291

A relevant quote from the review :

Piperine (PIP) is an alkaloid found primarily in Piper longum, and this natural compound has been shown to exert effects on proliferation and survival against various types of cancer. In particular, PIP has potent inhibitory effects on breast cancer (BC), the most prevalent type of cancer in women worldwide. PIP targets numerous signaling pathways associated with the therapy of BC cells through the following mechanisms: (a) induction of arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis; (b) alteration of the signaling protein expression; (c) reduction in transcription factors; and (d) inhibition of tumor growth. BC cells have the ability to resist conventional drugs, so one of the strategies is the combination of PIP with other phytochemicals such as paclitaxel, thymoquinone, hesperidin, bee venom, tamoxifen, mitoxantrone, piperlongumin, and curcumin.

So the above article suggests that while piperine has anticancer effects, it may also work with hesperidin and curcumin against cancer.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432303/

Here is a relevant study quote :

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that resveratrol, curcumin and piperine exposure results in cytotoxic effects in MCF-7 cells, associated with decreasing GLO1 activity and mitochondrial cell damage. Other aspects involving the action of these compounds in glyoxalase system enzyme expression as well as the mRNA expression of glyoxalases 1 and 2 should be further investigated as chemotherapeutic targets.

CURCUMIN

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10679154/

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

Curcumin can be very effective and free of severe toxicity⁷⁵. Curcumin has multiple medicinal properties and can interact with several molecular targets and intracellular signaling pathways⁷⁶. However, poor bioavailability limits its therapeutic effects. Curcumin analogs and their various formulations, including nanoparticles and liposomes, are extensively studied for maximum effectiveness.^{77, 78}.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10675183/

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

The positive feedback loop in the breast TME contributes to the aggravation of cancer. Particularly, EMT facilitates the invasive and metastatic potential of tumors, which can be mediated by the NF-κB signaling pathway [46]. During EMT, cellular behavior undergoes notable shifts, with diminished expression of epithelial markers and increased mesenchymal-like phenotype [47]. To evaluate the impact of Cur-CM on EMT, the migratory and invasive capabilities of MCF7 cells were determined. Remarkably, treatment with Cur-CM significantly reduced the mobility and migration potential of MCF7 cells compared with Con-CM treatment. To further explore the molecular mechanism underlying such a phenotype, we examined the expression levels of EMT markers. E-cadherin, an epithelial cell marker, was upregulated following Cur-CM treatment. In contrast, the expression of N-cadherin and fibronectin, both indicators of mesenchymal characteristics, was significantly downregulated after Cur-CM treatment. These results explained that curcumin modulated the EMT by disrupting the CXCL12/CXCR4-mediated transformation of ADMSCs into CAFs and suppressing the breast TME from further progression.

Since you mentioned that you are already taking Resveratrol and Quercetin, the following mouse model of breast tumor study may be of interest to you since it used those two in combination with Curcumin in the study and it gives human equivalency dosing :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10432483/

Here is a relevant study quote :

BALBc mice were injected 2 × 10⁵ 4T1 cells subcutaneously. The treatment plan was divided into three types. The mice in the Treated A group were given RCQ by intragastric administration for 30 days after subcutaneous injection of 4T1 breast cancer cells. The mice in the Treated B group were consumed RCQ for 15 days for prevention, then injected subcutaneously with 4T1 breast cancer cells and continued to gavage RCQ for 30 days. The mice in the Treated C group were consumed RCQ for 30 days for prevention, then injected subcutaneously with 4T1 breast cancer cells, and continued to gavage RCQ for 30 days. Each mouse was fed 60 mg kg⁻¹ orally five times a week, 200 μL each time. RCQ in PBS plus 1% DMSO was prepared by dilution from Res, Cur, and Que solutions in DMSO. The control group was fed with PBS plus 1% DMSO. From Monday through Friday, RCQ was given to the mice five times a week, once per day. In previous studies, the non-toxic dose of these antitumor polyphenols in tumor mice was generally between 5–140 mg kg⁻¹. In this study, the dose of RCQ was 60 mg kg⁻¹ (including 24 mg kg⁻¹ Res, 24 mg kg⁻¹ Cur, and 12 mg kg⁻¹ Que), which was the non-toxic dose. Grapes contain the highest content of polyphenols, which can reach 50–100 mg kg⁻¹. The recommended dosage for humans is 0.3–1 g per day, equivalent to 3 kg of grapes, but full amounts of polyphenols can be obtained by taking extract capsules. According to the body surface area method, the conversion factors between different animals and humans are different. The dose given to mice was about 12.3 times that given to humans. 60 mg kg⁻¹ (including 24 mg kg⁻¹ Res, 24 mg kg⁻¹ Cur, and 12 mg kg⁻¹ Que) translated into an edible human dose of 738 mg/day (including 295.2 mg Res, 295.2 mg Cur, and 147.6 mg Que). On the other hand, applying allometric principles and taking different caloric demands of mice and humans into account^66–68, it is possible that, related to body weight, humans need an approximately 5–10-fold lower dose of RCQ than mice for an effect. Therefore, the intake of RCQ for humans can be reduced as appropriate.

WARNING

Regarding melatonin, it dissolves better in DMSO than ethanol, but DMSO can carry unwanted chemicals through the skin so it would not be compatible with other ingredients such as the Cetaphil lotion itself might have. I'm just adding this warning because you may have been thinking of trying to increase the amount of melatonin in the lotion through other means.

Art

Thank you so much for all of the information. I have ordered the hesperidin and I have the curcumin and resveratrol. Haven't ordered the piperine yet but will when I can. God bless you for your generosity in helping everyone you that you do. I will keep you posted on my results. And thanks again for all you do to help others!

Melatonin powder is available in one strength, but manufacturers describe using different amounts to equal so many milligrams such as 3 mg or 10 mg. They are basically mentioning the dose they are recommending and sometimes include a scoop for the amount they are recommending.

So any bulk powder melatonin should work. Earth Clinic has posted an easier mix that requires just one, 1/4 teaspoon at level full to make a 3 ounce melatonin lotion mix. You can find that in the original article where it has been added today.

A $20 bag of melatonin powder should contain about 25 grams of melatonin and that should be enough melatonin to make at least 25 mixes of melatonin lotion.

Skip the $200 bag of melatonin. My friends used the bag of melatonin that EC linked to in the article which is around $20.

Art

I am only reporting the mix that my friends found useful for their issues, but this is not carved in stone. If you have a lotion that you feel is safer, please try it and let us know how it works for you as I am sure others will want to know also.

Art

Melatonin will only partially dissolve in most lotions, the end result is that you will have a significantly weaker mix than what my friends used. Melatonin has high solubility in ethanol and that is the reason that they used it. Do you have a problem with using gin?

Art

Art

Another poster reported that she was able to use capsules that are equivalent to 750 mg to make the lotion to ameliorate her fibromyalgia pain. Not the best way to do it, but she said it worked for her.

Art

Regarding the melatonin recipe you gave - would using a coconut oil be an alternative to the lotion? Thank you!

I never tested coconut oil for melatonin lotion because some people don't like the smell, but if you try it, please let us know how it works for you as people who like coconut oil will definitely want to know how it works.

Art

Is it possible to make this with rubbing alcohol or vodka? I ask because I am an alcoholic and the only gin I can get is in a larger bottle and I don't want the temptation of the remainder and I am not sure I would pour out what I don't need. I can get a 50ml bottle of vodka tho and rubbing alcohol is something I have on hand. Thanks for any help!

I am hoping this lotion will help with my fibromyalgia pain.

I have an additional question about the melatonin recipe. It calls for 1 gram of melatonin powder. I have purchased a bottle of 90 capsules of 10mg strength melatonin which if I understand correctly is 900mg, 10 capsules short of 1 gram. Am I correct in my math and will it still be strong enough for the pain relief benefits?

(I found a store with 50 ml bottles of gin!! :o) )

Thank you so so much for all the help you have given me!

Helen

It looks like it might be available on eBay Canada :

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/204288878158?itmmeta=01HWV9MBJ649RHD0CT57ZZ3ZJ6&hash=item2f9090e64e:g:M8MAAOSwVn5j99cT&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAAwBnj0dM4uCl0ryX9+8WuaGy2Mda3oX96wpJkIdgcaHbfT4g/DAYt20GkDnSyJ8erVjTyh/5L3Ms7lvQKhGb1C+R9OU7rVuTEmRyRE93k/zXAP6oa11xhZD85vGq6JLYkSNSRI/B8X2L22PiYk9Q2umvL1LjLgzu2lmU3pWcuXTkl5DwtdzXj0RU8GBMkQfd6ik4e2CzTltMChdfxZAdfLpvx/MdqUlEgSptxICSSd2VoTgfWXr4CcCZWbO51lOoYZw==|tkp:Bk9SR5i50enmYw

Canada is like other countries when it comes to melatonin and is not available over the counter.

Art

Two reasons why applying sparingly is a good idea is that applying sparingly will be effective and some people are very sensitive to melatonin and applying generously can cause varying degrees of tiredness during the day in those who are sensitive. Applying sparingly helps avoid this issue and also makes your bottle of lotion last much longer.

I am not particularly sensitive to melatonin and can apply the lotion heavily without problem, but to me that is just wasteful unless you are trying to fight something systemically such as cancer because topically applied melatonin can definitely go systemic.

If the generous application you are using does not cause you to feel tired during the day, that is a very good indication for you for the future should you ever need to reach high systemic levels of melatonin for another reason not related to pain, but in the meantime, probably a little wasteful.

Peter, I have a few questions for you as your feedback is very helpful.

1. How effective are you finding melatonin lotion as a pain reliever?

2. What areas of your body have you used it on so far?

3. Is your wife also using it and what is she using it for?

The reason for question number 3 is since topically applied melatonin goes systemic in a way that oral melatonin can not, it can help protect the kidneys from multiple insults as discussed here :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10047594/#:~:text=Melatonin also plays a direct, ATP production and protects mitochondria.

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

' The process of kidney degeneration is often an implication of the frequent prevalence of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and obesity. Melatonin has been proven to have beneficial effects in all of these complications. Melatonin also plays a direct renoprotective role. Moreover, it can be helpful in almost every type of kidney injury because inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress occur without regard to the mechanism. Melatonin regulates mitochondrial metabolism and ATP production and protects mitochondria. It inactivates free radicals by attaching one or more electrons and thus reduces oxidative stress. Due to these mechanisms, melatonin enables normal mitochondrial functions and protects patients from subsequent apoptotic implications and the death of kidney cells. '

In addition melatonin has also shown the ability to protect pancreatic beta cells which is important in diabetes as discussed here :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9189213/#:~:text=Melatonin succeeded in protecting β, for diabetes management and treatment.

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

' Melatonin acted as an anti-inflammatory agent that reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-12) and oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA). Melatonin succeeded in protecting β cells under severe inflammatory situations, which was apparent by the regeneration of islets of Langerhans in treated diabetic rats. Moreover, these results can open a gate for diabetes management and treatment.'

Diabetes is well known to increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and melatonin works to help reduce this risk as discussed here :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8929360/

Here is a relevant quote :

' Diabetic cardiovascular complications and impaired cardiac function are considered to be the main causes of death in diabetic patients worldwide, especially patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). An increasing number of studies have shown that melatonin, as the main product secreted by the pineal gland, plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of diabetes. Melatonin improves myocardial cell metabolism, reduces vascular endothelial cell death, reverses microcirculation disorders, reduces myocardial fibrosis, reduces oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, regulates cell autophagy and apoptosis, and improves mitochondrial function, all of which are the characteristics of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). This review focuses on the role of melatonin in DCM. We also discuss new molecular findings that might facilitate a better understanding of the underlying mechanism.'

Art

Thank you for adding your results with melatonin lotion for your wife to this thread. Always good to hear how it is working for people.

I think in the long run, you will get a better total effect by substituting melatonin lotion for topical naproxen because melatonin has shown potential reparative effects compared to naproxen which only has pain relieving effects. I also am seeing that the melatonin lotion has cumulative effects with regular use that may ultimately exceed naproxen's pain relieving effects. A very important point about melatonin lotion that I have not discussed yet on EC is that it goes systemic in such a way that it may be more beneficial than high dose oral melatonin for our health. I will discuss that point more in a future post, but this feature of melatonin lotion is very important for our health in many ways.

If you want to continue using naproxen anyway, then gin will also work as the solvent, but I would take melatonin lotion any day over naproxen topical mix that I mentioned to you months ago.

Continued improved health to you and your wife!

Art

Recently I came across a bulk supplier in the UK that sells melatonin powder. Here is a link to that supplier:

https://rawpowders.co.uk/melatonin-powder

I'm not sure why, but it takes a long time for their website to load and open.

I had recommended this supplier to an acquaintance in the UK and they said they received quick service and would buy from them again, so I thought I would share the link since melatonin powder seems harder to obtain in the UK compared to the US.

Art

I made lotion without gin. First of you have to make lotion-you can use all kind oil as coconut oil, olive oil......., and you need put bee wax in it to make lotion. I use big pot with water in it, boil water at same time put glass bottle on it, put all kind oil what you like in it, then you put bee wax in it, last step is put melatonin in it. you have to wait let bee wax melt in the oil, then you have using something to mix it to let melatonin completely melted into lotion. I do not know heat will affect melatonin effecting or not. But I used lotion after I made it that the lotion made me sleepiness. I guess heat did not affect melatonin effecting.

Thank you so much for your answer about the lotion. Just wondering if you could help with what supplements to take. I'm currently taking:

500 mg Berberine 3x a day.
400mg quercetin 3x a day.plus resveratrol. Not sure dosage. Vitamin C 1000 mg 3-4x a day Lysine1000 mg. 3-4x a day. One multi vitamin per day. minerals, herbal extracts with milk thistle, chaparral, dandelion root, pau de arco and others.
400 mg Oregano tablets. Grape Seed extract and the melatonin as much as I can afford. Have done the castor oil wraps and want to try ivermectin or fenben but not sure which I should try or the dosage. Trying to juice but have an old juicer that doesn't do a great job but better than nothing. Anyway, if you or anyone else has any other ideas I would greatly appreciate hearing them. Thanks again for everything you do!

I'm excited to hear your results too!

Art

I have not tried it so I don't know.

Art

I am not Art, But I did melt melatonin with what I made lotion. You can make any kind lotion you want using boiling water. Put glass bottle in the water with something under glass (Provent glass break from very hot heat) all kind oils with bee wax, then put melatonin in it. after bee wax melt, melatonin mostly is melting too. you need using something mix melatonin with lotion. I did not measure how much oil and bee wax I put in and I did not measure how many grams of melatonin I put in. I used my tomato sauce glass bottle that at least is 16 oz bottle. I just put oil first, put bee wax in it as 3/4 bottle already, then put melatonin in it too. after wax melt if I think lotion is too oily, I just put more bee wax. I want strong melatonin lotion, so I put maybe almost 2 table spools of melatonin in, I thought if lotion too strong I will use less, if too weak I cannot use too much lotion on my skin. I tested my lotion after I finished, I did feel sleepiness after for a while.

I noted this in the links above --- maybe it was a later addition?

Am doing research for my brother and a couple of friends, and maybe for myself before too long since 69 y/o knees feeling the stresses now.

Where to Buy Melatonin Powder

Bulk Supplements sells a large bag of pure melatonin powder reasonably priced.

Melatonin Powder Bulk Supplements - $18.96 for 25 grams - 8,333 servings

Your feedback will be very useful since I have not tried it for hip pain yet.

Thank you!

Art