Is Melatonin Legal in the UK?

For those of you who don’t know, Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in the brain to regulate the bodies internal body clock and has been a treatment used for jet-lag or insomnia.

For regular travellers, or those who work strange hours at work, it can be horrendous trying to keep up with sleep – some days you wake up in the middle of the night and need to be in deep sleep after breakfast. But wherever you look on the internet Melatonin seems to be banned in the UK.

If you travel for business, you will know the routine of drinking an unhealthy amount of coffee during a meeting just to keep up! You may actually be one of those who have a sleep strategy before you leave to try and get yourself on the timezone. Personally, I often try to stay awake as long as possible before getting on the plane so I can sleep, or staying up on the plane to sleep when I arrive.

More recently mindfulness has been key to my healthy sleeping routine. It would actually be very handy to have something that could make this process easier! Have you tried CBD?

So why is Melatonin banned in the UK? 

Why Is Melatonin Banned?

Melatonin isn’t technically banned- but it is classed as a medicine, and while it can be prescribed, it is only in a 2mg dose and is only for those over 55 who suffer from a short term sleep disorder. Therefore, it cannot be purchased over the counter and a medical professional is required to allow use.

Supporting your Endocannabinoid system is much better idea.

In the US, Melatonin is available in up to 10mg does as a dietary supplement and is used by over 3.1 million people.

What are the Benefits of Melatonin?

Melatonin has a famous precursor that we all know and love, Serotonin.

This is the primary neurotransmitters that modulate mood balance and other functions. In the body, Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland (Cannabis conspiracy people will know a lot about this one) which is part of the way your brain can regulate day and night cycles. The gland, situated in the middle of the brain, transmits a signal that is triggered by exposure/lack of exposure to sunlight and therefore regulates/promotes Melatonin production. Therefore, the body will signal your brain to sleep when it is dark!

So taking a dose of Melatonin will help you fall asleep, although some studies have found that it may actually induce insomnia if it is taken an hour and a half before bed. So it is safe to say that it should be considered as a short term solution to adjusting your body clock. You may be thinking the same as me- it doesn’t make sense why Melatonin is banned in the UK!

You Could try CBD?

CBD is the new, up and coming well-being supplement that is gaining a lot of popularity down to its ability to support/maintain the Endocannabinoid System. The ECS is a network of receptors found in our body that is responsible for the perfect balance of all things inside of us; this is called Homeostasis. It is the job of the ECS to return your body to a happy medium and help to regulate your body functions and improve your well-being.

The same reason why Melatonin is banned in the UK, could be the same reason CBD is restricted.

CBD has a plethora of well-being benefits and may help improve your general well-being and improve your quality of life. Before you think about trying CBD we think that there are a few things you should know.

Firstly – we recommend that you use ‘full-spectrum’ CBD products – this is down to the fact that they contain the widest range of cannabinoids and bioactives which make the oils so effective. Full-Spectrum CBD products also contain THC (although a very small amount) which aids the use of CBD and has its own well-known benefits.

Secondly, we also suggest that any CBD product you buy should be lab-tested. This proves that the product contains exactly what it says it does. There are plenty of options out there but you need evidence to make your decision. Ensure that there is a wide range of other cannabinoids, terpenes and hemp bioactives. You’ll thank us later!