There’s been a ton of talk about melatonin recently and with that has come a lot of new melatonin products. After seeing a ton of ads, I purchased a melatonin diffuser. But after just a little research, I quickly stopped using it.
Today I’m sharing my personal research and the reasons why I have decided to stop using a melatonin diffuser.
Why melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that your body produces naturally. A few hours before bed, your body will kick it into overdrive and produce melatonin which signals to you that it’s time to sleep.
But when you get can’t get to sleep for a few days in a row or you travel across timezones, your body might start to get out of whack. Using a melatonin supplement in moderation, can potentially help get you back in a natural rhythm.
Five main issues with a melatonin diffuser
1. The company site says don't inhale it
When I first received my melatonin diffuser, I assumed it is meant to be inhaled. Even the directions on the box state to “pull gently on the mouthpiece to gather diffused contents into mouth, release out through the nose”.
But as I started researching if it was ok to inhale melatonin, I could not find any references on the site that said it was to be inhaled. Neither on the main product site or in the FAQs, no how-to instructions were given.
As a new product on the market, it’s typical to see a video or description that demonstrates how the product works. Weirdly, all I could find on the company site was one simple image (linked only in the footer), demonstrating how to use the melatonin diffuser.
If you’re supposed to use it like an oil diffuser, why is this image not shared in a more prominent part of their site? Or linked somewhere on the product page itself? After finding this image, I had even more questions.
What did the site used to say?
As I got curious, I wondered if the website ever suggested to inhale using their melatonin diffuser in the past. What I found next interested me even more.
I decided to use the wayback machine to pull up the older versions of the diffuser website. If you’re not familiar with the wayback machine, it’s not the fanciest tool but you can usually get a glimpse of how brands have evolved their site through the years.
When I put in the url for the melatonin diffuser I purchased, I received an error. The error said “Sorry, This URL has been excluded from the Wayback Machine.”.
I’ve probably used the Wayback Machine for over 10 years and have literally never seen this message before. I didn’t even know sites had the option of getting excluded. Certainly feels a little odd to me.
My personal conclusion is that the company used to promote this product as something you inhale (see package instructions) but had to pivot as it became more of a legal issue. Why would it have any legal trouble unless it was not safe?
2. The dosage is not listed anywhere
Recommended doses for melatonin supplements are typically low. High doses are considered to actually increase daytime tiredness. A usual dose is anywhere from 0.5 mg to 3 mg.
While it may be difficult to determine the exact amount of melatonin you would diffuse or inhale from a pen, I would still expect to find the estimated amount on the packaging or website. Not knowing if these dosage is extremely high, may be unsafe.
3. Not permitted for minors
Although the company’s age policy states that their product does not have to follow tobacco product law, they still choose to restrict the age use.
Is this due to unknown details about melatonin and the affects on people 18 years and younger? Or is it because the product itself mimics and e-cigarette design?
Whatever the reason, restricting the age of buyers is another red flag for me when it comes to melatonin diffusers.
4. How it made me feel
Before I started doing any research about melatonin diffusers, I used one for about a week. Before bed, I would inhale roughly three times. The packaging says “do not inhale or use more than 7 times per day”.
While it helped me get to bed quickly, I woke up after a couple of hours every night feeling restless. I was starting to wonder if I was taking too much and it was therefore affecting my overall sleep cycle. That’s when I started researching the topic further.
5. It's regulated by the Food and Drug Administration
Would I recommend it?
I would not recommend using a melatonin diffuser. Not only because of the five reasons I stated above but mainly because I didn’t feel like I saw a valuable difference when using it.
One way I’ve tried melatonin in the past and found some success was when I drank a cup of beam before bed. It allows me to fall asleep, and stay asleep with its unique combination of ingredients.
Some helpful alternatives
Sometimes it’s the harder route. But what I personally recommend is taking the time to figure out why you can’t sleep.
It can take some time and a lot of trial and error but finding the root cause is a great step towards improving your quality of sleep. A few ways you can help narrow down the cause are by:
- not staring at blue light (like from your phone) two hours before bed
- reducing your caffeine intake (or try giving it up altogether)
- eating a balanced diet and eliminating processed foods
- exercising daily
- getting outside during the day
Another symptom of not sleeping can be from the stress of the day. I struggle with being able to turn off my brain and its thoughts after a long day. Talking to friends, family or a licensed professional are great ways to reduce stress. Mental health is important and not sleeping can have a significant impact on how you feel mentally.
We always encourage you to do your own research, like consult with your doctor. We are not the expert and are not giving any medical advice. The list above comes from my own personal experience and I’m just sharing why I won’t be using a melatonin diffuser any longer. If you found this helpful, let us know!
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