Melatonin for lucid dreaming has a natural connection. Melatonin is a chemical produced by the pineal gland and is related to the regulation of our sleep cycles. Basically, during the day the production of this chemical is suppressed, but then at night it is released, causing drowsiness. During sleep this chemical is at its peak when we are in the deepest sleep, and then it falls when we are in lighter sleep, corresponding to REM sleep and dreaming. The melatonin and lucid dreaming connection is simple when viewed this way.
Melatonin for Lucid Dreaming
There are several reasons why melatonin and lucid dreams have been linked, as follows.
Melatonin and Lucid Dreams: REM suppression
Melatonin suppresses REM sleep, so you would think that it would actually inhibit the chances of lucid dreaming. However, what actually happens is that later on in the night there is a rebound effect, with an increased frequency and vivid dreams from melatonin. Like the other lucid dreaming supplements, this supplement does not directly promote lucid dreaming, but by producing this powerful rebound that motivated many clear and powerful dreams, the chances that your lucid dream techniques will work is enhanced. Of course increased vividness also increases the chance that you will actually remember your dreams. Again, don’t lose your focus on learning and sticking with lucid dreaming techniques, in this case dream induced techniques, because this supplement will not produce lucidity on its own.
Melatonin for Lucid Dreaming: Dream Strangeness
Melatonin does not just make dreams more frequent, however. People who have taken melatonin for lucid dreams report that their dreams are more memorable, vivid, and in some cases strange. Whether this lucid dreaming supplement is causing those strange dreams, or whether they are happening anyway and this supplement is just improving recall, is a good question.
Melatonin and Lucid Dreams: Consciousness
It has been theorized that the reason melatonin and lucid dreams are linked is that this chemical makes us more conscious while we are dreaming, somehow closer to a waking state than normal. This, in turn, would mean that lucidity would be more likely when this supplement is taken. We’d need to see more scientific evidence before we were to say that this is definitely true, but many have reported that connection.
Using Melatonin for Lucid Dreams
The basic dose of melatonin for use as an aid for sleeping is 300 micrograms to 2.5 milligrams, but for the purposes of inducing the perfect circumstances for lucid dreams we suggest that you start with lower doses. All you need is a small amount of dream suppression to produce the rebound effect. You’ll need to take melatonin right before bed, since its effects wear off fairly quickly. Adverse effects of melatonin at recommended doses include nausea and nightmares. Before taking melatonin on a regular basis you should check with your healthcare provider.
Sometimes melatonin is used in conjunction with other lucid dreaming supplements, especially when you want to be sure to fall asleep on time in order to have the lucid dreams later in the night that the other supplements promote. In fact, some people find that soon after they have their first lucid dreams they are so excited about going to bed the next night that they need something to calm down so they can fall asleep. Melatonin does the trick. This supplement can also help augment the effects of other lucid dreaming supplements if they make you slightly agitated as a side effect, which can happen for some people.
Melatonin and Lucid Dreaming Techniques
What does all of the above suggest as far as melatonin and lucid dreaming techniques? First, you may have success with both dream-induced techniques and wake-induced techniques, but this lucid dream supplement may be particularly good for dream induced techniques since its effect is greatest when you are well into your sleep cycles. Second, you may want to accelerate your daytime rituals such as asking yourself if you are dreaming or looking for dream signs when you use this supplement. Unlike some other supplements that may work over time or may have an additive effect, melatonin for lucid dreaming will have an effect that particular night.
As an aside, you may want to work the use of melatonin for lucid dreams directly into your techniques. While you are taking the pill look around you and see if everything looks right. After you take it ask yourself “Am I dreaming”. Remember that the more you think about lucid dreams and bring this practice into your waking life the more likely you are to have success.
Melatonin and Lucid Dreaming Summary
In summary, the connection between melatonin and lucid dreaming may relate to three factors:
- Melatonin and lucid dreaming may be connected because this supplement lengthens REM sleep
- Melatonin for lucid dreaming may work because we are more conscious while dreaming
- Melatonin for lucid dreaming may work because it makes our dreams weirder and somehow more memorable
We hope you find success with this particular lucid dreaming supplement. As we’ve mentioned before we suggest that you take some time to try this particular one before mixing it with other supplements. You want to know its specific effect and/or side effects. Later, when perhaps you have also taken another supplement with it, though any combination approach should be vetted to be sure that there will be no interaction effects.
Please remember to also see our parent site for tips for lucid dreaming and general information about how to lucid dream.
Best of luck if you try melatonin for lucid dreaming, and please check back if you do find a melatonin lucid dreaming connection!