Melatonin Gel: Health Benefits and Recipe

Thanks so much, Art. I successfully made a batch using vodka. I didn't adjust the amounts and it seemed to work out fine. It seemed to take a while for the melatonin to dissolve, but I just added the aloe gel and the melatonin all seemed to disperse evenly and then disappear/dissolve. I used an old hand sanitizer flip-cap bottle, and it worked well. Too soon to tell about the health benefits.

Hi Art...I am now using the lotion on my osteoarthritic knees because the ligaments have deteriorated. You said that studies have shown that the melatonin would help regenerate them. Should I switch to the gel?

Hi Patricia,

The lotion is fine for your knees. I made the melatonin gel for more sensitive areas such as the face and the fact that melatonin and aloe vera gel are both very good for the skin as a protectant and enhancer.

A friend told me she used melatonin lotion successfully for hemorrhoids, but I suggested that she might consider melatonin gel for such a sensitive area because the lotion has a ton of other ingredients, that you may not want in such a sensitive area.

I make the gel more often now because it works similarly to the lotion, but I can also use it in more sensitive areas. The cost to make either one is also similar.

The effects for either form for osteoarthritis are also going to be similar. Are you finding it beneficial for the osteoarthritis in your knees?

I have another question for you, have you tried the borax remedy for arthritis? I ask because the people who have benefited from borax for arthritis, such as myself have found it very effective. I think because of their different methods of action, melatonin lotion or melatonin gel with borax may have synergy with each other for arthritis. Here is a link to Earth clinics page on borax which explains how it is used and is also EC's #1 remedy for arthritis :

https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/borax.html

Here is a link discussing melatonin for osteoarthritis :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39228264/

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

' Recent evidence indicates that the damaged regions in osteoarthritis are accompanied by the accumulation of iron ions. Ferroptosis, as an iron-dependent form of cell death, holds significant implications in osteoarthritis. Melatonin, a natural product with strong scavenging abilities against reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, plays a crucial role in the treatment of osteoarthritis. This study aims to demonstrate the existence of ferroptosis in osteoarthritis and explore the specific mechanism of melatonin in suppressing ferroptosis and alleviating osteoarthritis. Our findings reveal that melatonin reverses inflammation-induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation while promoting the expression of extracellular matrix components in chondrocytes, safeguarding the cells. Our research has revealed that NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) serves as a crucial molecule in the ferroptosis process of osteoarthritis. Specifically, NOX4 is located on mitochondria in chondrocytes, which can induce disorders in mitochondrial energy metabolism and dysfunction, thereby intensifying oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. LC-MS analysis further uncovered that GRP78 is a downstream binding protein of NOX4. NOX4 induces ferroptosis by weakening GRP78's protective effect on GPX4 and reducing its expression. Melatonin can inhibit the upregulation of NOX4 on mitochondria and mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction, effectively suppressing ferroptosis and alleviating osteoarthritis. This suggests that melatonin therapy represents a promising new approach for the treatment of osteoarthritis. '

Art

I've spent a good deal of time over the years, digging into Earth Clinic, researching alternative strategies for healing various problems. But I only just now discovered these posts regarding the use of topical melatonin. I have a couple of metal rods, either titanium or stainless steel, in my left ankle, surgically implanted to repair a broken ankle, the result of a hiking fall a decade ago. I've had continuing problems for years with that ankle/foot; discolored skin and slight swelling in the area, and more recently add to that now I've developed achilles tendonitis too. Studies I've read indicate some folks have negative reactions to metal implants, so I could be one of those individuals. Looks like melatonin has "strong scavenging abilities", and I'm wondering if it might be able to remedy my problem with my body's apparent chronic reaction to the ankle implants, and save me from ultimately having to get surgery to remove those implants.

A light coating of castor oil, then drops of DMSO to get it absorbed through the skin seem to work wonders for knees.

Hi Alan,

Melatonin does not scavenge or chelate titanium, which may be the metal used in your ankle. Melatonin does however offer anti inflammatory effects that may apply against inflammation caused by titanium as discussed here :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1742706117305330#:~:text=In conclusion, this study confirmed, for peri-implant osteolysis treatment.

Here are two very relevant quotes from the link :

' In this study, we examined the potential inhibitory effects of melatonin on titanium particle-induced inflammatory osteolysis (the destruction of bone tissue through bone resorption) in a murine calvarial model and on RANKL-induced osteoclastic formation in bone marrow-derived macrophages. We found that the exogenous administration of melatonin significantly inhibited wear debris-induced bone resorption and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in vivo. Additionally, melatonin inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, F-actin ring formation, and osteoclastic resorption in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. We also showed that melatonin blocked the phosphorylation of IκB-α and p65, but not IKKα, and significantly inhibited the expression of NFATc1 and c-Fos. However, melatonin had no effect on MAPK or PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. These results provide novel mechanistic insight into the anti-inflammatory and anti-bone resorptive effects of melatonin on wear debris-induced bone loss and provide an evidence-based rationale for the protective effects of melatonin as a treatment for peri-implant osteolysis. '

' Wear debris-induced chronic inflammation, osteoclastic activation and osteoblastic inhibition have been identified as critical factors of peri-implant bone loss. We previously demonstrated that melatonin, a bioactive indolamine secreted mainly by the pineal gland, activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and enhances bone regeneration at osteolytic site in vivo. In the current study, we further demonstrated that melatonin significantly suppresses wear debris-induced bone resorption and inflammatory cytokine expression in vivo. In addition, melatonin inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand induced osteoclast formation and osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro. Meanwhile, we found that melatonin mediates its anti-inflammation and anti-bone resorption effects by abrogating nuclear factor kappa-B activation. These results further support the protective effects of melatonin on wear debris-induced peri-implant bone loss, and strongly suggest that melatonin could be considered as a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of wear debris-induced osteolysis and subsequent aseptic loosening.

Based on this, it seems worth discussing with your doctor whether testing topical melatonin lotion or melatonin gel on your ankle area will be a good option for you to reduce the swelling, inflammation and bone destruction you are experiencing while offering potential bone repair effects as discussed in other studies. If your doctor agrees, here is how to make melatonin lotion :

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/melatonin-lotion.html

And how to make melatonin gel :

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/melatonin-gel.html

Keep us posted on your progress!

Art

Thanks, Art. That's encouraging info. And I wasn't aware of the possibility of actual bone degeneration resulting from these metal implants! I'm waiting for my order of bulk melatonin to arrive in the mail, so I can make gel or lotion. I've been planning to use DMSO 70 % with aloe 30 %. I've used DMSO on my skin previously, so I already know my body can deal with it okay. I'll report here if I find out topical melatonin helps my ankle/foot situation improve.

Here's another question. You're talking about using melatonin applied topically for enlarged prostate. Too late for me. Over a few years, I'd ended up in ER several times for blocked urine flow. Terrifying experience every time! Finally had to be on a urinary catheter 24/7. So I had the surgery in 2019. It was a success in terms of I don't have to end up in ER these days or wear a catheter anymore. However, the procedure did create a new problem. And my research suggests that at least half of the guys who get prostate "resectioning" end up with what I've got. I can still have an erection, and orgasm, however, I don't have semen ejaculating upon orgasm. Instead the ejaculate comes out later during urination. Apparently there's a valve in the bladder that controls this action and that valve must have been either destroyed, damaged, or traumatized during the prostate resectioning procedure. Do you know anything about this problem and could topical melatonin possibly remedy or heal this damage?

Hi Alan,

I believe that that condition is called retrograde ejaculation and is very common after having TURP. There are several medications that can help in only some cases such as imipramine or pseudoephedrine, but that might be worth asking your doctor or urologist about.

This is often caused by nerve, muscle or damage to the sphincter at the bladder neck that can occur during various prostate surgeries or procedures. Since you are going to be using melatonin lotion (ML) on your ankle, you might also try applying to you perineum, rear portion of the scrotum and leg creases adjacent to the scrotum since melatonin has shown potential nerve, muscle and sphincter reparative effects. It seems like a long shot, but it might be worth discussing with your doctor and or urologist to see if they would consider a 3 month trial of twice daily applications.

Art

Hi Art, You are correct, and I had forgotten, "retrograde ejaculation" is the medical term for this condition. And it seems most of the statistics for guys who end up with this problem post-prostate resectioning have had TURP. But I myself didn't have TURP. I had GreenLight Laser. I thought this technology was supposed to be a tad less invasive but it still caused the same damage a bunch of men end up with. I like your idea about trying melatonin lotion to find out if it can heal this surgically-generated condition. I had mentioned that I planned on using DMSO/aloe to make melatonin lotion for this. I'm thinking now though to experiment instead with emu oil instead of DMSO. Some parts of my body will tolerate DMSO while other parts not so much! And apparently emu oil has skin penetration (carrier) ability perhaps similar to DMSO.