The Sleep Hormone Saliva Test
The Sleep hormone test is a non-invasive saliva test that assesses two major causes of insomnia and sleeping disorders, these include imbalances in melatonin and cortisol.
Melatonin is a peptide hormone produced by the pineal gland which helps to control normal sleep patterns. Deficiencies of melatonin can lead to insomnia; however melatonin supplementation can effectively treat this problem if diagnosed correctly. Imbalances in the hormone cortisol can also lead to sleep disturbances which is also covered in this test.
About The Sleep Hormone Test
The test is a simple saliva test that only takes a few minutes, the test can be done right from your home or office and is then sent back to the laboratory in the provided express post bag. The sleep test is measuring your balance of the hormones melatonin and cortisol. The Sleep hormone test is simple, you will receive a saliva test kit in the mail. The test kit comes with:
- All the equipment needed to complete the test
- A full set of instructions
- Express Post bag for overnight return delivery to the laboratory
- Test results are sent to one of our professional health practitioners within 5 business days for evaluation. Our practitioners contact you with the results and recommendations on any findings via email, mail, or phone so you’ll know exactly what you need to do if the results come back positive.
Symptoms of Melatonin Deficiency
- Age-related macular degeneration & Cataracts
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Anxiety
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD & Autism
- Cancer e.g. breast, prostate, brain
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Chemotherapy Side Effects
- Delayed Sleep based syndrome
- Depression
- Headaches
- High Blood Pressure
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Jetlag
- Male Pattern Balding
- Perimenopause
- Shift Work
- Sleep Disturbances
- Tinnitus
- Wrinkles
Insomnia
Insomnia is defined as repeated difficulty with sleep initiation, maintenance, duration, and/or quality of sleep. This occurs despite adequate opportunity and time for sleep, and results in daytime impairment. Mild (transient or short-term) insomnia is known to affect between 30 – 50% of the general population, whilst chronic insomnia has a prevalence of 9 – 15%. This disorder affects energy levels, memory, concentration and problem solving skills. In addition, it has been linked to learning disabilities in children. Sleeplessness not only affects the individual but also produces social stress, lowered employee productivity, and a higher number of accidents. Therefore it is vital that the cause and treatment of insomnia is adequately addressed.
Melatonin, Anti-aging, and Sleep
Melatonin is a peptide hormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland from the amino acid tryptophan. It regulates the body’s circadian rhythms helping to control normal sleep patterns. It is highest in the body at night and lowest during the day. The synthesis of this hormone in humans is stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light. Melatonin supplementation has been used for assisting sleep in insomniacs, shift-workers and those dealing with jetlag. In addition, conditions that are associated with poor sleep, such as Alzheimer’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), irritable bowel syndrome, and depression, are also assisted by melatonin use.
Results show that melatonin decreases the time to get to sleep (lag-phase), whilst increasing the amount of time a person stays asleep.
Cortisol, The Stress Hormone
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that is essential for life. It is produced by the adrenal glands and is often referred to as the “stress hormone”, since it is raised by stress and involved in the body’s response to it.
Cortisol is involved in many functions of the body including central nervous system (CNS) stimulation, blood sugar regulation, and immune system modulation. When deficiencies or excess of this steroid hormone occur many symptoms and health conditions are experienced. Addison’s disease and Cushing’s disease are the most well-known conditions associated with cortisol deficiency and excess respectively. Although they are life-threatening
diseases, they are rare. More mild adrenal imbalances however may be more common and give rise to many health complaints. For more information see the adrenal function test profiles.
