Psychology Today | 02.11.2026 14:24
Melatonin is widely known as the substance that makes us sleepy. It is commonly used as an over-the-counter sleep aid to treat jet lag and bouts of insomnia. However, new research shows that melatonin plays a wider role in maintaining overall health. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant that can prevent tissue damage. Evidence suggests it could help ward off certain types of cancer (Proietti, Reiter & Bizzarriet, 2012). It plays an essential role in the immune system’s ability to fight infections and heal from injuries (Szataniak & Packi, 2025; Singh et al., 2024).
