The
sleep-wake cycle of the pineal gland becomes disrupted as we
increasingly eat, socialize and sleep not questioning the
psychological and physical effects of our pre-occupations. In trying
to keep up with the schedules of the day it becomes increasingly
difficult to switch-off the problems of the outside world we take
home affecting domestic commitments.
“Surely
in the daytime you have prolonged occupation” (Surat ul
Muzzammil 73:7).
This
implies that there is counter-balance in the night to daily
preoccupations. What could be achieved in the evenings could sustain
and nourish us into the day. However, we use artificial light to
extend those pre-occupations. Once the daylight ends, the pineal
gland goes into increased production of melatonin. By extending
light artificially to levels of and above 500lux we impede its
production. A darkened room with a 100watt bulb provides 100lux
if we are five feet away. This doesn’t compromise the release of
melatonin.
Factors
Affecting Melatonin Production
Factors
in our working lives can affect melatonin production. Electric
utility workers based at a generation station were found to have
reduced melatonin levels being exposed to electro-magnetic fields.
Their colleagues in the administrative section working under 60hz of
alternating current working in low light offices in the daytime also
had reduced nighttime melatonin levels (Penton p.1).
Other
elements also compromise the pineal gland like tranquilizers,
beta-blockers, calcium channel blocking drugs, sleeping pills like
benzodiazepines, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory
Drugs like Ibuprofen and excessive (3mg daily) intake of
Vitamin B-12 (Nedley p.6, 7).
Night-time
Praying
The
question of the purpose of sleep continues to haunt scientists. In
vibrational medicine, one hour of sleep balances each chakra, with a
minimum of three hours in total for really healthy people. For the
really healthy, three hours is all that is needed by the higher
chakras, which in turn balances the four lower ones (Gurudas p.60).
So what do we do with the rest of the night?
“Rise
for prayer in the night, except a little, Half of it or less. Or add
to it – and recite the Qur’an in slow, measured, rhythmic
tones” (Muzzammil 73:2-4).
Fadhlalla
Haeri informs us that these verses tell us to take what we need for
rest and if we rise from rest there is balance in it. “Surely
rising in the night is stronger in impact, and straighter in speech
(Muzzammil 73:6). He continues saying that ‘Nashiatul-layl’
is the maximum darkness during which one’s sleep is sound, the
energies are low, and the field of reflection is clear and empty.
This part of the night has the best results (Haeri p.12-14).
The part
of our body that functions in this capacity is the pineal gland. In
the Indian tradition, it is the Seat of Consciousness, the seventh
energy point, the Crown Chakra. The pituitary and the pineal gland
work in unison through relaxation and meditation which Rasulullah
(saw) practiced much before The Revelation. Flashes of intuition
occur with increased practice, raising consciousness from an
emotional nature to awareness. Haeri continues, “when we go into sajdah
our individual profiles are obliterated when performed meditatively.
We are in Tawhid (unity) echoing the cosmic
expansion” (Haeri p.38). In Indian tradition the seventh chakra
spiritualizes the intellect and is associated with the personal
ability to integrate with Allah (swt). Then spiritual fulfillment is
able to resolve negative emotions.
The
Pineal Gland
When the
sun sets, the pineal gland shifts gear and produces its primary
hormone melatonin in larger quantities until it peaks from 2 –
3.00a.m in the morning (Majidali p.7). It is a derivative of the
amino acid trytophan, and rises and falls daily within our blood
according to the circadian cycle (Ultranet p.1). This cycle sets the
biological clocks, turns on the immune system and inhibits tumor
promoters like estrogen (Penton p.1) Jet-lag is a disturbance in
this cycle (Sleep p.7).
The
center of navigation in birds and other animals, the light sensitive
pineal gland produces the hormones: melatonin, epithalamin,
serotonin, vasotonin and melanin. Epithalamin is related to our
learning capacity and slows aging; serotonin has a strong influence
on sleep, pain and well being and vasotonin is related to rapid deep
sleep (Gates p.1). The hormone antigonadotropin suppresses ovulation
(Medic p.8). Melatonin regulates the sleep-wake cycle and inhibits
sex hormones before puberty. In addition, Jordanian scientist Samer
Hattar’s recent research has discovered that a single protein cell
–melanopsin- in the retina seems to detect light by which the
human body’s internal clock is reset. (Hattar p.1).
Modern-day
Living and Melatonin Production
|
|
|
Melatonin
production is reduced by late-night TV viewing.
|
The 1995
National Sleep Foundation polls revealed that half of American
adults have sleeping problems at one time or another. Habits like
drinking alcohol too late, exercising before bedtime, sleeping at
different times, concentrating on work before trying to sleep and
shift work are contributory factors (NSF p.4). In addition,
production of melatonin is reduced by excessive
exposure
to artificial light, late-night T.V viewing, electromagnetic fields,
chemical pollutants like pesticides and beta-blockers for heart
disease, high blood pressure and headaches. Studies indicate
that even the most modest exposure to extended light stresses our
bodies, accelerates aging and debilitates the immune and nervous
systems.
Caffeine
in coffee, black tea and certain types of sodas reduce melatonin
jeopardizing its natural antioxidants, which are vital to cell
protection during waking hours. Yet it must be said it is the
quality not the quantity of sleep that restores and rejuvenates the
body.
In
children, melatonin levels are 120 picograms dropping to 60
picograms at ages 20 – 30. Seen as a ‘youth drug’ store
bought melatonin has reportedly caused fatigue, depression and
arterial constriction (NSF p.2, 3). In England and Canada, it is
considered a drug and only obtainable by prescription. The FDA
has yet to remove it from US health stores.
Modest
food restrictions increase the number of melatonin receptors in the
body, so short-term fasting is seen as a plus increasing day-time
plasma melatonin levels to night-time levels (Majidali p.2, 7, 12).
One can also increase one’s melatonin levels naturally from foods
like oats which contains 1,796 picograms, sweet corn at 1,366
picograms, rice at 1,006 picograms, ginger at 583 picograms and
barley at 378 picograms (Gates p. 1, 2).
In
vibrational medicine when the chakras are aligned and balanced there
is a greater appetite for food in its natural state and greater
sensitivity to the chemical environment that man has created for
himself (Gurudas p.170). However, Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri reminds us,
“All it takes is purification and awareness of our intentions, and
then our intentions unify with our actions, then we are in tawhid
(unity) with Allah (swt) and ikhlas (sincerity).”
Sources:
-
Gates, Jeffrey.
“Getting
Melatonin Naturally”. 1-3. Archives.
NewCenturyNutrition.com. 12/24/01.
-
Gurudas. “Gem
Elixirs and Vibrational Healing. Vol.II”. USA: Cassandra
Press. 1986.
-
Haeri, Fadhlalla.
“Nuradeen”. Britain: Zahra Publications. 1983.
-
Hattar, Saad. G.
“Jordanian Scientist Determines Single Cell Could Control
Body’s Internal Clock”. Jordanian
-
Times.
06/07/02. 2. Middleeastwire.com. 07/11/02.
-
Herbspace.com.
“The
Glandular System”. 5. 12/26/01.
-
Majidali.com.
“The
Age of Estrogen Overdrive”. Rats, Drugs and Assumptions.
1-9. 12/26/01.
-
Medic-Planet.com.
“
Hormonal System”. 1-9. Medic-Planet.com. 12/26/01.
Article.
-
planet.com/MP_articleNSF.
“Melatonin:
The Facts”. 1-11. Publications. National Sleep
Foundation. 10/10/01.
-
Nedley, Neil.
“Melatonin:
Miracle or Magic?’ 11/1/96. 1 – 9. Medical Reporter.
12/2401.
-
Penton Media
Inc. “Electric
Magnetic Fields Reduce Melatonin”. Oct’99. 1.
Nutrition Science News. News, Healthwellexchange.com.
10/10/01.
-
Ultranet.com.
“Melatonin
and the Pineal Gland.” 1. Biology. 10/13/01.
Read
Also:
Hwaa Irfan is a staff writer for
Health and Science section of Islamonline.net.
