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Melatonin, Neptune, and The Moon

Connecting The Science & Spirituality on Sleep


Happy Full Moon in Pisces, everyone!

Preface

This work would not have been possible if I did not stumble upon the work and wisdom of Dr. Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS. I encourage everyone to find every and any podcast she’s been on, and listen to her speak about melatonin, which she calls a Circadian Nutrient. Please follow her on IG, and buy literally any of her books- they are life-altering.

If you have not read the Introductory to the Holographic Herbal post, I recommend doing so! If you are new to astrology and chakras, you may become lost. The Introductory Post walks you through how I use color, intuition, astrology and anatomy, and phytonutrients in one healing practice for Body Literacy and Intuitive Eating.

Moreover, check out my previous blog post called Tarot & Astrological Archetypes for the Menstrual Cycle, where I walked us through each phase of the four phases of the menstrual cycle, and connected the astrological and tarot archetypes to them!

In the Hormone Edition, where I looked at the Tarot & Astrological Archetypes of the Hormones of the Menstrual Cycle, we looked at the following hormones:

☁️ Progesterone

💟 Estrogen 

☀️ Androgen/Testosterone

🔥 Cortisol

Today, we’re going to learn about:

🌊 Melatonin

Lastly, remember that the information found on this blog post, across this blog website, and any associated social media profiles is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not meant to replace advice provided by licensed professionals, and astrology is not intended to diagnose illnesses or prescribe treatments. Do not self-diagnose. You can cause serious harm to yourself. Please work with a licensed professional. For more information, please see my Terms & Conditions Page.


Here’s what we learn in this post:

  • Neptune & The Moon

  • Deities of Neptune and The Moon

  • What is Melatonin?

  • Where is it produced?

  • Is it Safe to Take as a Supplement?

  • Further Connecting Melatonin to Neptunian Energy

  • Conclusion: Natural Melatonin?

  • How to Implement This Information


What is Neptunian & Lunar Energy?

If you’re new to astrology or tarot, then this blog post might be difficult to follow. So, let’s walk through some of Neptune’s significations in Astrology, and tie some of that into The Moon’s tarot card [and maybe through some Lunar Astrology lore in there, too].

Neptune

Neptune is a god in Roman Mythology, and his Greek equivalent is Poseidon. In Western Astrology, Neptune is the planet that co-rules Pisces along with Jupiter. It represents illusions, dreams, fantasies, deceit, escapism, magic, mysticism, spirituality, and psychic abilities. It is named after the Roman God of the Sea, but if you correlate the God Neptune with other Sea and Ocean Gods, we can maybe even tie in some fertility significations into Neptune’s energy. The ocean and water were symbols of fertility, and was said to be the creation of humans in some cultures. The Mesopotamian God Ea was a God of Water, Creation, Fertility, and Magic. It is said the Sumerian counterpart, Enki, was also a God of Water, Fertility, Creation, and Sorcery. Enki was said to have been part goat and part fish, and this is the God that the Zodiacal figure of Capricorn was created from.

On the other hand, Neptune has been associated with the Artist Archetype, the Escapist Archetype, and the Martyr Archetype. Because of Neptune’s “escapism” qualities, Astrologers find that, depending on the chart, Neptune can express addiction of various kinds in a natal chart. The Martyr Archetype comes in with Christianity’s Jesus Christ, making note that both Poseidon and Jesus are connected to symbols of fish, ocean, and water. Jesus turned water into wine, he is connected to the Sea of Galilee, and was said to have walked on water. The stories from the bible tell us that Jesus essentially sacrificed his life for humankind. Ironically, Pisces is related to humanity as a whole, and how we are all connected to each other. It can also describe someone who makes sacrifices for their people, despite their own energy reserves. The Artist Archetype should be an easy archetype to understand with Neptune’s fantasy qualities. Depending on the natal chart, Neptune can express the ability to create “worlds”, fantasies, and to “escape” into another realm. Therefore, Neptune is associated with poetry, world-building in fantasy novels, video game lore and gameplay [who else escapes into Skyrim?], and even escaping into a “lie” or fantasy- one in which an entire lore was created to bolster it to make it seem real [illusion, deceit].

I’m not going to focus too much about the mythology and lore behind the above information, but I’ve just mentioned it all just so you get a grasp of Neptune’s flowy, creative, and dreamy energy. It is also said that Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, and Aphrodite, the Greek equivalent of Venus, was said to have been born from the foam of the sea. To learn more about Neptune, check out this post I wrote about it!

The Moon

Luna’s energy has been talked about on this blog in several blog posts. I consider myself a diurnal person, and approaching Womb Magic on Luna’s terms has been a new experience for me. The Moon is not just a celestial luminary, but many, many Goddesses have been called the Living Embodiment of The Moon. With that being said, to expand on Luna’s lore, mythos, and significations would require writing a book.

In Medical Astrology, The Moon rules our bodily fluids, the womb [especially when pregnant], the breasts, memory, and the pituitary gland. In both Western and Jyotish Astrology, The Moon represents reflection, memory, nostalgia, the body, emotions, home and family, motherhood, nurturing and nourishing, adaptability [since The Moon changes sign every couple of days], intuition, and creativity. Hecate, Selene, and Artemis are the most common Moon Goddesses that are often talked about. Diana is the Roman equivalent to Artemis, and Luna is the Roman equivalent to Selene. Ix Chel is a Mayan Goddess that, like Hecate, was linked to The Moon and the crossroads. Máni is the Personified Moon God in the Norse Myths. Ngame, an African Goddess of Bantu mythology, was the Triple Goddess of The Moon, and she was a Creatrix Deity. Tiv was an Etruscan Deity who was both male and female, just like most of the Etruscan Pantheon. Their name was engraved on the back of The Liver of Piacenza along with Usil, the Solar Deity. Their name means “Bright One”.

In the tarot, The Moon card represents illusion, mystery, unresolved fears, the unconscious, phases, intuition, dreams, sensitivity, and psychic abilities. It encourages us to dive deep into the unconscious, or into a situation with many layers and facets to reveal the truth. It asks us to approach life with recognition of the “shadowy” and mysterious nature of life, and lean into our intuition.

So, now that we have a good basis of understanding the esoteric symbology and representations of Neptune and The Moon, let’s dive into the science of melatonin, and merge the science with our spiritual practice.

What is Melatonin, and How Does it Relate to Neptunian & Lunar Energies?

Melatonin is an endogenous [naturally occurs in our bodies] hormone and indolamine [neurotransmitter] with pleiotropic properties. Melatonin has a hypnotic or soporific effect, meaning it initiates sleep. It is also found in plants and animals. For humans and animals, it is produced in the pineal gland at night when we are submerged in complete darkness. Our gut also produces melatonin. In fact, our gut produces 400x more melatonin than our pineal gland. In Medical Astrology, the pineal gland is ruled by Pisces. Neptune represents sleep, dreams, and fantasies. I relate this hypnotic effect to Neptune. As for the gut, or stomach, Cancer and The Moon rule this part of the body in Medical Astrology.

Where is it Produced in Plants and Animals?

In plants, like alfalfa and tart cherries, melatonin is found in the reproductive portions, as it serves as a growth factor for the production of phytochemicals in those plants. In 1958, melatonin was extracted from the pineal gland of animals, and it was concentrated from that extract. It, however, became expensive to manufacture, and companies began to chemically synthesize melatonin, making the production and manufacturing affordable. I find it interesting that melatonin is found in the reproductive parts of plants, as The Moon rules the womb in Medical Astrology. So, there is this Neptunian/Lunar Energy that melatonin resonates at.

What Does it Do?

One of melatonin’s pleiotropic expressions is that it is an antioxidant, and one of its main roles is not just to make us sleepy, but to detoxify the body at night. This is why it is so crucial for us to get enough sleep, and establish a healthy sleep schedule. Sleep allows our brain to detoxify, and to reset the glymphatic system [the system which acts as our waste clearance] [1]. During sleep, the brain drains its cerebrospinal fluid, and shrinks about 40% its size, releasing those toxins into the glymphatic system. Melatonin is also anti-inflammatory. Neuroinflammation, or inflammation of the brain, actually inhibits sleep. It is melatonin’s ability to promote the exit of toxic metabolites from the brain into the fluid around the brain, otherwise known as the glymphatic fluid. Therefore, I give melatonin to Neptune [and The Moon Tarot] energies due to the fact that it is amphiphilic [water-soluble and fat-soluble]. Melatonin can cross the blood-brain barrier [2, 3], meaning it can be found in the blood and in the brain. This amphiphilic property reminds me of Neptune’s “dissolution of boundaries” significations. You can read more about the blog I wrote about Neptune’s dissolution of boundaries here. The discovery of the glymphatic system is new, and therefore does not have an astrological government. Considering that it involves the brain, the central nervous system, and neurofluid, there are some Aries, Pisces, Neptune, Moon, and Aquarius rulerships. Another blog post for another day.

Is it Safe to Take As a Supplement?

Firstly, let’s address the fact that people take hormones for different reasons to begin with. We should not judge people for taking synthetic hormones, full stop. When working with a licensed professional, taking melatonin as a supplement should not inhibit the production of endogenous melatonin. Secondly, vitamin D is also a hormone with a hormone receptor in our bodies, but you don’t hear anyone talking about the dangers of vitamin D supplementation [unless when referencing excess amounts]. Vitamin D, just like melatonin, is pleiotropic. Together, vitamin D and melatonin serve as Circadian Nutrients. Whereas vitamin D is connected to the sun, and we get our vitamin D through sun exposure on the skin, melatonin is connected to darkness, and it is the darkness which prompts the production of melatonin. Therefore, these two hormones should be supported and utilized to establish a healthy circadian rhythm, as they set the tone for this 24-hour cycle. Vitamin D deficiency is connected to deficient melatonin levels [4]. Dr. Deanna Minich says that melatonin is the shadow of vitamin D. Increasing vitamin D intake may help to increase melatonin levels. As the day gets darker and turns into evening, we start to produce more melatonin, but we need those cues from the sun and from the darkness to produce these hormones. We need light, and we need darkness. It is akin to the Solar God Helios and his sister Selene, who are The Sun and The Moon personified in the Greek Mythos. We are aware of the benefits of sunlight and vitamin D, but now it is time to face the darkness.

The common synthetic melatonin supplement contains contaminants that overwork the liver. According to Dr. Deanna Minich, one study done in 2018 showed that there were a total of 13 different contaminants in synthetic melatonin supplements [5]. These chemically synthesized melatonin supplements come with contaminants that are not beneficial for the body [6], making it harder for the liver to break down melatonin. In fact, melatonin is broken down in the liver by enzymes CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP2C19, which are cytochrome-P450 enzymes. Then, it forms into 6-hydroxymelatonin. Lastly, it is excreted by the kidneys as 6-glucuronylmelatonin and 6-hydroxymelatonin. Cytochrome-P450 enzymes are membrane-bound hemoproteins [7]. These enzymes function to detoxify the body of xenobiotics, which are chemical substances that are not produced in the body [8]. The liver is ruled by both Jupiter and Venus. Jupiter co-rules Pisces along with Neptune, and Venus is exalted in the sign of Pisces.

Furthermore, it has been suggested by Dr. Minich that, due to the fact that the liver metabolizes melatonin, it should be taken on an empty stomach 40-60 minutes before you are in bed [9]. The peak times for the liver’s detoxification process are between 6pm - 6am, where it is in its oscillation mode [10]. Between the hours of 2 - 4am, our body is in detox. Again, this is why sleeping is so important. This window of time is when both melatonin and glutathione peak, and both are antioxidants. It has been proposed that if we wake up during the 2 -4 am window, that this is a sign there is something inhibiting the detox process in this window. Most perimenopausal and menopausal people tend to wake up during this time due to the low levels of progesterone, estrogen, and melatonin.

Melatonin is produced in ample amounts in our younger years, but hormones decline with age no matter who we are, unfortunately. We are aware of perimenopause, menopause, andropause, and now we have a term for the decline of melatonin as we age into our 50s: Melatonapause, coined by Dr. Dicken Weatherby. One study [11] confirmed that melatonin rises in the 2nd half of the Luteal Phase, which is likely due to progesterone’s dominance in this phase. When we are in our menopausal phase, estrogen, progesterone, and melatonin decrease. Melatonin reduces our core body temperature, and when we are deficient in melatonin, menopausal symptoms of night sweats can occur. Other womb/hormonal conditions in which estrogen and progesterone are out of balance can also alter the regulation of melatonin as well. It has been proposed that both melatonin and progesterone serve as hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle together [12], and can give some answers as to why estrogen, progesterone, and melatonin decline during perimenopause and postmenopause. One study [13] expressed that melatonin can actually help regulate the menstrual cycle, correct hormonal imbalances, and improve oocyte and embryo quality for people with PCOS. There is something here about sleep quality, womb health, and hormones that are connected, and I hope more research is done to connect all three together. Insomnia can cause imbalance to hormone production, and increase cortisol levels, depression, and stress [14].

If you have not heard about melatonin pre-2020, then you definitely heard of it due to the COVID-19 Virus, as it is being prescribed for long-term COVID [15]. One of the long-term effects of this virus is that it damages nerve cells [16], and melatonin serves as a growth factor for nerve cells. Interestingly, it is also being prescribed to perimenopausal people. Because of its amphiphilic expression that I noted earlier, melatonin can be “everywhere” in the body, and therefore can address inflammation in the gut, brain, and blood. It further supports a high antioxidant status in the body, and according to Dr. Minich, 1 molecule of melatonin can quench 10 free radicals [17]. Moreover, when in the gut, it addresses interaction with immune cells, thereby supporting the immune system.

Conclusion

Are There Ways to Get Melatonin Naturally?

The short answer is yes, but it would take large amounts of certain fruits, vegetables, and nuts to get the amount we need to feel an effect. Tart cherries are the common fruit mentioned in conversations of natural melatonin. However, it would take many, many servings of these cherries to feel sleepy. A couple of herbs that have been found to contain melatonin are feverfew [Tanacetum parthenium] and St John's wort [Hypericum perforatum]. English Herbalist and Astrologer, Nicholas Culpeper [1616-1654], gave feverfew to Venus. As mentioned before, in Western Astrology, it is said that Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, and just to reiterate: Venus exalts in Neptune’s sign of Pisces. On the other hand, Culpeper gave St. John’s Wort to Leo and The Sun. This might be a stretch, but there is some connection between Neptune and The Sun through the Lore and Mythology of Christianity’s Christ Consciousness. Leo and The Sun represent The Sovereign, The King, and The Exalted. Neptune is connected to sacrifice, dissolving boundaries [rising from the dead], karma, and spirituality. Again, just be mindful that it would take large amounts of these plants to get the required dosage of melatonin, and that could be detrimental and/or fatal. Do not attempt it. A plant-based melatonin, called Herbatonin, has been suggested by Dr. Minich. It is extracted from alfalfa, chlorella, and rice. Because it only contains the three ingredients without any synthetic additives, the liver can break this type of melatonin down, and therefore assimilate the melatonin with ease. 

Dr. Minich gives melatonin to the green spectrum, because Herbatonin is literally green due to the chlorella and alfalfa. Green is connected to the Heart Chakra. Green is also connected to Libra, who is ruled by Venus. I’ve mentioned this in my Phytonutrients for Venus post, but we now know that the heart is a neuroendocrine gland that affects hormone balance, just as much as it regulates blood flow [18]. To learn more about Astrology, Color, and Chakras, please visit The Introductory Post to the Holographic Herbal.

I moved to the UK in 2021, and was disappointed when I found out that you cannot buy melatonin over the counter here. It must be prescribed by a doctor. If you live in a country where melatonin is unavailable, I would first work on getting sunlight as soon as you wake up. Other ways to get more vitamin D intake could be from fish, meat, milk, and mushrooms [19]. Spend your mornings eating your breakfast under the sun. When evening arrives, dim your lights, or turn them off completely. Use candles [battery-operated or real] to light your home. This signals your pineal gland to produce melatonin, and ease your way into sleep. Finish eating three hours before bed, and make sure to stick to a Nighttime or Sleep ritual that feels right to you. This information is also useful for Dreamwork, Dream Magic, and Lucid Dreaming- not just health and wellness!

How Do I Implement This Information?

My hypothesis, considering the above information provided by Dr. Deanna Minich, is that if we increase our sun exposure [directly onto our skin] as soon as we wake up, this will prompt our circadian rhythm to follow the natural cycle of the sun and darkness. When I wake up in the morning, I make sure to eat something, but I take it outside and eat it in my garden. Afterwards, I take a 45-minute walk while drinking tea. This has helped me to correct my circadian cycle. I also make sure to stop eating after 6pm, and get in bed by 9pm. The thought here is that if sleep is our detoxification state, and melatonin and glutathione peak during 2 - 4am, then why would I inhibit my body’s overall detox process by giving it food to digest, when it should be accessing and draining toxins? Furthermore, the only time the brain drains glymphatic fluid is when we are sleeping. It cannot drain this fluid in our waking state. If we are waking up fuzzy and groggy, then it is possible that our brain is being blocked during its detoxification process while we sleep, meaning something is in its way.

For this Full Moon in Pisces, I encourage you to sit with yourself, craft a meaningful, attainable, and gentle sleep schedule and ritual that you can adhere to. If you can grab some Herbatonin, I totally would, and make this a part of your sleep ritual.


Resources:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ea

[1] - Jessen NA, Munk AS, Lundgaard I, Nedergaard M. The Glymphatic System: A Beginner's Guide. Neurochem Res. 2015 Dec;40(12):2583-99. doi: 10.1007/s11064-015-1581-6. Epub 2015 May 7. PMID: 25947369; PMCID: PMC4636982.

[2, 5, 9, 10, 15, 18] - Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS

[3] - Tan, Dun-Xian. “Melatonin and brain.” Current neuropharmacology vol. 8,3 (2010): 161. doi:10.2174/157015910792246263

[4] - Romano F, Muscogiuri G, Di Benedetto E, Zhukouskaya VV, Barrea L, Savastano S, Colao A, Di Somma C. Vitamin D and Sleep Regulation: Is there a Role for Vitamin D? Curr Pharm Des. 2020;26(21):2492-2496. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200310145935. PMID: 32156230.

[6] - Tuft C, Matar E, Menczel Schrire Z, Grunstein RR, Yee BJ, Hoyos CM. Current Insights into the Risks of Using Melatonin as a Treatment for Sleep Disorders in Older Adults. Clin Interv Aging. 2023 Jan 12;18:49-59. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S361519. PMID: 36660543; PMCID: PMC9842516.

[7, 8] - Manikandan P, Nagini S. Cytochrome P450 Structure, Function and Clinical Significance: A Review. Curr Drug Targets. 2018;19(1):38-54. doi: 10.2174/1389450118666170125144557. PMID: 28124606.

[11, 12] - Greendale GA, Witt-Enderby P, Karlamangla AS, Munmun F, Crawford S, Huang M, Santoro N. Melatonin Patterns and Levels During the Human Menstrual Cycle and After Menopause. J Endocr Soc. 2020 Aug 27;4(11):bvaa115. doi: 10.1210/jendso/bvaa115. PMID: 33094207; PMCID: PMC7566378.

[13] - Mojaverrostami S, Asghari N, Khamisabadi M, Heidari Khoei H. The role of melatonin in polycystic ovary syndrome: A review. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2019 Dec 30;17(12):865-882. doi: 10.18502/ijrm.v17i12.5789. PMID: 31970309; PMCID: PMC6943797.

[14] - Hirotsu C, Tufik S, Andersen ML. Interactions between sleep, stress, and metabolism: From physiological to pathological conditions. Sleep Sci. 2015 Nov;8(3):143-52. doi: 10.1016/j.slsci.2015.09.002. Epub 2015 Sep 28. PMID: 26779321; PMCID: PMC4688585.

[16] - Coronavirus and the Nervous System | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

[17] - Cardinali DP, Brown GM, Pandi-Perumal SR. Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID. Biomolecules. 2022 Nov 7;12(11):1646. doi: 10.3390/biom12111646. PMID: 36358996; PMCID: PMC9687267.

[19] - Jäpelt RB, Jakobsen J. Vitamin D in plants: a review of occurrence, analysis, and biosynthesis. Front Plant Sci. 2013 May 13;4:136. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00136. PMID: 23717318; PMCID: PMC3651966.


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