Topical Melatonin Lotion for Pain Relief: Recipe + Success Stories

Hello Earth Clinic, I am not able to find any melatonin powder. Just wondering if anyone knows where to order it from? Regards

Hi Hollyhock,

Thank you for the feedback!

When applying to the neck, testers have reported best effects by applying all the way up to the top of the neck, above the hairline to the base of the skull.

I tried applying the lotion to my face, but it really irritated my eyes. The aloe/melatonin mix did not irritate my eyes at all when applying to the face area around the eyes.

Art

Thanks Art! I would say it only has helped a little, but it does have a relaxing effect (I only use it at night before bed). I also apply some on my neck, which gives me trouble, and it relaxes that area. I will continue using it for such benefit! I never thought about applying to my face, I will give that a try as well! Thank you for the idea and the recipe!

Hi Hollyhock,

Thank you for the feedback on using Aloe Vera Gel as a substitute for Cetaphil lotion to make melatonin lotion. I make the same aloe/melatonin mix because I can apply it to my face without irritating my eyes. Melatonin is considered beneficial for the skin among its many attributes and aloe gel has shown the ability to act as a transdermal penetration enhancer while also being beneficial for the skin, so the two together seems like they should be more beneficial for the skin than either one alone. I am satisfied with the aloe/melatonin combo for my face but I haven't written about it previously on EC.

I still use the Cetaphil mix also because it can be more moisturizing in areas of application over dry skin.

I remember you saying you were going to make the lotion about four months ago, but I never saw your feedback. Did it help your hip and back pains and have you found any other uses for it?

Thank you again for the feedback!

Art

I've been using the clear aloe vera gel available in stores. It works nicely. :)

Hi Dawna,

I just used Cetaphil because it has been around for a long time and is readily available, but I think most lotions will work. Be sure to completely dissolve the melatonin in the gin before adding the lotion to the bottle.

Art

Hi Art, Does it have to be used with Cetaphil or can I use any lotion?

Thanks,

Dawna

Hi Peter,

Two reasons why applying sparingly is a good idea is that applying sparingly will be effective and some people are very sensitive to melatonin and applying generously can cause varying degrees of tiredness during the day in those who are sensitive. Applying sparingly helps avoid this issue and also makes your bottle of lotion last much longer.

I am not particularly sensitive to melatonin and can apply the lotion heavily without problem, but to me that is just wasteful unless you are trying to fight something systemically such as cancer because topically applied melatonin can definitely go systemic.

If the generous application you are using does not cause you to feel tired during the day, that is a very good indication for you for the future should you ever need to reach high systemic levels of melatonin for another reason not related to pain, but in the meantime, probably a little wasteful.

Peter, I have a few questions for you as your feedback is very helpful.

1. How effective are you finding melatonin lotion as a pain reliever?

2. What areas of your body have you used it on so far?

3. Is your wife also using it and what is she using it for?

The reason for question number 3 is since topically applied melatonin goes systemic in a way that oral melatonin can not, it can help protect the kidneys from multiple insults as discussed here :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10047594/#:~:text=Melatonin also plays a direct, ATP production and protects mitochondria.

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

' The process of kidney degeneration is often an implication of the frequent prevalence of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and obesity. Melatonin has been proven to have beneficial effects in all of these complications. Melatonin also plays a direct renoprotective role. Moreover, it can be helpful in almost every type of kidney injury because inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress occur without regard to the mechanism. Melatonin regulates mitochondrial metabolism and ATP production and protects mitochondria. It inactivates free radicals by attaching one or more electrons and thus reduces oxidative stress. Due to these mechanisms, melatonin enables normal mitochondrial functions and protects patients from subsequent apoptotic implications and the death of kidney cells. '

In addition melatonin has also shown the ability to protect pancreatic beta cells which is important in diabetes as discussed here :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9189213/#:~:text=Melatonin succeeded in protecting β, for diabetes management and treatment.

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

' Melatonin acted as an anti-inflammatory agent that reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-12) and oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA). Melatonin succeeded in protecting β cells under severe inflammatory situations, which was apparent by the regeneration of islets of Langerhans in treated diabetic rats. Moreover, these results can open a gate for diabetes management and treatment.'

Diabetes is well known to increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and melatonin works to help reduce this risk as discussed here :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8929360/

Here is a relevant quote :

' Diabetic cardiovascular complications and impaired cardiac function are considered to be the main causes of death in diabetic patients worldwide, especially patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). An increasing number of studies have shown that melatonin, as the main product secreted by the pineal gland, plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of diabetes. Melatonin improves myocardial cell metabolism, reduces vascular endothelial cell death, reverses microcirculation disorders, reduces myocardial fibrosis, reduces oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, regulates cell autophagy and apoptosis, and improves mitochondrial function, all of which are the characteristics of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). This review focuses on the role of melatonin in DCM. We also discuss new molecular findings that might facilitate a better understanding of the underlying mechanism.'

Art

Art, I have user generous portion for neck and. back pain. Is there problem use generous portion?

Hi M-L Bloch,

Thank you so much for the suggestion regarding B17.

I will definitely try it! I wish I were in Sunny Zurich. We don't have many sunny days in Michigan in winter. Thanks again, Carol

Hi whitebeach,

My friends used the term sparingly when describing how they were applying it. It will depend on the area you are applying it to, but as a basic example, when applying to the neck, just slightly larger than a pea size daube of the lotion covers the back of the neck. Once you apply that amount to the neck, you get a feel for just how much lotion is needed for just about any area of the body you will be covering. It is just enough to rub around the area and it is quickly dry. By the way, because the lotion is liquid and tends to flow, a pea size, if left to sit for a moment is the approximate diameter of a dime once it has finished flowing.

This same amount will also cover the back of the hand including the back of the fingers. Start with one application per day and then add a second application only if needed.

The aim is to use the least amount as possible and spread it around the selected area before it dries. I hope this answers your question.

Art

Hi Art, you say use a small amount of topical melatonin but can you describe what a small amount may be?

A new study came out today that shows that in spinal injuries above T8, normal melatonin secretion is negatively affected to various degrees. This suggests that melatonin lotion may be a useful tool in directly helping to restore this diminished melatonin secretion for use by the spine. Here is a link to the abstract of that study :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38347109/

Here is a relevant quote from the study :

' Comparing retained vs abolished secretion, only 23% (4/17) of patients with a lesion above T8 retained melatonin secretion, compared to 80% (4/5) with a lesion below T8 (p = 0.022). '

Art

Hi Peter,

Thank you for adding your results with melatonin lotion for your wife to this thread. Always good to hear how it is working for people.

I think in the long run, you will get a better total effect by substituting melatonin lotion for topical naproxen because melatonin has shown potential reparative effects compared to naproxen which only has pain relieving effects. I also am seeing that the melatonin lotion has cumulative effects with regular use that may ultimately exceed naproxen's pain relieving effects. A very important point about melatonin lotion that I have not discussed yet on EC is that it goes systemic in such a way that it may be more beneficial than high dose oral melatonin for our health. I will discuss that point more in a future post, but this feature of melatonin lotion is very important for our health in many ways.

If you want to continue using naproxen anyway, then gin will also work as the solvent, but I would take melatonin lotion any day over naproxen topical mix that I mentioned to you months ago.

Continued improved health to you and your wife!

Art

Art, I have used more than 10 times on my wife before this response. I have used on her back, neck and knee pain. It works! Also your naproxen with Alcohol works too. Thanks Peter

Can I substitute Alcohol (70%) with GIN to mix with naproxen?

Hi Gary,

I am very happy that your wife was able to relieve her trigger finger issue and pain so quickly! Please tell your wife she is welcome! Thank you, Gary, for coming back to let us know about another benefit from melatonin lotion as the list is growing fairly quickly!

Art

Hi Art

My wife wants to tell you that using your lotion in 4 days healed her trigger finger.

Thanks a bunch

Gary

How To Get Melatonin Powder In The UK To Use For Melatonin Lotion

Recently I came across a bulk supplier in the UK that sells melatonin powder. Here is a link to that supplier:

https://rawpowders.co.uk/melatonin-powder

I'm not sure why, but it takes a long time for their website to load and open.

I had recommended this supplier to an acquaintance in the UK and they said they received quick service and would buy from them again, so I thought I would share the link since melatonin powder seems harder to obtain in the UK compared to the US.

Art

Hi Frances

The same in Switzerland, we get it only after 65 years old. I order it at

iherb, usa

rgs from ZUrich

Hi Carol

Do not forget B17, that should help cancer.

rgs from sunny Zurich, Switzerland

Recently an acquaintance, from the UK, who had fallen backwards and hit their neck against a plastic bucket and was in significant pain which the specialist felt might be damage to the spinal cord, asked if I had any suggestions that might help. My suggestion was to give consideration to melatonin lotion since melatonin has shown in multiple studies to have beneficial effects for various spinal issues as I wrote about here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/melatonin-spine-health.html

And here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/topical-melatonin-pain-relief-success-stories.html

That was about 2 months ago and yesterday this acquaintance wrote to tell me this :

' Hi there. An update. Have used your treatment and would say that it works. It has taken the swelling out of the neck area and the lump on the side of the neck (caratoid?) Has gone. Also, I woke one morning with a very sore right calf No reason that I know of limped through that day and half the next then used your cream. Used it again the next day and although slightly tender would say that the problem was solved. '

' I used E45 moisturising lotion ( because I had it in the house) . I was sceptical. Couldn't see how it could work but it does. '

So these are two more examples of things that melatonin lotion has worked effectively for.

Art

Recently, a friend fell while on vacation and when he fell, his jaw slammed into a concrete step. He sought out a local doctor who told him he should see his regular doctor when he got home from vacation. When he saw his regular doctor and did the appropriate testing, his doctor told him surgery would not be required, but that he did have two fractures in his jaw that would require significant time to heal.

My friend called me and asked if I could suggest anything to help him with the pain caused by the fractures that was keeping him up at night. I gave him a bottle of melatonin lotion and told him to apply it sparingly twice a day and it should relieve the pain and allow him to get better sleep.

I further told him that the lotion is likely to help his fractures heal because melatonin seems to promote bone healing and repair as discussed here :

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.826660/full#:~:text=Thus, it indicates that melatonin, associations between melatonin and osteogenesis.

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

' Moderate osteogenesis and angiogenesis is involved in both bone repair and fracture healing (25). Currently, accumulating evidence has indicated the associations between melatonin and osteogenesis. ' ( osteogenesis = the formation of bone)

I got a text from my friend today and he said that the lotion has greatly reduced his pain and allows him to sleep very well. He also asked me if he could use the lotion for other body areas where he has pain, but he did not elaborate on what areas he was referring to and I told him it might help and to try it. I also mentioned that it may also help with healing of the fracture. He was very happy and said he will keep applying it!

Art

Hi Koys,

I don't think there is currently enough human data to draw a definitive conclusion for your question, but this 2023 review article gives some very good clues and when you take into consideration the known anticarcinogenic effects of melatonin as well as its very good safety profile, it definitely should be a molecule of interest when it comes to skin cancer / melanoma :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589909023000059#:~:text=Skin cancer, such as HSP70 and Nrf2.

Here are a couple of relevant quotes from the review :

' In skin tumors, melatonin has inhibitory effects on melanoma in vitro and in vivo. Fischer et al. found that the oncostatic effect of melatonin was related to its concentration and co-culture duration with melanoma cells, but was also relevant to the specific melatonin receptors expressed on the membranes and nuclei of cells. Cells expressing nuclear receptors exhibited stronger growth inhibition, whereas cells expressing MT2 receptors on cell membranes were more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of melatonin [49]. Reiter and colleagues found that mice with knockout of NQO2 (which encodes melatonin-binding sites in the cytoplasm) increased their susceptibility to carcinogens and were more likely to develop skin tumors [27]. Lv et al. analyzed RNA-sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. They found the melatonin system in the tumor microenvironment to have predictive value for the prognosis of skin melanoma. Patients with a high melatonin synthesis/metabolic index had a better prognosis and fewer patients were at an advanced stage of disease, whereas patients with a low melatonin synthesis/metabolic index had higher immunogenicity, which suggested a stronger response to immunotherapy. In the group with a low melatonin synthesis/metabolism index, the enrichment of genes related to hypoxia, inflammation, proliferation, metastasis, and DNA damage implied that melatonin could inhibit tumors through these processes, but the detailed mechanism has yet to be elucidated. Lv et al. demonstrated that the melatonin synthesis/metabolism index was an independent predictor after including disease stage for adjustment in multivariable models, which suggested that melatonin might affect the prognosis through biological mechanisms other than inhibiting carcinogenesis and proliferation [50]. Melatonin also modulates melanin synthesis. Alvarez-Artime et al. found that in a murine melanoma cell line (B16–F10), melatonin could alter the cytoskeleton, reduce the level of cyclin-dependent kinase-1, and slow-down mitosis to leave tumor cells in the G2/M cycle for a long time, thereby inhibiting proliferation of B16–F10 cells [51]. Studies have demonstrated that in melanoma, melatonin can reduce production of the antioxidant enzyme SOD in tumors [52]. Those reports suggest that melatonin may be a candidate drug to treat skin cancer by producing ROS. However, Ozben and colleagues stated that melatonin also produced ROS and caused tumorigenesis [53]. Therefore, the anti-tumor properties of melatonin through the production of free radicals need to be studied further. Bonmati-Carrion et al. showed that melatonin induced the apoptosis of melanoma cells [54]. In that study, melatonin (millimolar range) reduced the viability of melanoma cells significantly. This effect was shown to be related to activation of an apoptotic pathway triggered by an increased level of ROS, but the mechanism was not clarified. Perdomo et al. found that melatonin could regulate the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and activate the microphthalmia transcription factor, which regulated melatonin synthesis. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β could increase ROS and melanin by itself or by inhibiting the Nrf2 signaling pathway [55]. However, contrary evidence suggests that melatonin can reduce melanin production [56], which suggests that melatonin exerts anti-tumor effects by influencing melanin production. '

' Accumulating evidence has shown that melatonin has anti-tumoral properties, but also exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidation effects by controlling tumor augmentation. In melanoma, melatonin can induce apoptosis through several pro-apoptotic proteins, such as HSP70 and Nrf2. Furthermore, it exerts anti-inflammatory effects through the NF-κB pathway and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, which could be sites for therapeutic intervention [72]. The anti-cancer property of melatonin makes it a promising candidate for adjuvant therapy in melanoma. Also, compared with other chemical products, the natural metabolism of melatonin in human cells has lower toxicity. Hao et al. demonstrated melatonin synergistically strengthened vemurafenib-induced inhibition of proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, and “stemness” weakening in melanoma cells. Melatonin inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB p50/p65 and their binding to iNOS and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoters, thereby suppressing expression of iNOS and hTERT [73]. Scholars have elucidated that melatonin can inhibit angiogenesis in tumor tissues by complex mechanisms, thereby restraining growth and migration of tumorous gastric, breast, and ovarian cells [74]. In melanoma, angiogenesis is an important indicator of tumor aggressiveness and poor clinical outcome, but studies investigating this role of melatonin in melanoma are lacking. '

So the above quotes give known methods of action by which melatonin should offer anti skin cancer / anti melanoma effects, but actual human studies are lacking, which is hard to understand why they are lacking given the very good safety profile of melatonin in humans.

I am of the opinion that lotion may not be the most optimal delivery agent for this purpose.

Art

Hi Art, Thank you for your melatonin article and report of the results.

I wonder, if the melatonin, applied locally to the skin could help for skin cancer also. Thank you for your insights.

I just got an update from another friend that is testing melatonin lotion and this is what she wrote :

' Hi Art,

My scalp eczema usually flares up in January and February. I put the melatonin lotion on it...guess what? All gone and no roughness or itchiness...yay! '

This is a new indication for me as I have not heard from anyone else that it has helped their scalp eczema before this.

Art

Hi Deborah,

You are very welcome!

Thank you very much for the feedback on melatonin lotion and I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but very happy that it is helping you so much! The positive feedback I am getting from a growing number of friends who are testing it has been impressive, as are your results!

I would just like to mention that among the myriad of health effects that melatonin has, it also has anticarcinogenic effects of its own as well as synergy with chemo and radiotherapy while helping to reduce the negative effects of chemo and radiotherapy. It also crosses the blood brain barrier when taken orally and possibly topically.

Thank you again, Deborah and best wishes!

Art

Hello and THANK YOU so much for this wonderful recipe for TML. This is an amazing discovery.

I have stage IV cancer with Lepto Menengeal. It has caused several nerve and muscular issues. A friend and I made this lotion and it is incredible. Long story, short; my feet absolutely do not tingle anymore. I use the TML twice daily. The second time we made it using beef tallow instead of cetaphil. That requires a little different method to mix, but I prefer a creamier thicker lotion. Both require some essential oils to overcome the smell. The cetaphil lotion smells like gin and the tallow one smells like beef and required a bit more lavender. The smell does dissipate once it's applied to the skin.

This stuff is amazing. It works! Thank you so very much! What a God send!

I got yet another update from my friend who is testing melatonin lotion. This is what she said :

I am almost pain free at this point. This is very unusual for me given that the weather has been very cold. That usually exacerbates my arthritis. At this point I don't see any swelling in my back vertebrae. They usually swell first and then hurt like the dickens. I put the lotion on once in the morning and once before I go to bed. I use stopain with it. The swollen joints in my fingers have started to decrease in size and are no longer sensitive to the least touch...yay! I should have taken a before and after picture. The bumps on my finger joints have almost decreased by half size! I still have some back pain if I stand on my feet too long (more than 20 minutes) in a stationary position. So I try to keep moving.

Art

Hi Art,

Thank you so much for all of the information. I have ordered the hesperidin and I have the curcumin and resveratrol. Haven't ordered the piperine yet but will when I can. God bless you for your generosity in helping everyone you that you do. I will keep you posted on my results. And thanks again for all you do to help others!

Hi GertJr,

Yes, vodka can work as substitute for gin, however a friend recently wrote me that when she ran out of gin, she tried using vodka to make her melatonin lotion and for some reason, she found that it required significantly more vodka to dissolve the melatonin and this ultimately made the finished lotion much more watery. Both products were labeled 80 proof, so it is hard to understand this discrepancy. She said she would go back to gin in her future batches as she is having very good benefit from the lotion she had been making with gin.

It is important to dissolve the melatonin in order to end up with an effective melatonin lotion.

Please come back and let us know how melatonin lotion works for you.

Art

Does it have to be gin? Or can it be vodka or some other liquor? I don't really want to buy gin, no one I know drinks it, but I do have vodka for my black walnut tincture, so wondering if I could use that.

Hi Carol,

Of course I am of the opinion that melatonin seems relevant in the discussion of any type of cancer because of its multiple methods of action when it comes to cancer. There are many studies which discuss these methods of action of melatonin, so I have not linked to those as you have probably already read many of them.

I will link to a few studies that may be of interest to you :

HESPERIDIN

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/13/5152

Here is a relevant study quote :

Hesperidin, a flavonoid commonly found in citrus fruits, with its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties, and cardio-preventive factor for disease prevention, is well-known. Furthermore, its anticancer potential has been suggested to be a promising alternative in cancer treatment or management through the modulation of signal transduction pathways, which includes apoptosis, cell cycle, angiogenesis, ERK/MAPK, signal transducer, and the activator of transcription and other cell signaling molecules. Moreover, its role in the synergistic effects with anticancer drugs and other natural compounds has been described properly. The present article describes how hesperidin affects various cancers by modulating the various cell signaling pathways.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jcmm.17902

Here is a relevant study quote :

Hesperidin showed significant anti-angiogenesis and anti-proliferative effects in mice bearing 4T1 breast cancer, suggesting this compound as a potential treatment either with or without standard treatment (doxorubicin) to be used in future clinical research. The role of hesperidin as an inhibitor of angiogenesis, tumour growth and metastasis was confirmed in this study. It is suggested to consider clinical studies to investigate the effects of this agent in humans.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8626310/

A relevant quote from the review :

In summary, hesperidin and its aglycone hesperetin have good in vitro anti-cancer activities in BC models based on their inhibition of cell proliferation, migration (hesperidin only) and BCSCs (hesperidin only) as well as their induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In in vivo BC models, they exert their anti-cancer effects by inhibiting tumour growth, metastasis (hesperidin only) and neoplastic changes in tissue architecture (hesperidin only). The co-administration of hesperidin with doxorubicin or tamoxifen as well as the co-administration of hesperetin with doxorubicin or letrozole can enhance the anti-BC effects of the clinically available anti-cancer drugs.

PIPERINE

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ptr.7291

A relevant quote from the review :

Piperine (PIP) is an alkaloid found primarily in Piper longum, and this natural compound has been shown to exert effects on proliferation and survival against various types of cancer. In particular, PIP has potent inhibitory effects on breast cancer (BC), the most prevalent type of cancer in women worldwide. PIP targets numerous signaling pathways associated with the therapy of BC cells through the following mechanisms: (a) induction of arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis; (b) alteration of the signaling protein expression; (c) reduction in transcription factors; and (d) inhibition of tumor growth. BC cells have the ability to resist conventional drugs, so one of the strategies is the combination of PIP with other phytochemicals such as paclitaxel, thymoquinone, hesperidin, bee venom, tamoxifen, mitoxantrone, piperlongumin, and curcumin.

So the above article suggests that while piperine has anticancer effects, it may also work with hesperidin and curcumin against cancer.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432303/

Here is a relevant study quote :

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that resveratrol, curcumin and piperine exposure results in cytotoxic effects in MCF-7 cells, associated with decreasing GLO1 activity and mitochondrial cell damage. Other aspects involving the action of these compounds in glyoxalase system enzyme expression as well as the mRNA expression of glyoxalases 1 and 2 should be further investigated as chemotherapeutic targets.

CURCUMIN

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10679154/

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

Curcumin can be very effective and free of severe toxicity⁷⁵. Curcumin has multiple medicinal properties and can interact with several molecular targets and intracellular signaling pathways⁷⁶. However, poor bioavailability limits its therapeutic effects. Curcumin analogs and their various formulations, including nanoparticles and liposomes, are extensively studied for maximum effectiveness.^{77, 78}.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10675183/

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

The positive feedback loop in the breast TME contributes to the aggravation of cancer. Particularly, EMT facilitates the invasive and metastatic potential of tumors, which can be mediated by the NF-κB signaling pathway [46]. During EMT, cellular behavior undergoes notable shifts, with diminished expression of epithelial markers and increased mesenchymal-like phenotype [47]. To evaluate the impact of Cur-CM on EMT, the migratory and invasive capabilities of MCF7 cells were determined. Remarkably, treatment with Cur-CM significantly reduced the mobility and migration potential of MCF7 cells compared with Con-CM treatment. To further explore the molecular mechanism underlying such a phenotype, we examined the expression levels of EMT markers. E-cadherin, an epithelial cell marker, was upregulated following Cur-CM treatment. In contrast, the expression of N-cadherin and fibronectin, both indicators of mesenchymal characteristics, was significantly downregulated after Cur-CM treatment. These results explained that curcumin modulated the EMT by disrupting the CXCL12/CXCR4-mediated transformation of ADMSCs into CAFs and suppressing the breast TME from further progression.

Since you mentioned that you are already taking Resveratrol and Quercetin, the following mouse model of breast tumor study may be of interest to you since it used those two in combination with Curcumin in the study and it gives human equivalency dosing :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10432483/

Here is a relevant study quote :

BALBc mice were injected 2 × 10⁵ 4T1 cells subcutaneously. The treatment plan was divided into three types. The mice in the Treated A group were given RCQ by intragastric administration for 30 days after subcutaneous injection of 4T1 breast cancer cells. The mice in the Treated B group were consumed RCQ for 15 days for prevention, then injected subcutaneously with 4T1 breast cancer cells and continued to gavage RCQ for 30 days. The mice in the Treated C group were consumed RCQ for 30 days for prevention, then injected subcutaneously with 4T1 breast cancer cells, and continued to gavage RCQ for 30 days. Each mouse was fed 60 mg kg⁻¹ orally five times a week, 200 μL each time. RCQ in PBS plus 1% DMSO was prepared by dilution from Res, Cur, and Que solutions in DMSO. The control group was fed with PBS plus 1% DMSO. From Monday through Friday, RCQ was given to the mice five times a week, once per day. In previous studies, the non-toxic dose of these antitumor polyphenols in tumor mice was generally between 5–140 mg kg⁻¹. In this study, the dose of RCQ was 60 mg kg⁻¹ (including 24 mg kg⁻¹ Res, 24 mg kg⁻¹ Cur, and 12 mg kg⁻¹ Que), which was the non-toxic dose. Grapes contain the highest content of polyphenols, which can reach 50–100 mg kg⁻¹. The recommended dosage for humans is 0.3–1 g per day, equivalent to 3 kg of grapes, but full amounts of polyphenols can be obtained by taking extract capsules. According to the body surface area method, the conversion factors between different animals and humans are different. The dose given to mice was about 12.3 times that given to humans. 60 mg kg⁻¹ (including 24 mg kg⁻¹ Res, 24 mg kg⁻¹ Cur, and 12 mg kg⁻¹ Que) translated into an edible human dose of 738 mg/day (including 295.2 mg Res, 295.2 mg Cur, and 147.6 mg Que). On the other hand, applying allometric principles and taking different caloric demands of mice and humans into account^66–68, it is possible that, related to body weight, humans need an approximately 5–10-fold lower dose of RCQ than mice for an effect. Therefore, the intake of RCQ for humans can be reduced as appropriate.

WARNING

Regarding melatonin, it dissolves better in DMSO than ethanol, but DMSO can carry unwanted chemicals through the skin so it would not be compatible with other ingredients such as the Cetaphil lotion itself might have. I'm just adding this warning because you may have been thinking of trying to increase the amount of melatonin in the lotion through other means.

Art

Hi Art,

Thank you so much for your answer about the lotion. Just wondering if you could help with what supplements to take. I'm currently taking:

500 mg Berberine 3x a day.
400mg quercetin 3x a day.plus resveratrol. Not sure dosage. Vitamin C 1000 mg 3-4x a day Lysine1000 mg. 3-4x a day. One multi vitamin per day. minerals, herbal extracts with milk thistle, chaparral, dandelion root, pau de arco and others.
400 mg Oregano tablets. Grape Seed extract and the melatonin as much as I can afford. Have done the castor oil wraps and want to try ivermectin or fenben but not sure which I should try or the dosage. Trying to juice but have an old juicer that doesn't do a great job but better than nothing. Anyway, if you or anyone else has any other ideas I would greatly appreciate hearing them. Thanks again for everything you do!

The friend I mentioned above sent me another update regarding her use of melatonin lotion. She said the following :

' Art, just a quick update. Last night I had what I thought was a migraine. I applied the lotion and Stopain and by bedtime it had receded quite a bit. By morning it was gone. Usually my migraines last a week. So this was really great! '

Art

Hi Carol,

The melatonin lotion uses gin and melatonin in an amount that is at least a saturated solution before the lotion is added to the gin and melatonin, so there is no room to add any more melatonin to that mix anyway.

According to the original three friends who use it, it is more effective for them than taking 100 mg of oral melatonin which offered them no pain relief at all for the issues that they reported about, so it must be a fairly potent locally delivered dose they are getting from the lotion, but adding more melatonin to the gin is not likely to be additive.

I take 132 mg of melatonin per day and it offers me no pain relief that I am able to discern, but the lotion absolutely does which tends to suggest that it is reaching very high local levels that my 132 mg of oral melatonin can not!

Art

Hi Art,

I have breast cancer and would like to know what dosage the melatonin would be. I was thinking of applying it directly over the breast. I am trying to get up to the 300 mg a day that is supposed to stop the metastes but can't afford the number of pills that would take. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you for all your informative advice on this site. God Bless!

This same friend mentioned to me that she was having significant pain on her head which she said she regularly has. I asked her how far up her neck she applying the melatonin lotion and she said right up to her hairline. I mentioned to her that the cervical spine actually continues higher than the hairline and asked her to try applying the melatonin lotion right up to the bottom of the skull. She said she would try doing that on her next application that night. She wrote back the next day to say that she woke up with no head pain and was very happy about that. She later wrote me to say that applying to the very top of her cervical spine has continued to work to prevent her head pain.

One of my friends that I wrote about in the original post, Lydia also noticed that applying all the way up the neck to the base of the skull is also working better for any neck pain she still has. She said she thought she was applying it to her whole spine, but had never even thought of going above the hair line, but is happy that she is doing that now.

There are nerves at the top of the spine that travel to the head and face and apparently the melatonin lotion can help calm them when they become inflamed.

Art

A friend who has been using melatonin lotion recently wrote the following to me :

' Hi Art, I am only taking 1 25mg Losartan (I was taking 50mg) and my bp has been well in the normal range. I've taken it in the a.m. and p.m. and it's running about 122/75. That's a good reading for me.

The weather outside is frightful (as the song goes). It was about 29 last night but warmed up to the 50's today. That usually sends my aches and pains on the increase. I did stay inside today, but did really well. I was surprised especially since I was on my feet a lot last night standing at a ladies golf party and talking to people. Usually that would kill my back. However, I used the cream and stopain 2 times today and have really done well. My neck hasn't bothered me in a couple of days now and my back will give me a little ouchy feeling, but nothing like I would usually expect given the weather. I also have used it on my left shoulder, hip joints and knees. And, yes, any pain I had there seems to have gone away for now. We'll see. I'll keep you informed.
On another note, I was diagnosed with thyroiditis...maybe from the machines they but down my throat from an endoscopy I had done a couple of months ago. It had been kind of an on and off problem with swallowing. It got really bad last Tuesday where just swallowing my saliva was painful. So I decided to try the cream and the Stopain and guess what? There was a huge improvement by the next day. Within 3 days the swelling in my throat has pretty much disappeared. I don't know if there is any correlation, but I thought I would just share that with you.
take care,

She also more recently wrote this to me :

' Art, thanks I'll try that...the muscles of my head get so tight they hurt...

BTW I was having ankle problems and used the lotion and Stopain with good results.'

Art

thank you, Art! she has lower back stenosis - L5

Hi Judith,

I just wanted to mention that I used the homeopathic remedy that you are referring to for two friends with spinal stenosis. It cured one friend, but did not help the other. The friend that it did not help had multiple diagnosed spinal issues including cervical spinal stenosis and that may be why it did not help that friend. The friend that it did help had a diagnosis of only lumbar spinal stenosis.

Art

Hi Yomama! I was interested in seeing your progress with the TML as I have a friend (62) who, like you, is highly athletic and who is struggling with recently diagnosed stenosis and is in debilitating pain most all the time. I had seen a posting here that referenced a homeopaths recommendation and was able to find the original article with case studies on how two homeopathic remedies turned around stenosis for two of her patients. I'm hoping that my friend will try it and/or MTL but unfortunately she is quite stuck mentally/emotionally to western med. Frustrating. Blessings for your day!

https://homeopathy-allyson.blogspot.com/2020/05/aging-spines-feel-young-again.html

"From Earth Clinic (https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/spinal_stenosis.html#mr):

Spinal Stenosis Cure that absolutely works, never do back surgery, the doctors are not good enough yet and they will ruin your nerves terribly! Dr. Debra Katchen, MD and homeopathic doctor wrote an article “Aging Spines Feel Young Again” (unfortunately, homeopathy.org makes you become a member $ 75 to get into their website for the article but I use this remedy so I put it in my phone. Here it is, dirt cheap, need to do for six months and then I would do it every few years to keep the stenosis away, there is a lady on Youtube who also did it and has a testimonial how great it worked...

Take one tablet of strength 30C HEKLA LAVA pills in a 6 oz glass of distilled or purified water, let it dissolve, put in fridge and daily take 2 teaspoons (am and on preferably) and in addition, take four tablets under your tongue of CALCAREA FLUORICA strength 6X once a day for 6 months. (Amazon, iherb, Swanson, Vitacost to compare prices, there is a company brand Hyland in these small like chapstick containers is pretty popular but other companies have those pills). You will start feeling better about 3 months in but continue for the 6 months. Really, really works!!"

Sharon,

I forgot to ask if you still had a problem with tiredness from the application? If so, how did you work around it?

Art

Hi Yomama,

Thank you for this important feedback on how well the melatonin lotion is working out for you! I am very happy that you are finally finding some long needed relief! As to the physiatrist you saw, I have several words for that person, but I can't post them here.

You've got multiple spinal issues going on and I am glad the lotion is helping you with them. It is worth mentioning that melatonin is also useful for fighting osteoporosis, as I previously discussed here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/osteoporosis-supplements-art-solbrig.html

And here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/melatonin-for-osteoporosis.html

Something else I have found very useful for bulging discs and degenerative disc disease (DDD), I wrote about here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/ddd-art-solbrig.html

It sounds like you are going to be having better days ahead because melatonin can be healing to the body in general and the DDD/HA/Stopain remedy is likely to be additive based on reports on EC and from my friends who have used the combination.

Btw, my friend Lydia, who was one of the three friends that I wrote about, had also used the Salonpas patches and ran into the same sensitivity issue as you after about a few weeks of use and could no longer use them, but she did say that the melatonin lotion was more effective and non-irritating.

The following discusses how melatonin can be beneficial for the spine :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/melatonin-spine-health.html

Please keep us posted on your great results using melatonin lotion! Also, please update us on how it works for your shoulder pain. Lydia applies the lotion to her whole spine regularly now and I discussed why that might be a good idea here: https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/melatonin-spine-health.html

Art

Hi Art,

Thank you for your response. It has been about a week since I first started applying the melatonin lotion to my lower back twice a day. I decided to apply it to my shoulder as an after thought several days later.

While my shoulder is still causing me pain albeit reduced, I was shocked to wake up this morning with minimal pain in my back. Prior to this I had been applying salon pas lidocaine patches all over my back and shoulders. My skin eventually became hypersensitive to this and I had to be careful not to apply the patches to the same spots on consecutive days. The results I am seeing from the melatonin lotion have been getting better and better with each application. Today was the first time in months that I have been able to get out of bed and function without waiting 3-4 hours for the pain to subside before I could function at all. I am amazed and praying that this is not a fluke.

I would like to clarify why I am applying this lotion, for any of your readers who are wondering if it could possibly help them: I was diagnosed with broad-based disc bulges and spinal canal stenosis and foraminal narrowings in the vertebrae starting in T12-L1 and extending all the way down through L5-S1. There is a severe spinal canal stenosis at L4-5 and L5-S1. I have been in constant pain, unable to sit or lie down comfortably, groaning with every shift in my position. Some days I was unable to walk at all or even take my small dog outside for a short walk. Prior to this I was an very active individual. I spent 3 decades working out in the gym, have my personal trainer's license, spent 1 decade in amateur women's bodybuilding and several years studying tae kwon do. Being so severely restricted in my movements because of back pain has been beyond depressing. I have not been able to continue with chiropractic adjustments because of severe osteoporosis. The physiatrist I saw for help told me that eventually I could expect to be wheelchair-bound and lose the ability to control bowel function, and that the only remedy for pain relief would be spinal fusion, which by the way, he did not recommend. LOL. I don't know anyone who has had relief from their issues after having a spinal fusion, so that was never on the table for me. I understand that pain remedies cannot affect the physical deterioration of the spine, and the doctor's prediction may or may not come to fruition, but the results I am seeing from using this lotion have given me more hope than I have had in a very long time. I am grateful for any relief I can get at this point that allows me to get back to functioning normally. This lotion has been a godsend. I will continue to update you. Thank you for all your posts, Art. I appreciate you.

Ha! I'll drink to that, Susan!

Art

I find alcohol drying, so I avoid it in my skin care. (I prefer it in a glass, neat. ;)

Hi Sharron,

Thank you for the feedback on the melatonin lotion! I very much appreciate it! You can try adding more lotion to your mixture to reduce the amount of available melatonin per application and, as my friends did, make sure that you are applying it sparingly. It doesn't seem to take much to be effective and the effectiveness seems to increase with continued applications. You can also try just using less melatonin in your initial mixture.

As far as the tiredness related to the application, I have seen this in some people. It seems that people who are very sensitive to oral melatonin also seem to be more sensitive to topical melatonin. If increasing the lotion content or decreasing the melatonin content doesn't help with the tiredness, about all you can do is try your applications later in the day so the tiredness comes when you would normally expect to start getting tired.

As far as feedback, yes definitely! The more feedback we get on this forum, the better for all of us. You are the first on this forum to give an idea of how it works for you. My friends noticed that the positive effects seem to increase with continued applications. All three are barely finishing their first bottle of lotion.

I have two other friends who started recently and both report positive results so far. Today, a third friend started using it for neck pain that did not respond to borax or the DDD/HA/Stopain remedy, although both of those remedies worked for the desired purposes for her. The neck pain seems to be a separate issue and she said she will let me know later in the week if the lotion is helping her neck issue for which she has no diagnosis.

Thank you again for the important feedback, Sharon!

Art

Thank you Art for sharing your recommendations on Topical Melatonin Lotion. I am the former CEO of a natural skin care company and continue to be interested in natural remedies for my own use. (I lost my company due to the pandemic after 15 years in business). I made a batch of the melatonin lotion a short while ago and applied it after it had a chance to "marinate". Within about half an hour I noticed that my back/spinal pain had lessened significantly, but that I was also very sleepy all of a sudden and had to lie down and take a nap. Considering that about 70% of all topically applied lotions are absorbed into the bloodstream this was not a big surprise to me. I would be happy to be part of your group and report my findings to you. Please let me know if you are interested in having additional feedback and if so, how to proceed. Thanks.

Hi Susan,

Melatonin will only partially dissolve in most lotions, the end result is that you will have a significantly weaker mix than what my friends used. Melatonin has high solubility in ethanol and that is the reason that they used it. Do you have a problem with using gin?

Art

Art,

Since melatonin is both lipophilic and hydrophilic, could one just dissolve the mel powder in their moisturizer (I use tallow) and skip the alcohol step?

Thanks,

Susan

Hi Deirdre,

I'm excited to hear your results too!

Art

I just made my first batch of Art's melatonin lotion. I didn't have Cetaphil and wanted to use something natural, so I opted for 1 hyaluronic acid supplement in 1.5 oz of distilled water instead of Art's 2.5 oz of Cetaphil lotion. Since I have a magnetic stirrer and glass beakers, I used them to make a fast batch. I also have a small gram scale from Amazon that I used. I tried using a bigger postage scale with gram measurements but didn't get an accurate readout for only 1 gram.

I dissolved the melatonin first in the gin in a beaker with the magnetic stirrer. I separately dissolved the capsule of HA in distilled water in another beaker before adding it to the melatonin/gin. Once mixed, I then poured the concoction into an empty glass spray bottle and tested it on my hands.

One spray was a perfect amount for the top of each hand. It absorbed rapidly and left behind silky soft skin.

• 1 gram of melatonin powder
• 1.5 oz of distilled water
• 1.5 oz of gin
• One hyaluronic acid capsule (60 mg per capsule)

1. Gram Scale : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TBJBFRK
2. Magnetic Stirrer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072K24X5P
3. Glass Beaker Set (small): https://www.amazon.com/Borosilicate-Measuring-Set-V-Shaped-Kitchen-Restaurant/dp/B0BC7QZFX6
4. Hyaluronic Acid: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013OUKO8
5. Melatonin Powder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JV46FFU/
6. Gin - local liquor store

I'll update later on pain relief and skin improvement and whether or not the formula clogged the spray nozzle! Thank you, Art! Very excited to try this.

Hi Frances,

Yes, unfortunately, outside of the US, generally requires a prescription in many places in the world. I find the logic for this restriction unfathomable given the excellent safety profile of melatonin which is safer than ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen or aspirin which they allow you to buy in unlimited amounts and these generally offer little to no other health benefit other than pain relief. Add in the many health benefits that melatonin has shown in humans, animals and plant life and the restriction becomes even more absurd. I mean how does a government organization that is supposed to be operating for your health and safety make such a judgement about something that is so healthful for you?

To give a little perspective, acetaminophen/Tylenol toxicity is the number two cause of liver transplantation worldwide and the number one cause in the US! It is responsible for 56, 000 emergency room visits per year and causes 500 deaths per year, but you can buy all you want from any grocery store.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441917/#:~:text=Acetaminophen toxicity is the second, year in the United States.

On the other hand, from 2012 to 2021, there were two deaths in children and these were attributed gummies candy style melatonin that the children ate like they were candy because the parents left them out. So if you take that same 9 year period and estimate that 500 people die per year from acetaminophen, that's 4, 500 deaths compared to 2 for melatonin.

https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/body/sleep/melatonin-overdose#:~:text=A study of poison control, sleepiness, vomiting and trouble breathing.

A relevant quote from the article ;

' A study of poison control calls in the U.S. found the number of melatonin poisoning–related calls increased six times from 2012 to 2021. Of these calls, more than 4, 000 teens and children were hospitalized and two died. '

To give a bit more perspective, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin are all NSAIDS. In the US alone, 15, 600 deaths occur per year and 107, 000 hospitalizations due to NSAIDS as discussed here :

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-it-bad-to-take-ibuprofen-every-day/#:~:text=The risks of improper ibuprofen, a year in the U.S.

A relevant quote from the article :

' One study estimates that NSAIDs — non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat pain and inflammation — are responsible for 107, 000 hospitalizations and 15, 600 deaths a year in the U.S. '

Possible side effects of ibuprofen use

When used incorrectly, especially chronically, negative effects can include:

• Diarrhea.
• Gastrointestinal problems, including bleeding.
• Heart attack.
• Heart failure.
• High blood pressure.
• Kidney damage.
• Liver toxicity.
• Low sodium levels.
• Nausea.
• Stroke.
• Ulcers.
• Upset stomach.'

When you look at this list, melatonin has been shown in studies to help many of these items, not cause them.

This to me says that the people running these government regulatory agencies should reconsider their positions on melatonin requiring a prescription when the named NSAIDS above can be bought with no restrictions at all!

I think the same should apply to borax also as it banned in many areas of the world, yet how many people die form borax in the US each year, where you can buy it in any quantity in any laundry aisle in the country everyday with no restrictions. If you can find the number of people who die from borax consumption each year in the US, please post it because I couldn't find that number. There are words to describe this situation more accurately, but I can't say them here.

Art

In Australia, melatonin is considered a medicine and not a food supplement as in the USA. Thus, a Dr.prescription required and about the max. would be 2mg-3mg. prescribed.

Karen, have you tried Aussie-grown product jojoba oil, either on its own or in various moisturising products.

Hi Dave,

Melatonin powder is available in one strength, but manufacturers describe using different amounts to equal so many milligrams such as 3 mg or 10 mg. They are basically mentioning the dose they are recommending and sometimes include a scoop for the amount they are recommending.

So any bulk powder melatonin should work. Earth Clinic has posted an easier mix that requires just one, 1/4 teaspoon at level full to make a 3 ounce melatonin lotion mix. You can find that in the original article where it has been added today.

A $20 bag of melatonin powder should contain about 25 grams of melatonin and that should be enough melatonin to make at least 25 mixes of melatonin lotion.

Skip the $200 bag of melatonin. My friends used the bag of melatonin that EC linked to in the article which is around $20.

Art

I visited the Amazon site for powdered melatonin and confused about what strength to buy. There are bags with 3mg strength, 10mg They are different price from $20. To $40. Depending on size and strength and then there was a choice of laboratory grade 99.9% pure strength for $200. + or -?

I was wondering the same thing.

Mary,

I have an idea to simplify making the melatonin lotion since you don't use a milligram scale. Make just 3 ounces of lotion at a time instead of 4 ounces in the following way :

• Take your four-ounce jar and add one level full one-quarter measuring teaspoon of melatonin powder into the jar.
• Add one ounce of gin to the melatonin in the jar. Replace the lid and shake well until the gin looks clear again.
• Add 2 ounces of Cetaphil lotion to the jar. Replace the lid and shake until well-mixed.

This is the simplest I could figure out for using measuring teaspoons. The 3 ounces will still last a very long time. Remember that my friends said that they apply sparingly.

Art

Hi Hollyhock,

Your feedback will be very useful since I have not tried it for hip pain yet.

Thank you!

Art

Art, thank you for the recipe! I put it together today and will try it on my back and hips before bed. I will give it a few weeks and then give feedback!

Hi Rusty,

Oral melatonin at higher dosing had no benefit for my three friends as far as their spinal, muscle and joint pains as all three were already taking oral melatonin. The lotion was able to help them in a way that the oral dosing could not and this is likely because the lotion allows significantly higher local tissue concentrations of melatonin that their higher oral dosing could never achieve as the oral dose is essentially dispersed throughout the body whereas the lotion gives a higher tissue concentration in the specific area where it is applied.

Art