GummyTalk Forum

Hey everyone, I've been traveling through Southeast Asia for the past 3 months and my sleep schedule is completely wrecked from all the time zone changes. I saw some melatonin sleep gummies at a health store in Bangkok and picked up a bottle. Has anyone actually tried these things? Do they work, or is it just placebo? I'm skeptical because most 'natural' supplements I've tried on the road have been pretty underwhelming.

Kevin, I'm glad you're asking this! I tried some 'all-natural' sleep gummies last year that were marketed as eco-friendly and plant-based. The packaging was minimal and recyclable, which I appreciated. However, when I looked at the ingredients, they contained synthetic melatonin and artificial colors - definitely not as natural as advertised. They did help me fall asleep faster, but I woke up feeling groggy. Has anyone found truly clean, sustainable sleep gummies? I'd love recommendations that align with my values.

Fascinating topic! As someone who's been experimenting with different sleep protocols (big fan of Dr. Huberman's work), I've tried making my own sleep gummies at home. I use grass-fed gelatin, tart cherry juice (natural melatonin source), magnesium glycinate, and a touch of honey. They've been surprisingly effective for my wind-down routine. My question: has anyone compared homemade versus store-bought? The commercial ones seem to have much higher melatonin doses than what I use. What's the optimal dosage people have found effective without next-day drowsiness?

Paula - totally feel you on the misleading marketing. The ones I got claim 'all natural' but have ingredients I can't pronounce. HubermanHopeful - homemade sounds interesting but not practical for my nomadic lifestyle. I've been taking 3mg melatonin gummies for a week now. First few nights - knocked out quickly but felt foggy mornings. Last two nights - cut to 1.5mg and sleep was decent without the grogginess. Anyone else find lower doses work better? Also, do these things actually help with sleep quality or just help you fall asleep?

Kevin, that's a great point about dosage! I found the same - lower doses worked better for me too. To answer your question about sleep quality: in my experience, they help with falling asleep but don't necessarily improve sleep architecture. I've had better results combining a low-dose gummy with other practices like blue light blocking in the evening and keeping my bedroom cool. HubermanHopeful - your homemade version sounds amazing! Would you be willing to share your recipe? I'd love to try making some with organic, locally-sourced ingredients.

Absolutely, Paula! I'll post my recipe in the recipes section of the forum. Quick version: 1 cup tart cherry juice, 4 tbsp gelatin, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tsp magnesium powder (glycinate form), and optional lavender extract. Heat gently, pour into molds, refrigerate. Makes about 20 gummies at roughly 0.5mg melatonin each from the cherry juice. Kevin - you raise an excellent question about sleep quality versus just sleep onset. Most research suggests melatonin primarily helps with circadian rhythm adjustment rather than deep sleep enhancement. For quality, things like consistent sleep schedule and temperature regulation might be more impactful than any gummy.