Renee Descartes described the pineal gland as the “Seat of the Soul.” This tiny gland can be located in the brain’s center. So what makes this super tiny gland so important in our day-to-day functioning?
The pineal gland is a pea-sized and shaped gland located in the brain’s center. While researchers do not yet fully understand its function, they do know that it produces and regulates hormones, including melatonin. Melatonin is important in the regulation of sleep.
The pineal gland is super important because of its impact on hormone regulation. While more research needs to verify its exact function, the information we do have is vital in understanding our minds and bodies.
Where Is The Pineal Gland Located?All About The Pineal GlandWhat Happens When The Pineal Gland Malfunctions?How Can Pineal Gland Conditions Be Treated?Conclusion
Where Is The Pineal Gland Located?
All About The Pineal Gland
What Happens When The Pineal Gland Malfunctions?
How Can Pineal Gland Conditions Be Treated?
Conclusion
The pineal gland can be located in the brain’s center and sits in a groove above the thalamus (the part that coordinates sensory functions).
It is made up of neurons, neuroglial cells, and pinealocytes. The pinealocytes are the part believed to create and secrete melatonin into the cerebrospinal fluid.
Cerebrospinal fluid flows around the hollow areas in the brain and the spinal cord, where melatonin is absorbed into the bloodstream. (Cleveland Clinic)
The pineal gland is a cone-shaped gland that is around 0.8 centimeters long and weighs about 0.1 grams.
The pineal gland is one of the twelve glands that form part of the endocrine system.
During the dark cycle or nighttime, the pineal gland produces and secretes melatonin.
A few retinal ganglion cells in the eye contain melanopsin, a class of photoreceptors, and have the ability to send neural signals to non-image-forming areas of the brain – one of these areas include the pineal gland.
Melatonin levels often peak at night, with them being almost 10 times higher than the daytime concentrations.
Additionally, melatonin also has a seasonal (or circannual) rhythm, with higher levels in the autumn and winter when nights are longer, compared to spring and summer.
Alongside melatonin production, the pineal gland also regulates female hormone levels that may impact a woman’s fertility and menstrual cycle.
In a 2016study, researchers also suggested that melatonin could contribute to protection against cardiovascular ailments such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.
So a pretty important gland for sleeping and possibly for other common disorders.
Let us look into how the pineal gland and melatonin production impacts the rest of your body.
The Pineal Gland And Melatonin Production
If you are medically diagnosed with a sleep disorder, it is very likely that your pineal gland is not producing and secreting the right amount of melatonin.
These supplements can also help you to fall asleep faster if you’re jet-lagged or experience insomnia.
In most, low-dose melatonin supplements are effective and safe to use in the short and long term.
These doses can range from 0.2 to 20 milligrams – but your doctor will prescribe the correct dose.
Melatonin supplements could result in the following side effects:
In the case that you are attempting to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are nursing, you should consult your doctor before using melatonin supplements.
Melatonin is also reported to interact with medications in these groups:
If you are using medication in any of these categories, you should consult your doctor before using melatonin supplements. (Healthline)
Cardiovascular Health And The Pineal Gland
A 2016literature reviewanalyzed past research to determine if melatonin was connected to cardiovascular health.
The same review suggested that melatonin significantly affects lipid metabolism and is an inexpensive and well-tolerated drug – which is fantastic for developing countries facing health problems of this caliber.
This paperalso suggests that the pineal gland is a neuroendocrine gland that is closely related to human aging.
The Effect Of Melatonin On Female Hormones
Some sources suggest that light exposure to melatonin could aid in menstruation-related issues like mood changes, infertility, and pregnancy complications.
If a woman has reduced amounts of melatonin, they may also experience irregular menstrual cycles – but these studies are limited and often dated, which means new research is needed.
This studyalso looks at how melatonin affects the female reproductive system, its participation in the aging process, and the formation of pathological menopause.
Otherstudieshave also looked at how melatonin production can help women facing estrogen deficiencies in their postmenopausal years – mainly the cause of increased appetite and related increase in weight.
They suggest that women who face these problems use melatonin supplements to treat these disorders.
The Effect Of The Pineal Gland On Mood Stabilization
It has been indicated that the size of your pineal gland could put you at risk for certain mood disorders – specifically if it’s smaller.
This studyindicates that if you have a smaller pineal gland, you have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia and related mood disorders.
They found that abnormal melatonin secretion is present in patients with major depressive disorders and bipolar disorders.
While both these studies are preliminary research into something significant for the world of mental health, they are a wonderful stepping stone to developing technologies that could become a reliable indicator for identifying and treating these mood disorders.
The Pineal Gland And Cancer
Similar to mood disorders, some research suggests that there could be a connection between impaired pineal gland functioning and one’s risk for cancer.
Recentstudieson rats found that lowering pineal gland function through overexposure to light resulted in increased cell damage and an increased risk for colon cancer.
Otherstudiesfound that when used with traditional treatments, melatonin could improve the outlook in people with cancer – especially those with more advanced tumors.
Astudyinto the epigenetic approach to malignant tumors found that melatonin doesn’t directly inhibit tumor growth but is beneficial in overcoming sleep disturbances.
Better sleep fosters the endorphin system to lead a better quality of life which facilitates the mobilization of defense mechanisms.
However, more research is required into cancer and the effect of the pineal gland to establish how melatonin affects tumors and which dosages would be appropriate as a complementary treatment.
The pineal gland is located around other super important structures and interacts quite actively with blood and other bodily fluids.
If the pineal gland becomes impaired, it can lead to a few problems, including (but not limited to):
Pineal gland tumors are also problematic, and early signs of a tumor can include:
None of these are desirable, so talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and ask about melatonin supplementation.
Conditions That Affect The Pineal Gland
Experiencing any problems with the pineal gland is highly problematic, but so are conditions that affect it.
Tumors of this nature are extremely rare, but there are several types, and these tumors are more likely to affect children and adults under the age of 40.
Pineal gland tumorsaren’t always cancerous but are problematic in that they press against other parts of the brain, which can block the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid.
When there is an abnormal flow, the pressure inside the skull increases significantly and requires immediate treatment.
The position of the pineal gland makes it a challenge to injure.
Still, approximately30% to 50%of people who experience traumatic brain injury will experience a problem with at least one endocrine gland in their brain.
This kind of injury can happen when people experience:
Out of these four, concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury. In fact, the CDC reports that there are about 3.8 million recorded sports-related concussions per year in the US alone.
That’s not including non-sport-related concussions on an international scale.
Pineal gland calcification is quite common – so much so that healthcare providers often use a calcified pineal gland as a landmark on x-rays to identify brain structures.
Calcification occurs as a result of calcium buildup in bodily tissues, which causes the tissue to harden.
It is somewhat natural for the pineal gland to calcify as you age, but excessive calcification can inhibit the pineal gland from functioning properly.
It has also been indicated that there could be a correlation between a calcified pineal gland and frequent experiences of migraines and cluster headaches.
As with most parts of the brain, more studies need to be conducted to determine the exact effects that pineal gland calcification could have on the brain and the body.
Tests To Check Pineal Gland Health
Pineal gland issues are quite problematic – and can sometimes be super difficult to identify.
So, how can you ensure that your pineal gland stays healthy and verify that you don’t have any possible underlying issues?
Depending on their analysis, they will then conduct a magnetic resonance imaging scan (also known as an MRI) or a computed tomography (or CT) scan.
These images will help them determine if you have any pineal gland tumors or cysts.
They can also use X-ray scans to see if you are experiencing pineal gland calcification and determine if the amount of calcification is normal.
To keep your pineal gland healthy, you want to look intoreducing fluoride consumptionand talk to your doctor or a dietician about following a diet that improves pineal gland function and reduces calcification.
The only condition that you can effectively treat without melatonin supplements is apineal glandtumoror cyst.
Healthcare providers are likely to utilize one or more of these therapies:
While researchers do not fully understand the pineal gland and related melatonin production, we do know that it plays a vital role in sleeping – specifically sleep and wake cycles.
Other research suggests that it plays a vital role in mood disorders and regulation of the menstrual cycle – which could greatly impact how medicine and treatments develop in the future.
It has been found that melatonin supplements could be helpful in managing sleep disorders – but it is always wise to consult with a general practitioner before using these supplements.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineal_gland
https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/melatonin/
Related posts:What Endocrine Functions take place in the Brain?Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA)Sleep Stages (Light, Deep, REM)Where Is The Hypothalamus Located?HPA Axis (Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis)
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Reference this article:Practical Psychology. (2022, August).What does the Pineal Gland do?.Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/what-does-the-pineal-gland-do/.Practical Psychology. (2022, August). What does the Pineal Gland do?. Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/what-does-the-pineal-gland-do/.Copy
Reference this article:
Practical Psychology. (2022, August).What does the Pineal Gland do?.Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/what-does-the-pineal-gland-do/.Practical Psychology. (2022, August). What does the Pineal Gland do?. Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/what-does-the-pineal-gland-do/.Copy
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