Melatonin Use Linked to Heart Failure? What You Need to Know About Natural Alternatives for Restful Sleep

A sleepless night used to be an occasional frustration. Now, for millions, it’s become a nightly pattern — and melatonin has emerged as one of the most common answers. Marketed as a safe, natural sleep aid — after all, it’s a hormone our bodies produce naturally — it sits on bedside tables across the country, promising easy rest in capsule form.

But emerging research has raised new questions about melatonin’s long-term safety, particularly for cardiovascular health. While experts emphasize that the data doesn’t prove cause and effect, it does suggest that nightly supplementation may not be as benign as once believed.

In this article, we’ll explore:

• What is melatonin?
  
  

• What recent research reveals about long-term melatonin use and heart health.
  
  

• Why our modern approach to sleep often misses the root cause.
  
  

• And most importantly, safer, natural alternatives — from time-honored Chinese herbs to next-generation cannabinoids — that support deeper, more restorative rest without disrupting your body’s natural rhythm.
  
  

Because lasting rest doesn’t come from replacing the body’s melatonin — it comes from rebuilding the balance that helps it make its own, with safer, natural alternatives that support your body’s innate rhythm.

Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the brain in response to darkness. It signals the body that it’s time to rest and helps regulate circadian rhythm — the internal clock that governs when we sleep and wake.

In supplement form, melatonin can be useful for short-term challenges such as jet lag, travel recovery, or occasional insomnia. It gently cues the body toward sleep when rhythm and routine have been disrupted.

But the ease of access — and the perception that “natural” means “risk-free” — has led many to rely on melatonin nightly, often for months or years at a time.

New findings to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 suggest that long-term melatonin use may have unintended effects on cardiovascular wellness.

Researchers reviewed five years of electronic health records for more than 130,000 adults with chronic insomnia in the TriNetX Global Research Network — one of the largest real-world databases available. Their analysis compared individuals who had taken melatonin for at least a year with similar adults who had insomnia but no documented melatonin use.

The results were striking:

• Heart-failure diagnoses occurred in 4.6 percent of long-term melatonin users, compared with 2.7 percent of non-users — roughly a 90 percent higher risk over five years.
  
  

• In a secondary review, participants who filled at least two prescriptions 90 days apart had an 82 percent higher risk of developing heart failure.
  
  

• Hospitalizations for heart failure were more than three times higher among melatonin users (19 percent vs. 6.6 percent).
  
  

• Deaths from any cause were nearly twice as frequent in the melatonin group (7.8 percent vs. 4.3 percent).
  
  

“Melatonin supplements may not be as harmless as commonly assumed,” said Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, M.D., the study’s lead author and chief resident in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Primary Care. “If our study is confirmed, this could affect how doctors counsel patients about sleep aids.” (American Heart Association, 2025)

Although the study cannot prove cause and effect, the association between long-term melatonin use and increased heart-failure risk raised legitimate safety concerns. The data highlight how easily a supplement perceived as “natural” can become part of a nightly routine without the medical oversight that a prescription sleep aid would require.

In the United States, melatonin is sold over the counter and not regulated by the FDA in the same way as medications. As a result, dosages can vary widely from what’s printed on the label — sometimes exceeding the stated amount by tenfold — and purity may differ by brand. For people with underlying cardiovascular risk factors, this variability matters. A supplement intended to restore rest could, in some cases, further strain the systems responsible for recovery.

As Marie-Pierre St-Onge, Ph.D., chair of the AHA’s 2025 scientific statement on sleep and cardiometabolic health, explained, “People should be aware that melatonin should not be taken chronically without a proper indication.” (American Heart Association, 2025)

For now, experts advise caution rather than alarm. Melatonin remains useful for short-term circadian disruptions — but when used nightly and indefinitely, especially without medical guidance, its effects on the heart and overall health are far less certain.

Insomnia rarely appears on its own. It’s often the result of deeper imbalance — chronic stress, inflammation, hormonal shifts, or pain that disrupts the body’s natural rhythm. Taking melatonin can offer short-term relief, but it doesn’t address the underlying cause.

More importantly, when you take melatonin regularly, you’re supplying the body with a hormone it’s meant to make itself. Over time, that external signal can confuse your body’s own clock — dampening natural production and dulling the system that tells you when to rest and when to rise. What starts as support can become suppression.

When sleep is forced instead of facilitated, the body’s internal communication begins to break down. The delicate network that governs rest, repair, and recovery weakens — leading to fatigue, mood disruption, and even cardiovascular strain.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), sleep is viewed as a reflection of inner harmony — a mirror of how well the body’s energy, or Qi, flows and restores itself. Restless nights aren’t seen as a disorder to suppress; they’re messages from the body asking for balance. Sleeplessness may stem from stagnation, excess heat, emotional distress, or depletion — each calling for a different path to restoration.

Rather than forcing sleep through a single pathway, TCM seeks to recalibrate the system as a whole — nourishing the organs, soothing the mind, and restoring circulation so that rest arises naturally. It’s a holistic approach that honors the connection between mind, body, and environment — recognizing that true rest can’t be manufactured, only invited.

At Dragon Hemp, we carry these same principles forward with the belief that rest isn’t something you take — it’s something you restore.

Our remedies are grounded in centuries-old herbal wisdom and practitioner-formulated to work in harmony with the body’s own chemistry — not in place of it. For example, our Sleep Tincture blends time-honored herbs with next-generation cannabinoids to help regulate stress, ease inflammation, and support circulation — three systems essential to natural melatonin balance and deep, restorative sleep.

Let’s explore some of the traditional herbs that have been safely used for centuries — and are now gaining renewed validation through modern research.

At Dragon Hemp, we believe in restoring the body’s natural capacity to heal and sleep — not numbing it into compliance. That belief drives our practitioner-formulated blends of time-honored herbs and next-generation cannabinoids.

Let’s explore some of the botanicals and plant compounds that work gently with the body to promote rest, calm, and recovery — safely and sustainably.

1. Anemarrhena Root (Zhi Mu)

Known for its cooling properties, Anemarrhena helps ease internal heat and restlessness — the kind that manifests as racing thoughts or night sweats. It encourages the body to shift from agitation to calm, creating the right internal conditions for rest.

2. Licorice Root (Gan Cao)

Often called the “harmonizer” of herbal formulas, licorice root supports adrenal balance and helps regulate stress hormones that interfere with sleep. It also enhances the effectiveness of companion herbs.

3. Poria (Fu Ling)

A gentle fungal extract used to calm the mind and ease anxiety. Poria helps quiet mental chatter, supporting a steady transition into deep, sustained rest.

4. Schisandra Fruit (Wu Wei Zi)

A powerful adaptogen — meaning it helps the body adapt to stress. Schisandra enhances resilience, stabilizes mood, and helps regulate sleep cycles disrupted by overwork or emotional strain.

5. Sour Jujube Seed (Suan Zao Ren)

One of the most studied sleep herbs in Chinese medicine. Clinical research shows it can reduce sleep latency (time to fall asleep) and improve overall sleep quality. It’s particularly effective for those with insomnia related to stress or overexertion.

6. Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong)

Known for promoting healthy circulation and reducing tension, this root supports relaxation at a physical level — helping muscles release so the mind can follow.

Together, these herbs nourish what Chinese medicine calls Shen — the spirit. When Shen is calm, sleep arrives naturally.

Plant-based sleep support doesn’t end with traditional herbs. Advances in cannabinoid research have introduced new, non-intoxicating options that complement traditional formulas beautifully.

• CBD (Cannabidiol) works with the body’s endocannabinoid system to regulate stress response, ease inflammation, and promote emotional equilibrium. Many find it helps quiet the mental and physical restlessness that makes falling asleep difficult.
  
  

• CBN (Cannabinol) has shown early promise in clinical trials for improving sleep depth and reducing nighttime awakenings. It interacts more directly with receptors that govern the sleep-wake cycle, supporting a more restorative night’s rest without dependence or morning grogginess.
  
  

Together, CBD and CBN support what herbs begin — grounding the nervous system and helping the body stay in its natural rhythm.

If you’ve relied on melatonin for months or years, don’t panic — but do pause. It’s time to rebuild your relationship with rest.

1. Reassess your reliance. How long have you been taking melatonin nightly? Could it be masking an underlying issue such as stress, pain, or hormonal imbalance?
   
   

2. Talk to your practitioner. Especially if you have cardiovascular risk factors or chronic insomnia.
   
   

3. Reestablish rhythm. Consistent sleep and wake times, reduced screen exposure before bed, and an environment that’s dark, cool, and quiet all help the body’s natural melatonin return.
   
   

4. Replace, don’t remove. Introduce herbal and cannabinoid support as you taper off synthetic supplements. These natural agents work gradually, restoring balance rather than forcing it.
   
   

Listen inward. Sleep is not something to chase — it’s something to invite.

The emerging research on melatonin’s long-term safety reminds us of something simple but profound: shortcuts rarely lead to sustainable wellness. What helps tonight shouldn’t harm tomorrow.

Your body doesn’t want to be sedated; it wants to be supported.

It doesn’t want more chemicals; it wants care.

At Dragon Hemp, we combine ancient herbal wisdom and modern botanical science to help you reclaim the rest your body deserves — without compromise, dependency, or disruption.

Because when sleep restores rather than restrains, it doesn’t just refresh your nights. It transforms your days.

Dragon Hemp is the practitioner-founded apothecary that produces plant-based therapeutics formulated with a proprietary blend of next-generation botanicals and time honored herbal remedies.

For people seeking treatments that give relief & address the root cause.

Our herbal remedies are innovative and user-friendly, with wellness benefits that are effective & accessible to everyone.

So you can feel like yourself again.

Kevin Menard, LAc., is the leading practitioner in Sports Medicine Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine on the East End of Long Island, with clientele ranging from business executives and fitness professionals to wellness gurus and weekend warriors.

As he cultivated his practice, Kevin began integrating CBD & other cannabinoids, native botanicals, and herbs into his treatments, addressing conditions like pain, musculoskeletal injuries, insomnia, overall wellness, and so much more. 

Following the promising results from his herbal and CBD-infused treatments, Kevin expanded his work, introducing Dragon Hemp to support patient wellness beyond his clinic's walls.

Our Apothecary in Sag Harbor, New York was conceived as a beacon of rejuvenation and wellness in the Hamptons. Much more than a dispensary, at the core of the Dragon Hemp Apothecary is a commitment to education and understanding the benefits of time-honored herbal remedies synthesized with today’s advancements in cannabinoid research. 

Offering an array of products designed to align with the wellness needs of the Hamptons community, the store seeks to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern applications, making herbal medicine more compatible with our lifestyles today. Our unique apothecary in Sag Harbor not only represents a physical space but also embodies Dragon Hemp's ethos of premium, all-natural, effective wellness solutions, drawing from the rich heritage of the Hamptons and the innovative spirit of New York.

Not your conventional dispensary, our first-of-its-kind retail location, harmoniously balances tradition and innovation with an emphasis on experience and education. We invite you to step inside and let our herbal experts guide you on an exploration of the rejuvenating power of cannabinoids and traditional herbs in a setting that feels both timeless and contemporary.

Designed in collaboration with renowned Alfredo Paredes Studio, the apothecary embodies a sophisticated fusion of old-world tradition and contemporary application. Known for his 33-year tenure as Ralph Lauren Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Alfredo Paredes, a master of crafting memorable retail experiences, helped transform the space into a shining gem of Sag Harbor. Reflecting the premium, natural, and therapeutic essence of Dragon Hemp, every aspect of the store, including the unique furniture pieces from Paredes' line, contributes to an ambiance of refined tranquility and wellness. The design echoes a classic herbal pharmacy blended with a modern aesthetic, mirroring our brand ethos of contemporizing ancient herbal medicine for today’s applications. Read more about our Apothecary design in Forbes.

Standing out on Main Street in Sag Harbor with the glow of our distinctive neon sign, our unique retail store has become a design destination of its own -- beyond just wellness -- in one of the Hamptons’ most popular villages. Whether you’re looking for potent natural therapeutics to tackle pain & inflammation or legal THC products to enhance mood or improve sleep, our apothecary is your safe haven at 108 Main Street.

Our products are formulated to serve the four crucial daily needs most often seen in Kevin’s practice—Essential Wellbeing for comprehensive health, Rest & Restoration to foster rejuvenation, Aches & Pains for relief from discomfort, and Liniments for body care that enhances both physical and emotional wellbeing.

Available in four versatile forms—swift-absorbing tinctures, targeted balms, discreet gummies, and moisturizers—we ensure a suitable choice for every lifestyle and wellness routine.

We carefully select our organically grown ingredients, emphasizing sustainability to protect Earth's biodiversity. 

We believe in transparency in all our processes, from ingredient selection to the methods used by our CBD farmers, who lead the sustainable agriculture charge and concentrate on ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration.

We're not just about products but about nurturing an understanding of traditional herbal practices and helping people make healthy decisions. 

With respect, we introduce newcomers to the benefits of age old herbal wisdom. 

Our aim is a future where well-being stems from nature, combining timeless knowledge with today's research.

Discover the distinctive characteristics of each herb in our Ingredient Index.