Hey everyone, we’re Phil and Brodie, cofounders of Tapeher, parents of four, and sleep-obsessed (in the best way). After years of running on fumes, early workouts, and busy nights, we realised better sleep wasn’t about just going to bed earlier, it was about breathing better and trusting our body’s natural rhythms.
Recently, a new study published via NBC News caught our attention. It found that adults who took melatonin for a year or more had 90% higher odds of heart failure compared to those who didn’t use it long-term. Over 130,000 adults with insomnia were studied, and while this doesn’t prove melatonin causes heart issues, it’s an important reminder that supplements aren’t always risk-free.
What the Experts Are Saying
Neuroscientist and Stanford professor Dr. Andrew Huberman has been vocal about the potential downsides of long-term melatonin use. In multiple episodes and resources from the Huberman Lab Podcast and verified summaries like Exuberant Life’s overview, he outlines several key concerns:
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It’s a hormone, not a vitamin. Huberman notes that melatonin plays an important role in reproductive and developmental systems, meaning that taking it exogenously may disrupt hormonal balance, particularly in children and teens.
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Supplement inconsistency. Studies have shown that over-the-counter melatonin often contains wildly inaccurate doses, sometimes up to 3 to 6 mg or more, far exceeding what the body naturally produces. (Huberman source)
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Limited long-term benefit. Huberman emphasises that melatonin may help you fall asleep faster but doesn’t reliably improve deep or REM sleep over time. (Huberman source)
- Behaviour over supplementation. He recommends focusing on lifestyle, morning sunlight, temperature regulation, and nasal breathing, as the foundation for healthy circadian rhythm support. (Huberman on sleep hygiene)
What Happens When You Rely on Melatonin
When you take melatonin consistently, your body can start depending on that external signal to fall asleep instead of making its own. Over time, that can actually reduce your natural melatonin production and make sleep feel even harder without it.
Research from the American Heart Association also suggests there may be deeper physiological risks, including potential heart strain when used long term. Your sleep hormones, circadian rhythm, and heart health are all interconnected, so supporting them naturally is key.
Our Approach at Tapeher
When we realised how fragile our sleep had become (and how much we relied on caffeine to survive the mornings), we started small. We focused on how we were breathing at night, and it changed everything.
Supporting nasal breathing overnight naturally:
• Helps regulate your body’s melatonin rhythm
• Reduces micro-awakenings
• Improves REM and deep sleep
• Keeps your nervous system calm and restorative
That discovery inspired Tapeher, designed by Brodie after struggling with claustrophobic, full-coverage tapes on the market. Ours are gentle, hypoallergenic, and made for real people who just want to wake up feeling like themselves again.
Here’s exactly what worked for us:
- Routine: We get into bed and start winding down right after putting the kids to sleep. A consistent routine makes a huge difference.
- Nasal breathing: We stopped mouth breathing at night. Mouth breathing causes hundreds of micro-awakenings, while nasal breathing activates your parasympathetic system — keeping you calmer, relaxed, and asleep longer.
- Cold bedroom: We keep our room cold — cooling mattress, fan, the works. A cooler body temperature leads to deeper sleep.
- No late-night eating: We avoid food at least two hours before bed so our body can focus on recovery, not digestion.
Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling with sleep, we get it, we’ve been there. But before you reach for another supplement, consider how your body was meant to sleep: naturally, rhythmically, and through your nose.
Better breathing, deeper rest, and no synthetic hormones required.
Breathe better. Sleep deeper. Wake up human again.
– Phil & Brodie
Co-Founders, Tapeher