An Ayurvedic Drink for Better Sleep

Lazy morning. African-american woman stretching, sitting on bed

Ayurveda is an ancient wisdom that originated in India. It is a beautiful science that focuses on various aspects of an individual when considering their health. Some of these aspects are sex, sleep, and digestion! I absolutely love it, so much so that I can’t help but share some pearls here. I live in the city that never sleeps so it only seems appropriate to talk about better sleep!

I used to sleep like a log—you could NOT wake me up. My sister has stories of earthquakes in our home back in India where she would try to wake me up, but I would be happily asleep and unconcerned. Man, I miss those times when sleep came easy!

Ayurveda on Insomnia

Rules of good healthy sleep at the night. List of advice to get rid of insomnia. Helpful brochure with guideline. Recommendation for good slepping. Flat illustrationAccording to Ayurveda, our lifestyle choices (diet, movement, media consumption) can create imbalances. Some of these imbalances manifest as insomnia or lack of quality sleep.

Over the last year, I was dealing with multiple stressors and my sleep was impacted big time. I had trouble falling asleep and when I did fall asleep my mind would race like a horse. Somewhere in the process, I forgot to apply my Ayurvedic education to myself—until recently. And guess what? It worked!

Ayurveda talks about doshic imbalances: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. For this post, I want you to remember Vata. It is composed of two lightweight elements, air and ether!

Air moves things and ether creates space. Together they create movement and spaciness/zoning out in a person. According to Ayurveda, when Vata is high in the mind, sleep evades us. Our mind is running amok (the air playing havoc).

Ayurvedic Herbs for Better Sleep

A simple herbal concoction can help provide our nervous system the support to counteract the airy mental chatter and fall into a peaceful slumber. We need just four ingredients (five, if you count water as an ingredient). Let me introduce the stars of this concoction: ashwaganda and nutmeg.

Ashwagandha: It is a powerhouse adaptogen that helps our nervous system better fight stress! It is a warming spice that helps reduce symptoms of anxiety, restlessness, and even cold feet!

Nutmeg: This is a wonderful spice that has a natural sedative effect. It is advised to use nutmeg in moderation, precisely because of this.

How to Make an Ayurvedic Drink for Better Sleep

A top-down view of Indian herbal Masala Chai, a traditional beverage made with milk and spices, perfect for boosting immunity during winter, presented in two cups.

Below is the recipe for a simple night drink that incorporates both ashwagandha and nutmeg to help you get snug as a bug in a rug.

You will need:

  • ½ cup plant-based milk. Feel free to use regular milk. I prefer oat milk.
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon ashwagandha powder
  • ¼ teaspoon or less of nutmeg powder. I recommend using whole nutmeg and quickly grating it. It is the simplest thing to do and is more impactful than dried nutmeg.
  • Maple syrup or date syrup to taste (I recommend not exceeding 1/2 teaspoon)

Mix everything in a pot and bring to a boil. Mixing often. Pour and enjoy!

It Works!

After two days of drinking this concoction, my sleep improved, and my mental chatter calmed down. Ashwagandha is very safe to use, and I use it daily. However, I recommend using nutmeg in moderation (two to three times per week) because it is quite strong and can lead you to feel sleepy if you use it for five or six days consecutively.

Above anything else, I recommend checking with your physician and discussing contraindications with any existing medications. This is not medical advice.

Reprinted with permission from www.deeplysimple.info
Vidushi Sandhir

Vidushi Sandhir is a 1:1 wellness and personal transformation coach, podcast host, and workshop facilitator. She specializes in heart-centered practices for holistic personal growth and physical wellness. Vidushi worked as a Program Manager in fast-paced Corporate America for over 11 years. A profound sense of dissatisfaction and fatigue prompted her to explore holistic healing and start her coaching practice.

As the Founder of Deeply Simple Wellness, Vidushi coaches through practices that integrate the wisdom of Ayurveda, somatic-informed embodiment techniques, and mindful meditation for a mind-body approach. Her unique approach recognizes that one-size-fits-all solutions have limitations. 

She holds a Master’s in Information Systems from Indiana University, Bloomington. Through her years in Corporate America, she committed to continual learning in the field of holistic wellness. She holds a certification in Integrated Trauma Coaching (somatic-informed) from Aura Institute, studied Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine at CA College of Ayurveda, and earned recognition as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher from the School of Positive Transformation. Additionally, she is a certified Reiki Practitioner from the NYC Reiki Center and has received training as a Life Coach. She also completed Level 1 training in Marma from Bhakti Center.

 

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