Dreams In A Mug

This week has been a particularly busy one for me and I confess to having a few late night finishes with early starts to get my workload completed and deadlines met.  Burning the candle at both ends is something I try to avoid but on the rare occasion that it does happen, my sleep unfortunately is the casualty in this somewhat chaotic battlefield.  

I don’t know about you but whether it’s demanding schedules or workloads, if I spend a few days out of sync with my usual sleep pattern… I need a little time to adjust.

So this weekend, I’m making us this simple but soothing plant based bedtime drink to help us drift off to sleep.  It uses lavender which has a calming and relaxing effect on the mind and can induce a deep sleep.  In addition, milk contains amino acid known as Tryptophan and a hormone called melatonin and together they also help to induce sleep.  Coconut and Almond milk have similar qualities and can be used as a dairy free option. So why not elicit those memories of home and childhood and try this hot bedtime drink to snuggle under the duvet with and encourage those Zzzzzzzzzzz!

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients - Makes 2 cups

2 Cups of Milk or Almond/Coconut Milk (dairy free option)

2 Teaspoons of Dried Lavender

Honey (Organic and local if possible)

METHOD
In a small saucepan, gently heat your milk and lavender

Stir frequently and do not let boil – medium heat

Simmer for around 15 minutes

Remove from heat and strain the lavender

Pour into cups, stir in honey (to taste) and enjoy!

Sweet Dreams!

Written by Nicole McKendry
#herbalist #insomnia #recipe #lavendertea