My #momsays warm milk with nutmeg is the elixir you need for a good night’s sleep

Ladies for those nights you spend tossing and turning, here is a solution straight from a mother’s kitchen. Enter: nutmeg with its sleep-inducing powers.
nutmeg
Trust this maa ka nuskha if you want to sleep better. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Published by Aishwarya Chopra
Published On: 27 Mar 2020, 04:43 pm IST
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After hours of working, cleaning, cooking, and spending a few guilty hours binge-watching shows–I was finally ready to enjoy my deep slumber. I closed my eyes, and waited and water–but there was no sign of sleep. Not again! It had been weeks since I’d slept properly.

However, this time I was determined to change my situation. So naturally, I took the help of Dr Google and followed whatever he said I must do to induce sleep. I tried meditation, got distracted, so I picked up a book instead and read with soothing music playing in the background. I even tried aromatherapy! Nothing seemed to put me into a deep slumber until my mother came to my rescue.

Also read: Can’t sleep? These 6 podcasts, tools, and YouTube videos can help you doze off

Thankfully, my mother had an aromatic solution for sleepless nights
My mother came to me with a warm beverage with a calming aroma. She smilingly put it in my hands and I happily took a sip. It instantly felt like a warm hug in a cup. This delicious beverage put me at ease almost instantly, making the possibility of a deep slumber a closer reality. I smilingly held onto the mug and sipped this warm concoction till there was nothing left.

After weeks of struggle, when I closed my eyes I could finally sink into a deeply restful state of sleep. The next day I woke up feeling light and leaped out my bed full of energy and joy.

What was this magical sleep elixir though?
What my mom actually gave me was a mug of hot milk with nutmeg. The fragrant-rich nutmeg or jaiphal is one of the most popular spices in Indian cooking. With its earthy yet sweet flavour, it also has made its way into healing tonics and kitchens around the globe.

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Nutmeg or jaiphal is revered in Ayurvedic texts for its ability to induce sleep and improve digestion amongst other things. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

According to Ayurveda, nutmeg with its warm effect on the body and nutty flavour offers pain and inflammation relief, detoxifies body, better skin, better digestion, and a good night’s sleep. This Ayurvedic spice has a sedative quality for both the body and mind.

In a recent study chronicled in the US National Library of Medicine on the ethnobotany of nutmeg, it was found that feeding nutmeg oil to rats reduced their nighttime body movements and induced sleep.

It also found that nutmeg oil has greater aromatherapeutic potency than lavender oil. This creates a calming effect, reduces anxiety and improves sleep quality within small animals. Jaiphal is also a good source of magnesium which is a mineral that reduces nerve excitation. It stimulates serotonin release contributing to feeling well and happy.

So ladies, it’s time to bid adieu to sleepless nights with nutmeg milk. Hope you have a good one!

About The Author
Aishwarya Chopra
Aishwarya Chopra

Analysing the intricacies of life is my forte, from the matrix of books to anonymous stories of people's expressions and signatures. Everything is a mystery waiting to be uncovered.

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