The Original Bedtime Lavender Chamomile Vanilla Milk

Bedtime Lavender Chamomile Vanilla Milk

Bedtime Lavender Chamomile Vanilla Milk, January 30, 2019. Today I want to share a favorite bedtime drink of mine for promoting relaxation and sleep. It is called Bedtime Lavender Chamomile Vanilla Milk, and it is a delicious item to add to your bedtime routine. So, if sleep is a problem with you then keep reading for more info.

The Problem

You are far from being alone if you struggle to relax or get quality rest. Many of us have so much life piled on our plate that it affects our ability to unwind at the end of the day. This is just unhealthy and needs to change. As science learns more and more about our physical makeup, we are becoming more aware of the really bad habits our society has developed that are keeping us from getting a good rest. Rest is restorative, healing, and an essential component of our well-being, and not getting good rest contributes to many physical and emotional ailments.

All you need to do is look at the statistics for the physical and emotional health of our nation to see that good sleep is a very real issue. According to the American Sleep Association 50-70 million Americans have a sleep disorder (1). Furthermore, a 2013 Gallup poll found that about 40% of Americans get less than 7 hours of sleep a night (2), and seven to nine hours is the recommended amount. While sleep is instinctive many of us need more help getting quality sleep. Therefore, this is where self-care becomes important.

The Solution

Self-care is often perceived as an indulgence or extra thing to do if there is time. However, this is an attitude that needs to change. Therefore, we need to stop looking at self-care as a luxury to be done if there’s time and put it in its proper framework. Self-care is now a health/wellness issue and should be a priority. And while there are many ways to practice self-care healthy bedtime routines are a good place to start because they promote good sleep- something we are nationally short of right now.

I am a huge fan of routines because they work, and bedtime routines are a way to train your body to rest. When we do them regularly, they become a part of us, and we act more instinctively. Additionally, these routines cue our body that sleep time is coming. This mentally and physically prepares us to sleep. And while there aren’t a lot of studies on routines there is a definite indication that bedtime routines play a big part in good sleep habits. Questionnaires were given to mothers of over 10,000 children in one study. The results showed a definite relationship between bedtime routines and good sleep in children (3).

There are a few ways to create and nurture healthy bedtime rituals starting with turning off our devices and other blue-light emitting items that interfere with our rest an hour or two before sleep. Other ways to promote sleep are reading (an actual book), hot baths, herbal teas, and more. Good sleep is a struggle for me, so one of the bedtime rituals I have established for myself is drinking tea at night while reading. Consequently, my nights are more restful now.

A Natural Idea to Help

Lately, that tea has turned into my own concoction I call Bedtime Lavender Chamomile Vanilla Milk. Herbs are a hobby of mine, so making them a part of my health/wellness routine is important. Lavender and chamomile are calming herbs which is a much-needed thing in my life. Stress never goes away entirely, so finding ways to manage it is important because stress makes sleep more challenging. Herbs are often helpful here. Lavender and chamomile have a long tradition of being wonderful herbs for calming, and calmness is just what I need.

The base for this “tea” is almond milk as almonds are a big love of mine not to mention they play a big part of my health/wellness strategy for their many benefits. Interestingly, almonds have melatonin in them and are on the list of recommended foods that promote sleep by the Sleep Foundation (4). So, I simmer almond milk with both a teaspoon of dried lavender and a teaspoon of dried chamomile (from my own garden!). I want a good strong tea, so the herb amounts are generous. To this I add some vanilla seeds from a pod which rounds this drink out nicely. Lastly, honey to this creamy, herbal concoction to give it a bit of sweetness.

As a side note, the French lavender makes the tea a rather ghastly grey color- not pretty at all. However, this doesn’t matter at all for consumption, but if you want your tea to be pretty then add one drop of purple food coloring.

This lovely and creamy concoction goes upstairs with me and a book into bed for a relaxing evening. Right now I am reading “Brain Food” by Lisa Mosconi (highly informing and recommended). Read on below for how to make it and make it a part of your bedtime routine. And if you want more tips on how to sleep better while you are sipping your bedtime milk then read this post here. So, now for the recipe for Lavender Chamomile Vanilla Bedtime Milk.

Bedtime Lavender Chamomile and Vanilla Milk

A cup of good, unsweetened almond milk

1 tsp. of dried chamomile flowers

1 tsp. of dried lavender buds

A few vanilla seeds from pod (or use a bit of pure vanilla extract)

Raw honey to taste

Optional: one drop of purple food coloring

First, simmer almond milk with herbs and vanilla for a few minutes, but don’t boil. Next, strain herbs and pour milk into mug. And lastly, add honey and food coloring. Enjoy!

Like this drink? Try this mood-boosting mocha here:

Mood-Boosting Turmeric Mocha Latte Recipe

Don’t forget to check out SomeTyme Place shop for great artisan products like this Sweet Lavender Body Lotion here:

Sweet Lavender Body Lotion

Sources Used:

1. www.sleepassociation.org/about-sleep/sleep-statistics/
2. news.gallup.com/poll/166553/less-recommended-amount-sleep.aspx
3. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4402657/
4. www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/food-and-drink-promote-good-nights-sleep