How To Make an Ayurvedic sleeping Elixir
As I write this post, we are heading into Vata season. Vata is dry, light, cold, mobile, and subtle. When we have too much Vata in our systems, we can feel anxious and ungrounded, which can lead to sleep disturbances. Thankfully, we can help to balance Vata and welcome sleep by working with, instead of against, our circadian rhythms. For instance, we can aim to be asleep by 10 p.m. to make the most of the heavy, grounded qualities of Kapha time (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.). We can also spend the last hour before bed winding down from the activities of the day and preparing for sleep. It can feel nourishing and grounding to practice restorative or Yin yoga and meditate during this time.
Another nourishing and grounding bedtime ritual is to drink a bedtime rasayana.
A rasayana is an Ayurvedic elixir that promotes health and longevity. The following rasayana is meant to be drunk at bedtime to promote a sweet and restful sleep. The recipe comes to us courtesy of the Himalayan Institute. Sweet dreams!
Ingredients:
4-6 ounces organic milk from happy A2 cows. If you live in the southwest or south-central Ohio, I recommend milk from Snowville Creamery.
One pinch each of: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and saffron.
A teaspoon of ghee.
Raw honey to taste, approximately one teaspoon.
Recipe:
Combine milk, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, saffron, and ghee in a small saucepan.
Bring mixture to a simmer and simmer for about three minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat and let sit for a minute or so until it is slightly warmer than lukewarm.
Add raw honey and enjoy.
