Saffron Sleep Tonic

One of the most common symptoms that new clients struggle with when we begin our work together is poor sleep; sometimes they have a difficult time falling asleep, or staying asleep, or waking too early and feeling unrested. “I don’t know what it is!” They all report.

But I do know what it is. And the root cause is the same for each of them.

The wind in the bedroom

When sleep is elusive, Vata dosha – the wind and ether element – is involved.

If you’re the type of sleeper who has trouble falling asleep, your mind is a wind tunnel, your body fidgets, and your thoughts loop or jump, this is pure Vata dosha elevation. You’ll struggle most at bedtime, but sometimes will wake between 2-4am with anxiety or unease. Vata dosha likely became elevated because of overstimulation, irregular routines, travel, worry, excessive screen time, dehydration, light/easy meals too late.

If you’re the type of sleeper who falls asleep fine, but then between 12-2am or 2-4am, often overheated, thirsty or mentally “on,” Vata dosha is elevated but it’s also elevated pitta dosha as it swirls through your bedroom. Overworking, late-night screens, late heavy/spicy meals, unresolved conflict, or competitive drive spilling into night (ie: late training or exercise) are all likely culprits.

The specific ways of combatting both of these negative sleep patterns are different depending on the dosha involved. But no matter what pattern you’re experiencing, this  Saffron Sleepy Tonic will help cure what ails you.

How does this sleepy tonic work?

This Saffron Sleepy Tonic is basically a lullaby in liquid form. The ingredients are straightforward, but when combined they work on several levels to calm the wind, cool the fire and feed the tissues that govern deep rest.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Almond milk: is sweet and cooling and pacifies Vata + Pitta dosha. Almonds provide tryptophan plus healthy fats to steady blood sugar, and they build ojas (vitality,) and they nourish and ground nervous system tissue.
• Ghee: is heavy, unctuous and cooling which serves to ground the nervous system. Ghee provides sustained slow-release energy and lubricate nerve pathways, signaling calm instead of scattered energy. Ghee is a carrier for herbs and spices deep into the tissues, increasing mental clarity while reducing anxiety.
• Saffron: is sweet, bitter and slightly heating. It improves mood, relaxes the mind and supports serotonin regulation. Saffron opens subtle channels and is celebrated for it’s ability to balance all three doshas, particularly Pitta’s emotional intensity.
• Cardamom: is sweet, pungent and slightly cooling. It helps to boost the digestibility of the milk and prevents the buildup of ama overnight. Cardamom gently awakes the heart center, making the whole drink uplifting instead of sedative-heavy.
• Ashwagandha: is the ingredient that turns this nighttime ritual into medicine. This special and celebrated traditional herb works as a rejuvenative for nervous system tissue, reducing hyperactivity in nerve pathways. It also helps to moderate cortisol, helping the body to shift from fight/flight to rest/digest. And, it promotes non-REM sleep states so you aren’t just “clocking hours,” you’re actually restoring during your rest.

Physiologically, this nighttime tonic provides stable blood sugar, nervous system lubrication, mild mood-lifting plant compounds, and digestive ease — the exact combo needed for both falling asleep and staying asleep.

Added benefits

In addition to improving your sleep on the spot, this Saffron Sleep Tonic has the added benefit of boosting ojas (vitality, or the savings account of energy and juicyness that allows us to keep pinning it in all the ways that are important to us) AND over time, it will ground vata dosha and contribute to a greater bioenergetic balance in the body. What does this look like? Healthier digestion, glowing skin, a calm mind, fewer racing thoughts, and a steadiness of resilience and athletic performance.

This Saffron Sleepy Tonic:

Is a nighttime ritual that’s easy to make and keep. Drinking this delicious, gentle tonic 1-2 hours before bedtime will help you slide into deep rest more easily. Unlike a sedative, which simply overrides the anxiety and wind blowing through your being, this bedtime tonic will help you to turn the tide on the anxiety and overactivity that are keeping you awake, and reduce the Vata wind for good.

It’s easy to make with the ingredients you already have in your pantry, but of course there are a few little extras in the recipe below. I make my own fresh almond milk and share directions with you in the recipe below. And lastly, you might need to purchase saffron and ashwagandha but these will be ingredients you’ll be happy to have on hand; for more sleepy tonic, and for other recipes in this library too.