The Drug-Free, Natural Way to Fall Asleep

Every night during my childhood my mom tucked me in, gently kissing my small puckered lips. The scent of her freshly washed face and night cream smelled like love. Many nights, she gave me a warm glass of milk to help me sleep. I’ve often wondered about this old wives’ tale, recently learning its truth. At a time when families owned their own cows, milking occurred right before dawn. Melatonin, a natural horomone that many people use to find sleep and help them relax, is found in considerably higher amounts in the morning milk. This same horomone also helps baby calves establish their daily rhythm.

Sadly, I grew to hate milk during my first job after college. I lived in a remote area of New Mexico where frequent power failures would often leave me with an unexpected gulp of rancid milk. This all changed with my first sip of Jersey milk, its silky-sweet richness changing my standard for milk forever. Now, I enjoy the sweet pleasure of a glass of milk, ice cold or gently warmed, and consider life with a milking cow of my own.

For those of you who find it difficult to settle in at night, consider this ritual to help you push away the day’s cares and settle into a deep, restorative sleep. I find unpasteurized, non-homogenized the most satisfying in flavor. 

How to properly warm milk: 

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat milk gently. Do not boil or use intense heat. Scorched milk can produce a burnt flavor and adversely affect the milk’s nutritional makeup.

Warm milk brings a subtle sweetness to your nighttime routine. I enjoy the ritual of stirring the milk in a saucepan as I push the day’s cares away. A microwave also works well so long as you stop and stir frequently, avoiding hot spots within your mug or glass.