Dietary Remedies for Better Sleep
Ancient health practitioners believed “poor sleep is a major problem for the elderly” and pointed out that elderly insomnia is mostly due to deficiency patterns, so gentle nourishing foods are recommended. Here are several dietary remedies to help improve sleep quality in the elderly.
· Fresh lily bulbs 50g, soaked in clean water overnight. Take 15g each of raw and cooked sour jujube seeds, decocted and filtered, then use the liquid to cook the lilies until soft, consuming both the lilies and the broth. Alternatively, mix 60–90g fresh lilies with honey, steam until cooked, and consume before bedtime. Regular consumption calms the mind and soothes the spirit, effective for neurasthenia and menopausal syndrome.
· 30 lotus seeds (lotus hearts), decocted with a pinch of salt, taken before bed each night to calm the spirit and replenish qi. Alternatively, 1–2g lotus heart core steeped in boiling water as tea.
· 15–30g longan meat, added with sugar, decocted and consumed to nourish the heart and spleen, enrich blood, and calm the spirit.
· 20 large jujubes, 7 green onions, decocted and consumed to treat deficiency-related insomnia. Or use 30g large jujubes, 30g coix seed, 10g processed licorice, decocted and drink the soup while eating the jujubes. Effective for insomnia caused by emotional depression or excessive thinking, damaging the heart and spleen.
· 30g walnut kernels, 30g black sesame seeds, 80g mulberry leaves, ground into paste, made into pills weighing 3g each, 3 pills twice daily. Treats mental fatigue, forgetfulness, insomnia, and vivid dreams.
· 1 liang (50g) honey mixed with a cup of warm water, consumed before bedtime to aid falling asleep.
· One pig heart, a little salt, boiled and eaten to treat heart deficiency-related insomnia.
· Half a bottle of beer, consumed 30 minutes before bedtime, continuously for several weeks. Promotes immediate sleep and ensures uninterrupted, deep sleep throughout the night.