Supporting Sleep with Botanicals
In the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice is fast approaching. This is a time of very long nights and even shorter days. There are celebrations abound: this is a time of festivals, feasting, singing, dancing, and spending time with the people we love. All that partying, however, paired with the irregular sunshine can throw our sleep cycles out of balance. We’ve gathered our favourite botanical bedtime rituals and recipes in support of a restful silent night.
Have a massage
This sleep balm is an elevation to a long-standing Kolya Apothecary favourite. Alecia adapted the recipe to support restful sleep and relaxation. Skin-loving oils are combined with natural beeswax and Earth’s Aromatique Winding Down essential oil blend. It is an exquisitely soft bouquet of organic lavender, sweet marjoram, petitgrain, and ylang ylang: its balanced aroma is ideal for relaxation. Feel free to substitute your favourite sleepy time scents. At bedtime, massage a dime-sized amount into the chest, shoulders, bottom of the feet, the temples, or anywhere else desired. Observing proper essential oil dilution ratios, this balm is safe for use on children over 6.
Sleep Balm
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Ingredients
- ¼ cup Grapeseed Oil
- 1/4 cup Jojoba Oil
- 2 tbsp Beeswax
- 1 tsp Vitamin E
- 60 drops Winding Down Essential Oil Blend or your favourite sleepy time essential oil blend
Instructions
- In a double broiler over low to medium heat, measure and pour in the oils and beeswax.
- Stir occasionally until the beeswax is completely dissolved, then remove from heat.
- Add the vitamin E and essential oil blend of choice, then pour into metal tins or weck jars and enjoy.
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Sleep Balm
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Ingredients
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Recipe Notes
Home Use: Before bed, apply a dime size amount (or as much as desired) of the balm to the bottom of feet, chest or upper back and/or around the nose, then gently massage in.
This recipe is safe to use on children ages 6+.
Recipe by Kolya's botanical team, adapted by Alecia.
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Have a soak
Baths are big in the realm of self-care these days. With bubbles, books, brushes, caddies, candles, and countless other bath accessories at our disposal, sometimes it can be nice to simplify the process and just relax. This Snooze Bath Bomb from Bathorium is straight to the point. Suitable for all skin types, this bath bomb turns your bathwater a soothing shade of hibiscus violet. Epsom salts relax tired muscles. Bergamot and patchouli relaxes the mind while cocoa butter moisturizes the skin. A simple and elegant pre-bedtime ritual. There’s nothing better.
Have a sip
Crack open a book and settle down with Amy’s Goodnight Moon Blue Hot Chocolate. This herbal hot chocolate is rich with organic cocoa butter and full-fat coconut milk. We love it brewed with Earth’s Aromatique’s Sleepy Time Loose Leaf Tea: chamomile, passionflower, and rose pairs with the earthy, sedative qualities of valerian. Children may prefer the simpler flavour of plain chamomile or mint instead, but any non-caffeinated tea will do. Its beautiful blue colour comes from Organika’s Blue Matcha and may be swapped for Earth’s Aromatique Butterfly Pea Flower, or simply omitted for a white hot chocolate. Simply brew the ingredients together in a pot until the cocoa butter melts, then strain into a blender with Medicine Flower natural vanilla flavouring. Blend until frothy and enjoy immediately. This unique beverage is an absolute dream.
Goodnight Moon Blue Hot Chocolate
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Goodnight Moon Blue Hot Chocolate
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Earth's Aromatique Sleepy Time Tea or tea of choice; brewed
- 1 1/4 cup Coconut Milk full fat
- 1 oz Cocoa Butter
- 1 tbsp Raw Honey
- 1/2 tsp Butterfly Pea Flower heaping; grind up the butterfly pea flowers if they're not pre-ground
- 1 pinch Himalayan Salt
- 3 drops Medicine Flower Vanilla Flavouring or flavour of choice
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients (except flavouring drops) into a medium pot and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Continue to simmer until the cocoa butter melts, then carefully transfer to a blender.
- Add the flavouring drops and blend on high speed for 30 seconds.
- Pour into mugs and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
Feel free to switch out the tea blend for different flavourings and effects (ie- mint or chamomile).
Recipe inspired by Elena's Pantry White Hot Chocolate; adapted by Amy.
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Work while you sleep
In these dry, dark times, our winter-laden skin often needs all the moisture it can get. We love Eminence’s Bright Skin Overnight Correcting Cream. Its ultra-rich formula is applied before bed to address the look of tired or hyperpigmented skin. Plant extracts work hard while you rest so you wake up looking naturally luminous and vibrant.
In this time of holidays and hectic nights, it’s important to wind down and give the body time to recharge. A full night of sleep will allow you to be at your very best with your family and loved ones. What are your bedtime rituals? Support a healthy bedtime regime and sleep soundly.
