What To Do When You Can’t Sleep: Honey and Cinnamon
I couldn’t get to sleep last night.
Nothing I tried worked, so I finally gave up and got up. I popped some popcorn and watched a movie. When I tried again a little after 2:00 am, I still couldn’t sleep. I don’t know what time it was when I finally dropped off, but I sure wasn’t ready to get up this morning.
An effect of lack of sleep is lack of ambition. I’ve managed to put off most of the things that I intended to do today – like mowing the lawn.
Lack of concentration can also result from lack of sleep. I was browsing online – in a forum for Baby Boomers. I saw a thread entitled “The Elderly and Problems Sleeping”. Now, usually, I would take exception to that word “elderly”. At 60, I don’t consider myself elderly – except after a night like last night.
My son, whenever he is trying to cajole me into doing something I don’t really want to do, says, “Come on, Mom – you’re only as old as you feel.” Today, I feel ancient.
Anyway, I thought that I would read the postings about the sleep problems of the elderly, but when I tried to click on the thread, either my concentration or my hand-eye coordination failed, and I ended up clicking on the thread above it.
That one was entitled “The Health Benefits of Honey and Cinnamon.”
Oh, well, some times you have to play the hand you’re dealt or run with the ball that is thrown to you.
It seems that honey and cinnamon have a long tradition as herbal remedies for numerous conditions. It is said to be beneficial for preventing heart attack and reducing the pain of arthritis. The dosage is one cup of hot water, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 teaspoons of honey. Taken every day, it is supposed to reduce inflammation.
Honey and cinnamon not only help the symptoms of stomach problems and the flu, but also have been proven to strengthen the immune system for the prevention of viral and bacterial infections, and greatly help white blood cells fight disease.
Used in combination with a healthy lifestyle, daily usage of 3 or 4 times a day of both ingredients has been recommended to help eliminate many elderly (there’s that word again!) problems, to maintain good health and live a longer life.
Furthermore there is evidence that fat formation is prevented if one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon mixed into a cup of boiled water is routinely taken before breakfast and before bed, as it helps reduce weight – even in obese people!
In some instances, honey and cinnamon have been shown to be an effective anti-cancer agent – this results partly from their ability to strengthen the immune system as well as their cleansing qualities.
Finally, honey used as a paste is helpful in soothing rashes and skin eruptions, from the simple pimple to the more serious eczema and even ringworm.
The only benefit that the thread didn’t mention is that a tablespoon of honey in a cup of warm milk with a sprinkling of nutmeg (but cinnamon would probably work, too) can help you get to sleep. Imagine that!
