The Effects of Milk Collected at Night in Treating Anxiety and Insomnia

Did you know that milk collected at night might actually help with anxiety and insomnia? Sounds a little odd, right? However, according to research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food earlier this year, it could be true. We’ve all heard about having a glass of warm milk before bed to help you sleep, so maybe it’s not that strange after all.

So, what’s the deal with night milk? Well, it turns out that milk collected at night has more calming qualities than the milk you’d get during the day. The study showed that when mice were given night milk, they were much more relaxed and less anxious than those who drank day milk. The mice that had night milk were more willing to explore new areas, which suggests they felt less anxious. Interestingly, the effects of the night milk were similar to diazepam, a common drug used to treat anxiety. The secret? Night milk has more tryptophan (which helps with sleep) and melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep.

Night Milk vs. Day Milk: The Study

Here’s how the study worked: the mice were tested about an hour after they had either night milk, day milk, or just water. The ones that had night milk were a lot less active than the others. The ones treated with diazepam were the most relaxed. There was also a test to see how well the mice could balance. They had to stay on a rotating bar for 20 minutes, and the researchers counted how many times they fell. Mice that drank night milk fell about 4-5 times, which was twice as much as the ones given day milk. The diazepam-treated mice fell even more—about 9 times. The control mice (who just had water) only fell twice.

Could Night Milk Be a Natural Remedy?

If this research holds up, night milk could be a game-changer for treating anxiety and insomnia. Right now, most people take medications for these conditions, but night milk could be a more natural option. There’s still a lot more research that needs to be done, but so far, things look pretty promising.

One of the big issues with medications is that people can become dependent on them. Some folks end up taking these drugs for years, even their whole lives. If night milk works, it could help solve this problem. But of course, there are a few things to consider. For one, not everyone can have dairy. So, if you’re allergic or lactose intolerant, this won’t be a solution for you. Another potential issue is that the results might not be the same for humans as they were for mice. The study was done on mice, after all, so who knows if it’ll work the same way for us?

What Could Go Wrong?

It’s possible this idea won’t work as well in humans, and that’s something we won’t know until more research is done. If night milk does work, though, it could change the way anxiety and insomnia are treated. But here’s something to think about: if people don’t need prescriptions for night milk, it might hurt the profits of pharmaceutical companies. This could lead to less funding for research into natural remedies, which would be a real shame.

Why Science Matters

We live in a time where new discoveries are made all the time, and they can really improve our lives. Medications have their place, but they’re not always the best solution. They can be addictive, expensive, and sometimes unhealthy. That’s why looking into alternatives, like night milk, is so important. It could be a healthier, more natural way to deal with anxiety and insomnia, and who knows what other benefits it might bring?

Sources:

1. Lee, J., Daugherty, M., Eskierka, J., & Hamelin, D. (2019). The Role of Night Milk in Sleep Disorders.
2. Journal of Medicinal Food. (2019). Effects of Night Milk on Anxiety and Sleep Quality.
3. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (2019). Definition of Compassion.