A doctor has recommended a cost-effective, straightforward, and natural beverage to help those who struggle with sleep issues. It comes as Mental Health UK revealed that nearly one in five people are deprived of an adequate amount of sleep each night.

Insufficient sleep can deplete your energy, dampen your spirits, and even negatively impact your immune system. Dr Eric Berg, a specialist in healthy keto and intermittent fasting, proposes a glass of clove water which can enhance your sleep quality.

Cloves are the dried flower buds of an evergreen tree from the myrtle plant family known as the clove tree (Szyygiaum aromaticum). They can be purchased for a mere £2.50 for 100g and can also be utilised in culinary preparations.

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Dr Berg's recipe only requires four or five cloves to be infused in hot water, and considering that this quantity of cloves weighs just a few grams, it means that the drink can be made for pennies, as reported by Surrey Live.

"It's a natural sedative, so can be used as a sleep aid without the side effects of sleep medication," Dr Berg said. "Cloves, the dried flower buds of clove trees, have been used for centuries in both culinary and medicinal practices. Their distinctive flavour comes from the presence of eugenol. This compound is also responsible for many of their therapeutic effects.

"Eugenol can act as a natural sedative, relaxing the nervous system. This, in turn, can help reduce night-time awakenings and promote sounder sleep. Drinking a cup of clove water every night before bed can be a game-changer when it comes to relaxation!

"To brew your own clove water, simply steep four to five cloves in hot water. You can drink it immediately, or refrigerate it for a chilled beverage!"

As Dr Berg highlighted, cloves are packed with eugenol, a naturally occurring compound also present in cinnamon and bay leaves. Numerous health studies have documented its impressive range of benefits.

"The available literature about pharmacological activities of EUG shows remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties and has a significant effect on human health," one 2021 study said. "It is being focused recently due to its great potential in preventing several chronic conditions."

Meanwhile, a 2024 review states: "Emerging evidence has highlighted that eugenol exhibits multiple biological activities in cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. It also has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities and has lethal or inhibiting effects on various viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

"Overall, these benefits make eugenol a promising nutritional supplement which fulfils its historical function as a flavouring agent, opening up new possibilities for the creation of therapeutic agents for the treatment of disease!

WebMd adds: "Cloves contain many compounds known for their anti-inflammatory properties, with eugenol being the most important. It's been shown to reduce your body's inflammatory response, which can lower your risk of health issues such as arthritis and help manage symptoms.

"Cloves are full of antioxidants, including eugenol. Antioxidants help your body fight free radicals, which damage your cells. By removing free radicals from your system, the antioxidants found in cloves can help lower your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers."