Chinese hot water trend may help people fall asleep faster

A viral TikTok trend of drinking hot water before bed is described by a writer who fell asleep faster; experts in the article say warmth and a consistent pre‑bed routine may explain the effect, though direct scientific evidence is limited.

The Chinese hot water trend has become common on TikTok and other social feeds. A sleep writer tried drinking hot water and warm evening meals again and reported falling asleep faster than earlier in the season. The practice is rooted in yang sheng, a traditional Chinese medicine approach that emphasizes preserving internal warmth and simple daily habits. Experts in the piece link the effects to both physiological responses to warmth and to behavioral routine, while noting research is limited. Key points: - The trend is inspired by yang sheng, a traditional Chinese medicine concept focused on "nourishing life" and keeping internal warmth. - The writer reported shorter time to fall asleep after reintroducing hot drinks and warm, easy-to-digest evening meals. - Jamie Bacharach, a licensed acupuncturist, explained that warmth can widen blood vessels (vasodilation), help release excess heat and relax muscles, which may signal the body to settle. - Dr Lindsay Browning, a sleep psychologist, said repeating a bedtime activity can create an association that cues sleep, and a warm beverage can serve that role for some people. - The article notes limited direct scientific evidence for the trend and references the commonly recommended bedroom temperature range of about 65–70°F (18–21°C) for sleep. Summary: The article describes how drinking hot water and eating warm evening meals may help some people fall asleep faster through thermoregulatory effects and by reinforcing a calming pre‑bed routine. Undetermined at this time.