Many tasty culinary snacks or drinks have been known to help the insomniac get some much needed sleep. But one chef has come up with an interesting spicy, sleep inducing alternative.

Chef Gurpareet Bains has invented a  ‘insomnia-no-more lamb masala’ which is said to produce similar effects to medicated sleeping pills.

Diners who tried the unique dish during a live test experiment said they were left feeling ‘tired and spaced out’ 20 minutes after eating.

The spicy dish contains large amounts of nutmeg, which contains an oil called myristicin that can produce ‘intoxicating’ effects.

The London-based chef, known as the ‘Asian alchemist’, said: ‘This dish was designed with one thing in mind ”“ to help people with insomnia.

‘Its ingredients have been used for millennia for their tranquilising properties, and our research has shown it to work incredibly well.’

He added: ‘The curry tastes wonderful and, with luck, it will help people to overcome sleeplessness without the cost and possible side-effects of medication.’