Anyone interested in wellness and holistic practices have run across pictures of the pretty nighttime drink, moon milk. Moon Milk is rooted in an Ayurvedic pseudoscience tradition. It’s commonly made with milk, herbs, spices, and dried flowers. The milk provides sleep-inducing amino acids as it soothes you before bed. Why should you try Moon Milk? Because it’s delicious and a natural remedy for a host of things!
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What is Moon Milk?
Old school parents offer a glass of warm milk when their children can’t sleep. This remedy went through an upgrade called Moon Milk.
Read The Magick of Moon Milk.
Moon Milk is fiber and protein rich and full of nutrients. It’s said that drinking a warm glass of milk before bed can regulated hormones, relieve stress, and strengthen the immune system.
About Moon Milk Ingredients
Milk
Cow’s milk is often used but can be substituted with dairy-free, plant-based milk.
- Cow’s milk is the traditional moon milk and will give you a creamy flavor.
- Almond milk gives a nutty flavor.
- Coconut milk gives a creamy flavor.
- Cashew milk
Ayurveda practice teaches to boil cow’s milk first to help with digestion.
Adaptogens
We load up on caffeine during the day and rely on sedatives to wind down. This wreaks havoc on the body. Anyone serious about a self-care routine should check out the benefits of adaptogenic herbs.
Adaptogens are powerful herbal medicines that have many uses and advantages. They give the biggest benefits by being modulators. This means they regulate our systems to achieve the balance we need.
Adaptogens work on the endocrine system, which balances hormones. They decrease the cumulative effects of stress on the mind and body and in turn, we cope better with hectic schedules.
Basically, these group of plants will help the body adapt to stress and other ailments.
Adaptogens have been used for centuries and are heavily researched. They are currently used in evidence-based medicine.
Overall, adaptogenic herbs provide these benefits:
- stabilizes mood
- reduces anxiety
- improves sleep
- boost immune system
- boost stamina
- supports the liver
- reduces sugar cravings
- supports muscle tone
- balances blood sugar
- contains antioxidants that protect us from free radical damage.
Adaptogens are commonly added to moon milk to provide all
Ashwagandha
Popular in the wellness realm is Ashwagandha, or Indian ginseng. It’s used for a variety of ailments ranging from stress and anxiety to diabetes. It’s the primary adaptogen in moon milk.
Because Ashwagandha regulates cortisol rhythms, it promotes calmness. It also supports a healthy nervous system.
In Ayurveda, Ashwagandha is known to promote longevity, happiness, and vitality. It’s a popular tonic to improve memory and support hormonal function.
Surprisingly, ashwagandha can help you with abundant energy and a peaceful sleep.
It adapts to your body’s needs.
Still not convinced? Read 5 Ashwagandha Studies You Should Know.
*Caution* Ashwagandha is a strong substance and isn’t recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Sweeteners
Honey
The benefits of honey are crazy amazing.
Read Hale & Hearty Honey.
To truly take advantage of all the magic honey has to offer, you should try local, raw honey.
Healthy Fat
Healthy fat is the saturated kind.
- coconut oil
- avocado oil
- ghee
- olive oil
- organic grass-fed butter
Read how these good fats support the body and brain.
Now, let’s address the cons of moon milk ingredients. There’s honestly only a couple for me.
Firstly, the ingredients can be confusing. Keeping track of the many different properties of herbs and adaptogens is too much for some people.
Also, the price of just one ingredient may be over your budget. However, keep in mind that all ingredients can be used to create so many other things.
The versatility of everything listed is worth it in the end. And believe me, you won’t stop at just preparing moon milk!
Get Creative
Certainly, this potion is malleable.
Get witchy with it and use the meaning of the key ingredients when concocting your recipe. For example, almonds promote fertile ground for change and new goals. Almond milk can be your preferred milk. Therefore, its the base for your intention of change.
Additionally, its fun to add it to ritual like divination. Drink it to promote more clarity or even use it as your scrying mirror. In like manner, read the settled flowers at the bottom of your mug.
Get extra with your spiritual baths and enjoy a cup while you soak.
How to Make Moon Milk
Above all, your recipe can be a simple concoction of milk and honey or a variety of herbs, spices, flowers, and fruit. Sometimes seeds and nuts are also added.
Choose your ingredients:
- Dairy milk or non-dairy, plant-based milk – Almond, Oat, or Coconut
- Adaptogens – Ashwagandha, Maca, or Reishi
- Collagen Petites – Improves the health of hair, skin, nails, joints, and tendons
- Sweeteners – Maple Syrup, Raw Honey, Agave Nectar, or Coconut Nectar
- Healthy Fats – Coconut Oil or Ghee‘
- Herbs or Culinary Flowers – Chamomile, Lavender, or Rose
- Spices – Cardamom, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, or Tumeric
Follow this base but modify it to your unique preference.
- Combine 1 1/2 cups of milk with 1 teaspoon of each ingredient in a pot.
- Heat on medium.
- Strain (optional) into a mug.
- Froth 1/4 cup of sweetened milk and top your moon milk if desired.
- Top with additional herbs, flowers, or spices.
Want to enjoy your milk chilled? Simply skip the heat and pour over ice!
Make yours as creatively gorgeous as you like!
Tip – Oat Milk has natural melatonin which promotes relaxation. It also contains Tryptophan, a sleep supporting amino acid.
Full Moon Milk Recipe
Just like the full moon raises the tides, it gives us heightened emotions and intuition. It enhances what we are.
The moon’s influence on human life really is amazing.
Spiritual people like to work with the heightened energy and perform a ritual during the full moon. This can be done by writing out and releasing what no longer serves you, taking a spiritual moon bath, or simply nourishing yourself with moon milk.
Rituals are just a series of actions and don’t have to include witchery! So, don’t be put off by the idea if you have other beliefs.
Honor the Moon with your Ingredients!
Using butterfly pea flower allows us to manipulate the color of the milk. I like to steep the petals longer to achieve a sapphire color. It reminds me of the bailage ring that shines around the full moon.
OR we’ll contribute to the blue color with blueberries. They are a water element, and the moon controls the ocean.
- Milk of choice – I use 1 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- Any sweetener – I use 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon dried butterfly pea flower petal (or butterfly pea flower powder) OR
- 1 cup blueberries (choose which blue ingredient)
- 1/4 teaspoon ashwagandha
- dash of cardamon
- In a small saucepan bring a little over 1/4 cup of water to a simmer.
- Sit it aside to steep butterfly pea flower tea. I use a glass tea pot. Alternatively, you can add the botanicals straight to the water in a saucepan and strain or use a tea infuser.
- If you’re using the blueberries, add blueberries and honey to a small saucepan. Smash. Cook on low until berries soften and become squishy. Press through a fine mesh sieve. Reserve the liquid and discard the pulp.
- Heat the milk up on low heat with the blueberry liquid, more honey (optional), and ashwagandha. Whisk until warm.
- Pour into a mug (I use a clear mug to take in all the pretty colors)
- Pour in the butterfly pea flower tea
- Froth 1/4 cup of milk or cream and add to the top
- Sprinkle cardamon and garnish with flower petals
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Why Moon Milk?
So, why moon milk? For one thing, we eat and drink with our eyes first. This pretty beverage is hard to pass up.
I love how creating different recipes allows me to experiment with different herbs. If you’re looking for a good way to incorporate healing herbs into your diet, here ya go!
Truly, the full moon is the time of culmination of self-care. Self-care is an important part of a spiritual practice.
Even if just creating a nighttime ritual helps you associate moon milk with winding down, you’ve succeeded!
Step into the Cosmic Spotlight!
Victoria
Embark on a quest for inner harmony and navigate your spirituality. Are you just taking your first steps? As you explore the pages of this spiritual blog, may you find solace in the sacred words, and the guidance needed to navigate the intricate dance of the spiritual awakening.