How to Make a Delicious Moon Milk to Get You to Sleep Well

If you are an Instagram junkie (like most of us, whether or not we like to admit it), you have probably already noticed the online trend regarding the drink known as moon milk. It is, after all, the perfect recipe for that perfect Instagram shot: it looks pretty, can be integrated into a fall-like decor, and gathers lots of likes. Moreover, it appears that this is not simply a cute beverage (like the pumpkin spice latte if you ask me), but it’s also a remedy for sleeplessness.

In fact, there is nothing revolutionary about drinking warm milk before bed, but try mixing it with some herbs and spices and you might just start feeling tucked in and ready for dreamland. However, s this moon milk beverage that efficient? In this article, we will find out more about it while also giving you a recipe to use during your sleepless nights. We all have those, right?

Before diving deep into the recipe for this seemingly amazing hot beverage, you should first know where it comes from. Well, you might be surprised to find out that the famous moon milk actually has very old roots, going back to the legendary Ayurvedic medicine. This is, in fact, one of the oldest natural healing systems in the entire world which promotes the usage of natural ingredients to help your body recover.

When it comes to moon milk, this beverage contains lots of Ayurvedic ingredients that supposedly have healing powers, like ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) and turmeric. It’s also worth noting that, according to Ayurvedic professionals, moon milk is a more modern derivative of another calming beverage called masala doodh which contains almonds, turmeric, pistachios, nutmeg, dried rose petals, black pepper, and many other spices and healing herbs.

You might remember that your grandmother used to give you a cup of warm milk before bed when you were small, to help you sleep. She might not have known about Ayurvedic medicine, but this is a fairly common drink that can supposedly help you sleep better. It’s recommended that you use cow’s milk, but non-dairy milk can also be used. It’s interesting that herbal medicine has been promoting the practice of decocting various roots, seeds, and barks so that their healing qualities are extracted. By cooking them in milk, this process is facilitated thanks to the fact that it contains. Fat is also good for nourishing your “Ojas”, the glow and essence found in each one of us.

When it comes to the benefits of moon milk, they are not a secret, which is why so many people drink it nowadays. Apart from it being pretty and Instagramable, of course. The most important attribute of this beverage is that it can help you sleep better. Is it true? In a way, yes, it is. Let me explain…

Warm dairy milk contains an amino acid called tryptophan which can definitely help you become sleepy. Mix that with the ashwagandha and your whole body and spirit will become calm and relaxed. What’s even more interesting is the fact that there is scientific evidence to support this. According to professionals, taking a certain extract of ashwagandha twice a day for two months made people feel a lot less stressed. Apart from this, it appears that curcumin, which is the active ingredient in turmeric, has anti-inflammatory properties, which can also help your body and mind relax and enter a state of sleepiness.

When talking about moon milk, we cannot help but notice that it also contains cinnamon, which has antioxidant properties, and ginger, which is also anti-inflammatory, like the turmeric. Moreover, if you like a nutty flavor you can always sprinkle some almonds and pistachios on top and those will also induce your sleep, thanks to the potassium and calcium they contain.

However, as interesting and this might sound, the advice from professionals is to not only count on moon milk to do the job for you and put you to sleep right away. Yes, it can be helpful and calming you down, but without a good pre-bed ritual (like avoiding screens, keeping the same bedtime hour, etc.) you cannot expect a hot beverage to do wonders. So, if you are getting a nice and hot mug of moon milk before bed and still cannot sleep well, the reasons for this might be different.

After talking about its properties and about the fact that it has become so popular on Instagram, it’s time to also tell you how to actually prepare moon milk and become trendy and sleepy. Here is what you will need:
 

• 1 cup whole cow’s milk (or nut milk, unsweetened)
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground ashwagandha
• 1 pinch of ground nutmeg
• ground black pepper
• 1 pinch of ginger
• 2 pinches of ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon virgin coconut oil

The first thing that you will need to do is to bring your milk to a simmer in a saucepan. Add in the turmeric, cinnamon, ashwagandha, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg. Sprinkle some pepper over this concoction. Now it’s time to whisk in order to avoid any clumps from forming. Add the coconut oil and reduce the heat. For the next 5 to 10 minutes, you will have to cook the milk so that the medicine becomes stronger.
 

Finally, remove from heat and let the milk cool a bit. Now it’s the right time to add the honey because it doesn’t have to be cooked (otherwise it will lose all of its properties and you don’t want that).
 

Get your prettiest mug, pour in the moon milk, and get to drinking it. Now it’s also the best time to photograph it for your Instagram profile and show everyone how cool this hot beverage is!

All in all, even if, at a first glance, the recipe for the worldwide famous moon milk can seem very simple, it also has that whole “easy to do and good for you” vibe going around. All of its natural ingredients have their own properties that can heal, nourish, and make you feel better. It’s like food for both your body and your soul. Moon milk can also be considered a natural sleep tonic meant to relax you after a long and hard day. It doesn’t mean that it will instantly put you to sleep (it’s not a sleeping pill after all), but it will get your mind in the mood for sleepiness.

Keep in mind that you can always adapt the recipe for the moon milk according to your own tastes. For example, you can sweeten it with maple syrup instead of honey, you can add some dried lavender or chamomile buds (or tea bags) and vanilla extract to it, Himalayan pink salt for that extra oomph, and many other spices and herbs of your preference.

To sum it all up, moon milk is not just a hot beverage with a cool name that you can photograph all day and post on your Instagram feed. It’s also a really beneficial and healing drink that lots of people probably don’t take too seriously. Do some research into Ayurvedic medicine and herbal medicine and you will certainly discover a thing or two about its benefits. They may not be that well known, but, if used correctly, they will completely change your life, in a good way.