The Moon Milk Drink That May Help You Fall Asleep

When you’re starting your day, turn to the golden milk drink to give you feelings of vitality and focus. But after a long day, when feelings of stress and tension leave your body on edge, you’ll want a night warm cup of moon milk. Moon milk contains herbs with properties that seek to help and restore balance to the mind and body, promoting relaxation and healthy sleep habits.

The “Secret” Ingredients In Moon Milk

The key ingredients in moon milk, and what makes it so useful as a nighttime aid, are its adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogens are special compounds that research suggest will help to “normalize” the body.

Specifically, adaptogens work with the hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal glands. Together, these glands are responsible for regulating the hormones associated with stress and relaxation.

So, what adaptogenic herbs should go into your moon milk? Use the below list as a starting point, then keep reading to learn about everything else you’ll need to make a delicious moon milk recipe.

• Ashwagandha
• Cordyceps
• Eleuthero
• Holy basil
• Maca
• Rhodiola
• Schisandra
• Ginseng
• Gotu kola
• Hemp oil
• Shatavari
• Astragalus

You won’t want to use all of these at once in your moon milk recipe, but you will always want to use ashwagandha as it may provide optimal medicinal results. As for the others, look to try each at least once.

Moon Milk Recipes

The following three recipes each have a unique take on the moon milk formula.

Traditional Warming Recipe

Combine this “spicy” moon milk recipe with a warm bath to relax your muscles, joints, and mind so that you can drift to sleep.

Ingredients (Serves 2):

• 1 cup whole milk or unsweetened nut milk
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon ground ashwagandha
• 2 pinches of ground cardamom
• Pinch of ground ginger (optional)
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon virgin coconut oil or ghee
• 1 teaspoon raw honey

Directions:

1. Bring milk to a simmer over medium-low heat.
2. Whisk in seasonings until no clumps remain
3. Add coconut oil, reduce heat to low, and warm for up to 10 minutes (reduce time to lessen medicinal effects)
4. Remove and let cool
5. Stir in honey (avoid adding to hot liquid)

Flowery and Nutty Recipe

If you’re looking for an earthy version of moon milk with the added benefits of good fats found in walnuts and oats, then this lavender moon milk recipe is your calling. You’ll make one alteration to the original recipe by adding ground ashwagandha.

Ingredients (Serves 2):

• 2 cups water
• ½ cup walnuts (Optional: Soak walnuts overnight before use to create a creamier liquid.)
• ? cup rolled oats
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground ashwagandha
• 3 medjool dates (pitted)
• 1 teaspoon dried, culinary grade lavender buds

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients (except the lavender) until it is smooth and creamy.
2. Strain through a fine mesh sieve
3. Add lavender and puree
4. Strain again
5. Gently heat milk for up to 5 minutes; stir frequently
6. Pour into mugs and serve with lavender buds

Vanilla, Cherry, and Rose Moon Milk Recipe

When you’re craving something sweet, cherries and vanilla are a must-have. But don’t worry, the only sugars in this recipe come from natural sources, so it shouldn’t keep you awake. If you’re sensitive to sugars at night, try the other recipes.

Ingredients (Serves 2):

• 6 ounce almond milk or walnut milk
• 4 ounce tart cherry juice
• 2 teaspoon dried rose petals
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon powdered ashwagandha optional
• 1 teaspoon raw honey to taste

Directions:

1. Add everything except the honey to a saucepan and warm gently over low heat
2. Simmer for 5 minutes
3. Strain rose petals
4. Let cool and stir in honey

Adaptogenic Support From NOW Foods

Moon milk may not be right for you, but you can still enjoy the potential benefits of adaptogenic herbs in supplements.

As mentioned, the most potentially beneficial adaptogenic herb is ashwagandha. NOW Foods offers an ashwagandha supplement that contains a standardized extract of the herb to provide optimal medicinal support for feelings of stress, anxiety, and challenges with sleep.

NOW Foods is an affordable brand that continues to be the go to choice for consumers. The brand has more than 700 products to help give consumers more choice when looking to support feelings of health and wellness.

If and when you make a cup of moon milk, experiment with different herbs and seasonings to find what works for you. If you’re looking for additional support, consider an herbal supplement from NOW Foods and see if you finally get the rest you deserve.