Common herbs used in moon milk include ashwagandha root, turmeric, cinnamon and cardamom. Photo: Kalpana Sunder
Common herbs used in moon milk include ashwagandha root, turmeric, cinnamon and cardamom. Photo: Kalpana Sunder
Common herbs used in moon milk include ashwagandha root, turmeric, cinnamon and cardamom. Photo: Kalpana Sunder
Common herbs used in moon milk include ashwagandha root, turmeric, cinnamon and cardamom. Photo: Kalpana Sunder

What is moon milk? Ayurvedic recipe goes viral for sleep-promoting benefits


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Moon milk, a frothy, pastel-coloured elixir that combines warm milk with herbs and spices, has been doing the rounds on social media as a health drink. While the “moon” moniker may be new, this soothing brew, originally made with milk, water and ashwagandha, has its roots in Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old holistic healing discipline from India.

“Moon milk is a staple beverage in India’s traditional healthcare system,” says Avni Kaul, a nutritionist and wellness coach from Delhi. “Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, which helps the body deal with fatigue, anxiety and stress, so you can have this blend of milk and herbs before going to bed, to help with sleep and relaxation.”

Variations of moon milk

While powdered mixes are available on the shelves, moon milk is best made fresh, whether from dairy or alternatives such as oat milk and almond milk. The brew can also be customised according to your needs, taste and herbs on hand.

“Many Indian households have a soothing bedtime drink made with milk. In ours, it’s my grandmother’s recipe made with almonds, turmeric, nutmeg, black pepper and dried rose petals boiled in cow’s milk,” says Shruti Raman, a software professional who lives in Bengaluru.

Megan, the food blogger behind Dollop of Dough, creates a dairy-free version made with ashwagandha, beetroot powder, tart cherry juice (a natural source of melatonin), rosewater, and rose petals. Cookbook author Kristen Wood shares a recipe for a blue-hued mint blueberry moon milk with butterfly pea flower powder, on her Instagram account @moon.and.spoon.and.yum.

Other variants of moon milk feature ingredients such as lavender, cacao, maca root, coconut oil, ginger and nuts.

Various ayurvedic ingredients can also be added to the blend, including turmeric (to fight off seasonal coughs and colds and lower inflammation); tulsi or holy basil (to combat low energy levels and fatigue); cardamom (to soothe restlessness); cinnamon (to relax the muscles); and honey (for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties).

Ashwagandha a must

No matter what your preferred combination, nutritionist and author Kavita Devgan suggests retaining ashwagandha or winter cherry, an ancient medicinal herb, in any effective moon milk recipe.

“There are many variations, but ksheerapaka, the ayurvedic original with ashwagandha, is what gives moon milk its relaxation-promoting properties. This concoction is also thought to increase immunity and balance the hormones,” says Devgan.

Ksheerapaka is a gentle sleep-inducing brew with precise measurements and ingredients, wherein medicinal herbs are boiled with milk and water and decocted. In the ayurvedic tradition, the herbs in this recipe help to balance vata dosha (energy pattern), which can lead to anxiety when aggravated.

For people suffering from insomnia and anxiety, ashwagandha can help calm the mind and promote sleep. Various studies have reported that ashwagandha rejuvenates, promotes longevity, helps with cognitive functions such as memory and focus, and induces sleep.

The milk itself extracts the medicinal properties of this and other herbs, as well as reducing their intensity. It also contains tryptophan, an amino acid that can increase the levels of the two hormones that help with sleep: serotonin and melatonin.

“Milk is considered a rasayana, something that improves the nourishment of tissues,” explains Madhumita Krishnan, a doctor from Chennai who has an MD in ayurvedic paediatrics. “When you process herbs in it, it nourishes the whole body in a sense.”

Also citing the example of garlic, she says: “It has a sharp flavour profile, hence boiling garlic in milk is a great way of getting the benefits without any complications. The same goes for golden latte, which uses turmeric and pepper in milk, and is excellent for respiratory health.”

Some caveats to keep in mind include: avoid adding too much sugar in your moon milk recipe; consult a healthcare professional before adding any new herb to your routine; and don’t expect the recipe to heal deep-rooted sleep disorders or anxiety overnight.

Moon milk: a recipe

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk or unsweetened nut milk

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground turmeric

¼ tsp ground ashwagandha

2 pinches ground cardamom

1 pinch ground nutmeg

Freshly ground black pepper

1 rsp virgin coconut oil or ghee

1 tsp honey, preferably raw

Method

Simmer the milk with all the ingredients except the honey, leaving the coconut oil for the end.

Stir in the honey once the brew is off the flame.

RESULTS
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Flights: 149

Steps: 3.78 million

Calories: 220,000

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Prostate checks: 5

Blisters: 15

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Dog bites: 1

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Director: Sean Baker

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Four stars

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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

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Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

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Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

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Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5

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Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos

Women:
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62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
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Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

The specs: 2019 Audi A8

Price From Dh390,000

Engine 3.0L V6 turbo

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 345hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

Fuel economy, combined 7.5L / 100km

Results:

Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

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Types of bank fraud

1) Phishing

Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

2) Smishing

The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

3) Vishing

The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

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Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

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Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

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Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)

Lecce v SPAL (6pm)

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Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)

Sunday

Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)

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Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)

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Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)

Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)

Monday

AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)

 

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Updated: June 11, 2023, 4:00 AM