There are many ways to take your herbal supplements, but in the fall and winter, one of my favorite ways is in hot drinks.
Not just herbal teas, which are wonderful, but also herbal powders cooked into milk for a rich, frothy, rejuvenative treat.
Here are a few of my favorites!
*Note* If you need to make substitutions, here are my suggestions:
For whole Milk, use Coconut, Almond, Oat, or Rice Milk
For Ghee, use unrefined Coconut Oil
For Honey, use Maple Syrup or Date sugar
Golden Milk
You may have already heard about the wonders of Golden Milk. It is a delicious traditional tonic from the Indian herbal tradition of Ayurveda.
The benefits of Golden Milk are wide and varied. It is a great aid to digestion & liver health as well as being anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing.
There are many recipes out there, and I recommend you experiment until you find your favorite. Here is a basic recipe to start.
1 cup organic whole Milk
1 teaspoon Ghee
½ teaspoon Turmeric root powder
1 teaspoon raw Honey
pinch of Black Pepper
In a non-reactive saucepan, bring milk almost to a boil on low-medium heat. Slowly whisk in dry ingredients. Turn off heat. Stir in Ghee and Honey. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!
Shatavari and Cinnamon
Shatavari is most often marketed as a “women’s herb”, which is a shame, because it is so much more. This slightly sweet root is a nourishing and moisturizing herb particularly effective for the mucus membranes. I like to take it in the winter to protect the sinuses from dry, cold air. In milk, with a little sweetness and a pinch of Cinnamon, Shatavari is a soothing and delicious treat that can be enjoyed any time of day.
1 cup organic whole Milk
1 teaspoon Shatavari root powder
1 teaspoon raw Honey
pinch to ¼ teaspoon of Cinnamon powder
In a non-reactive saucepan, bring milk almost to a boil on low-medium heat. Slowly whisk in dry ingredients. Turn off heat. Stir in Honey. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!
Ashwagandha Cocoa
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic nerve tonic that promotes vitality and eases the effects of stress on body & mind. Ashwagandha has long been used as a rejuvenating, anti-aging herb. It’s anti-inflammatory and also enhances immune health, so it’s a great choice for a winter drink!
This little treat is really just a variation on the Shatavari drink above. For a long while I was having a bedtime drink of Shatavari and Ashwagandha in milk to encourage sound sleep. Over time, this evolved into Ashwagandha cocoa. I use a prepared cocoa mix for convenience, but you can, of course, use your own favorite cocoa recipe.
1 cup boiling water
2-3 teaspoons hot cocoa mix
1 teaspoon Ashwagandha root powder
organic whole Milk or Cream to taste
Add cocoa mix and Ashwagandha powder to a large mug. Stirring constantly, pour in boiling water, leaving enough room for a generous amount of milk or cream. Add milk to taste and enjoy! You’ll probably have to keep stirring as you drink to keep the powders from settling to the bottom.
These are just a few of the delicious options out there for soothing hot winter drinks. I encourage you to experiment and find what you like best! Any nourishing tonic herb, like Eleuthero, Licorice, Reishi, or Marshmallow, can make a good herbal beverage, and traditional Chai spices like Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, Cardamom and Ginger make for great flavor.
You can also use a premade combination product like Gaia’s Golden Milk Mix to brew a delicious restorative treat!
In good health,
Susan
For More Information:
Smile Herb Blogs: Seasonal Eating
Turmeric benefits: A look at the evidence
Plant profile, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari): A review
Ashwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep?
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