Moon Milk: Miracle or Myth?

Moon Milk is the latest trend in the self-care, better-sleep movement. Moon Milk is essentially warm milk (cow, nut, hemp, or soy milk all work) mixed with honey, fruit, and other additives that is supposed to help you drift off into a deep and dreamless sleep in no time. Moon Milk is an Instagram celebrity, often with colorful hues added to make it look even more magical and millennial friendly. The sweet, warm mixture does sound heavenly and relaxing so it’s no wonder the trend is catching on but is Moon Milk really a good sleep aid or is it just another hip trend that turns out to be more myth than miracle?

Warm milk is a classic and well-known remedy for a restless night so the basic concept of Moon Milk is really nothing new. What is new here is the addition of fruit, honey, and often adaptogens such as ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that is purported to help with inflammation and stress’s effects on the body; it comes with claims that it will specifically help with insomnia, allowing faster and better sleep. We’ve talked about adaptogens here before and know that, when it comes down to it, science hasn’t been able to prove, as of yet, that adaptogens have any true therapeutic uses. In fact, many sources preach caution when it comes to the use of these herbs because moderation is the key to a healthy life.

However, this doesn’t mean that Moon Milk won’t help you fall asleep faster. The key ingredient to Moon Milk, it appears, is not the honey or the ashwagandha but the time and care you take to make and drink it. Humans, as a group, love rituals. Routines soothe us and calm our busy brains which is why your doctor might suggest that you pick up a new hobby to combat stress or that you should wake at the same time every day to cut down on grogginess; the routine of it is what produces the favorable effect.

The same goes for Moon Milk. By taking the time to make and drink something you enjoy every night just before bed, your body will learn that this routine signals the time to wind down and prepare for sleep. It’s very likely that, if you do it often, drinking Moon Milk really will help you sleep faster and you shouldn’t feel like you need to buy and add in any fancy herbs; make it the way you enjoy it and allow the ritual of it to soothe you into a stress-free sleep.