Moon Milk & Adrenal Support — A Q&A with Adora Winquist (Women’s World 2023)
Q: When did moon milk enter your practice, and why?
A: I began working with moon tea (moon milk) about four years ago while writing my first book, Detox, Nourish, Activate. I was researching adaptogens for much-needed adrenal support for myself and my clients. Our adrenal system helps regulate the body–mind stress response; when we support it with wise herbal and essential-oil formulas, we naturally experience greater holistic well-being.
Q: What draws you to plant medicine for adrenal and nervous-system care?
A: Knowledge is power. My training in alternative medicine always brings me back to the power of plants and making my own medicine. There is profound agency in taking responsibility for our health and crafting remedies from nature.
Q: Why ashwagandha—and what does it do?
A: For many who’ve been “burning the candle at both ends,” the adrenals are taxed. They’re key to cortisol balance, hormones, and nervous-system function. Ashwagandha shines here. In addition to its well-known adaptogenic benefits, it can help signal GABA—a calming neurotransmitter—which may ease hot flashes, night sweats, support sleep, and reduce anxiety.
Q: Your readers saw you quoted in Woman’s World—what’s the core of that story?
A: The feature shares how a simple nighttime sip supported me around night sweats and sleep—framed as a comforting, plant-forward ritual anyone can try with their preferred milk base.
The Recipe
Q: Do you have a standard moon-milk formula?
A: Yes—here’s the one I return to:
Ingredients
2 cups milk of choice (I use oat or hemp; once in a blue moon, cow’s milk)
1 tsp turmeric
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp cardamom
¼ tsp ashwagandha (ground)
¼–½ tsp honey to taste (use up to 1–2 tsp if desired)
¼ tsp coconut oil (or ghee)
A dash of vanilla
A dash of nutmeg
Note: You can purchase ashwagandha root and grind it with a mortar and pestle.
Method
Warm your milk of choice over low–medium heat. Whisk in spices, ashwagandha, vanilla, and coconut oil; simmer gently ~5 minutes. Sweeten to taste. Enjoy warm 30–60 minutes before bed.
Variation
Sometimes I skip turmeric and add ½ tsp each of lavender and rose petals.
Results & Rhythm
Q: How long until you feel the effects?
A: I felt a deeper relaxation within about an hour the first evening. The benefits for deeper sleep became more apparent after about a week of consistent evening use.
Gentle note: If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or have a medical condition, consult your practitioner before using herbs or essential oils.
Ritual Bath Companion
Q: You often pair moon milk with hydrotherapy—what does that look like?
A: Warm water amplifies absorption of essential oils and offers deep calm for the nervous system.
Adrenal Nourish Hydrotherapy
3 drops Carrot Seed (Daucus carota)
3 drops Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
2 drops Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
2 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
Blend the essential oils into a carrier, add to 3 cups Epsom salts, and soak at least 20 minutes.
Q: Final word for readers who are curious to try this?
A: Begin simply. Make it a loving ritual, not a task—brew with presence, breathe longer on the exhale, and let your system relearn safety and softness. Sip slowly; listen closely.