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What is Turmeric Milk?

Marjorie McAtee
Marjorie McAtee

Turmeric milk is a home remedy believed to have its origins in the ayurvedic use of turmeric. According to traditional ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has a range of medicinal properties. It can reduce inflammation, support liver function, protect the cardiovascular system, control blood sugar, and support digestive health. Turmeric has also been traditionally used to prevent skin disease and promote wound healing. Turmeric milk generally contains milk, turmeric, and other spices, and is often consumed to treat respiratory ailments, soothe the stomach, and aid sleep.

The beverage known as turmeric milk is generally prepared by adding turmeric, and possibly other spices, to cold milk and heating the mixture until the milk boils. The milk is generally served warm, and can help to soothe digestion. Spices such as cinnamon and fresh ginger can help flavor the milk, and they may also have some of the same benefits as turmeric. Many believe that ginger root is an effective home remedy for digestive upset, and cinnamon is believed to help regulate blood sugar by preventing dangerous drops in blood sugar levels. Some believe that the warm milk can help make tryptophan, an amino acid believed to help initiate sleep onset, more accessible to the body.

Turmeric powder.
Turmeric powder.

According to ayurvedic tradition, turmeric milk is an especially effective home remedy for sore throat, cough, asthma, and bronchitis. Turmeric milk recipes often call for additional spices, such as black pepper, cinnamon and ginger. Some of these spices are also believed to benefit sore throat, cough and other respiratory conditions. Ayurvedic tradition generally believes that these spices help heat the body, and can help relieve congestion in the lungs and sinuses. Turmeric's supposed anti-inflammatory properties may be capable of soothing the symptoms of conditions such as asthma or bronchitis, where the respiratory passages typically become inflamed.

Milk, one of the ingredients in turmeric milk.
Milk, one of the ingredients in turmeric milk.

Some studies suggest that turmeric may have some medicinal benefits. Its anti-inflammatory properties may help to soothe joint pain. It may have benefits in the management of diabetes, and may help to protect cardiovascular health. Turmeric may also help to prevent Alzheimer's disease and some types of cancer.

Turmeric may have other health benefits when used differently. Facial masks made with turmeric, flour, honey, and milk are said to help relieve inflammation in the skin and prevent skin disease. Turmeric water is said to help detoxify the liver. When made into a paste with water, turmeric is said to help promote the rapid healing of wounds, and prevent infection.

Discussion Comments

anon955320

I have been trying this for a few days and am awaiting a result.

anon322862

Every time my son has a cough and cold, I give him warm milk with turmeric. It works wonders for him. He is nine years old. I take this drink and my cold and cough go away in two days. The mixture needs to be hot. I am glad that I do not have to give any over the counter cough syrup anymore.

anon294401

Can turmeric milk be taken in the morning?

myharley

I have never tried turmeric milk, but I take a turmeric supplement to help with the inflammation of my arthritis.

Usually when I start something new like this, I always wonder if it is really making a difference, or am I just throwing my money away.

I took this faithfully for about 2 months and felt like I had a lot less pain and stiffness from my arthritis.

I ran out, and went for about 2 weeks without having any, and that is when I really could tell it was working.

After 2 weeks, my fingers were stiff in the morning and I felt a lot more aches and pains throughout the day.

Taking a turmeric supplement is something that has worked well for me. I figure you don't have much to lose by at least giving it a try. If it doesn't work, you aren't out that much money.

SarahSon

I am always looking for home remedies that work as opposed to taking medication, or over the counter remedies.

I have used turmeric capsules to help with my migraine headaches. I had read about this more than once before deciding to give it a try.

While the turmeric does diminish the effects of the headaches, it usually doesn't completely get rid of it. It is just easier for me to function and go about my work instead of being in bed trying to get rid of the headache.

Turmeric milk sounds like something I would definitely try for cold symptoms. This sounds like a soothing drink to take anytime, but I think it would be especially helpful if you were struggling with a sore throat and respiratory cough.

golf07

There must be a lot of truth behind the idea of drinking a glass of warm milk before bed to help you sleep.

Since I am someone who does not care for the taste of milk at all, drinking it warm really makes me turn up my nose.

I think the only way I could get something like this down is if I added it to chocolate milk. I don't know if you would have the same benefits using this or not.

Even by adding spices such as turmeric extract, cinnamon and ginger, I still don't think it would take away from the taste of the milk.

These spices might actually clash with the taste of chocolate and might even be worse.

I think I will stick with other ways to get a good nights sleep and treat any digestive problems I might have.

turquoise

@alisha-- I completely agree with you, turmeric really is medicine. My husband is a doctor and he does a lot of research on alternative medicine in his free time. He was telling me about turmeric the other day and I was so surprised to hear about all of turmeric's health benefits.

It definitely is a great immune system supplement and helps fight infections and inflammatory illnesses like bacteria, viruses and allergic reactions like asthma. He also said that turmeric can be used to help prevent cancer because of it's antioxidant properties. There is apparently also a study that showed that turmeric inhibits pain and can be used as a mild pain reliever.

I think all of these recent medical studies on turmeric show how powerful natural herbs and spices can be when trying to treat illnesses. Ayurveda discovered this a long time ago and Western medicine seems to be 're-discovering' it just now.

discographer

@ddljohn-- I know what you mean! My mom used to do the same to me, but only when I had a cold or fever! I used to hate it too, not because of the turmeric, but I just didn't like milk in general. I'm fine with having it now though, I think of it as medicine and it's much better than the taste of cough syrups.

Yes, it does taste better with other spices but turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper have really similar properties. They all have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. So I guess, the more of them you put in the milk, the stronger it will be. I personally like to just add turmeric and cinnamon.

Cinnamon has a great flavor and scent and that covers up the pungent smell of turmeric really well. I also add a little bit of sugar for better flavor. It reminds me more of turmeric tea than turmeric milk this way.

And it really is very good for you. Not just for colds, but when taken regularly, it's also good for healthy bones and skin. Your mom really did the right thing by giving you turmeric milk every day growing up.

ddljohn

I'm Indian and when I was a kid, I was really thin and used to get sick really often. So my mom had made it a habit to prepare turmeric milk for me every night before I slept. I used to dread it so much because it tasted horrible and I would hide to avoid it which never worked.

I actually never took the time to find out about the medicinal benefits of turmeric. It turns to be really great for health after all. I'm sure I benefited a lot from my daily dose of turmeric milk growing up. But of course, it didn't seem like that to me then.

I probably still wouldn't be able to have it now if I tried. I wonder if it's because my mom would add only turmeric to the milk and none of the other spices?

Does it taste better with other spices like ginger and cinnamon?

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    • Turmeric powder.
      By: Elena Moiseeva
      Turmeric powder.
    • Milk, one of the ingredients in turmeric milk.
      By: picsfive
      Milk, one of the ingredients in turmeric milk.
    • Turmeric milk may be used to treat a cough, or other respiratory conditions.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Turmeric milk may be used to treat a cough, or other respiratory conditions.
    • Fresh ginger is often added to turmeric milk to ease an upset stomach.
      By: margo555
      Fresh ginger is often added to turmeric milk to ease an upset stomach.