It’s been four months and counting since I’ve taken my gong anywhere. So last Monday it seems that I pulled my back muscle when I lifted a heavy box. My back was in so much pain for days and I couldn’t even stand up for long. I’ve put a hot compress on it and almost popped a pain reliever when I remembered that there’s a yogi drink called ‘Golden Milk’ that is an all-around remedy for soreness.
The first time I tried Golden Milk was in 2013 at a Kundalini Yoga Festival in Fondjoauan. It was my first yoga festival. I doing kriyas, meditations, and sat crossed-legged for hours from 4 am until dark for seven days. My body was definitely taking a beating! I noticed that at 5 pm, people would make a beeline to where Golden Milk was served!
Golden Milk is a milk drink with turmeric. In Ayurveda, turmeric has many medicinal properties. It dates back nearly 4,000 years and is used as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever for joints and the spine. It releases toxins in the liver and helps promote healthy digestion.
In fact, WebMD lists 11 health issues that turmeric can help with – depression, Type 2 diabetes, viral infections, premenstrual syndrome, high cholesterol, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and acne.
Here’s the recipe for Golden Milk:
Ingredients:
1/8 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 cup water
8 ounces milk or milk alternative (I use almond milk)
2 tablespoons raw almond oil or other healthy oil
Honey to taste
1 cardamom pod (optional)
Instructions:
Boil turmeric in water for about 8 minutes until l it forms a thick paste. You can add more water as necessary. Meanwhile, bring milk to a boil with the almond oil. As soon as it boils, remove from heat. Combine the two mixtures using a blender. Add honey to taste. You can cook the cardamom with the turmeric for added flavor.
If you like, you can prepare more substantial quantities of the Golden Milk paste by boiling a larger portion of turmeric and storing it in the refrigerator for up to 40 days. The general ratio of turmeric to water is 1 part turmeric to 4 parts water.
My own soreness is a caution as well – take it easy as we try to get our lives back in this part of the lockdown. Go slowly and mindfully.
In loving service,
Rosan
