College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Garlic Milk


How to Make Garlic Milk

INGREDIENTS

1 clove
1 c

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

Crush or mince garlic and add to milk. Heat the milk until boiling. Remove from heat and let sit until warm enough to drink. Serve warm before bed.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Take before bedtime to induce sleep. Garlic is heavy and tamasic. Generally, Ayurveda says not to eat or drink heave meals before bed. However, a small glass of milk is often helpful for Vata and Pitta constitutions. Kapha beware!

WHAT IS GARLIC MILK?

Experiment with this creamy, delicious aphrodisiac and sedative drink before bedtime. Also a warming sauce for creamy dinner dishes. Discovered while listening to a lecture by Dr. Vasant Lad, famous Ayurvedic Physician, in Pune, India.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Garlic Milk Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Garlic Milk' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Metabolic Nature of Garlic Milk

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

AGGRAVATES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Garlic Milk
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Quenches Thirst

QUENCHES-THIRST

An herb or substance that relieves thirst.

SEE ALL 'QUENCHES-THIRST' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stomachic

STOMACHIC

An herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.

SEE ALL 'STOMACHIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulant Laxative

STIMULANT-LAXATIVE

Stimulant laxatives induce bowel movements by stimulating peristaltic movement (the contraction of smooth muscle in the intestines). They are effective when used on a short-term basis. On a long-term basis, they can create dependency. Aka irritant laxativ

SEE ALL 'STIMULANT-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
General Laxative

GENERAL-LAXATIVE

Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.

SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Makes You Tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

SEE ALL 'MAKES-YOU-TIRED' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Sedative

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs create a sense of calm in the mind and body by specifically calming or quieting the nervous system. Excellent for anxiety, stress and chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'SEDATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Soothing

SOOTHING

Calms and alleviates irritation, discomfort or pain in a particular region.

SEE ALL 'SOOTHING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

Irritates Throat

IRRITATES-THROAT

Creates abrasive feeling in the back of the mouth. May stimulate coughing.

SEE ALL 'IRRITATES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Soothes Throat

SOOTHES-THROAT

Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat.

SEE ALL 'SOOTHES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

Antiviral

ANTIVIRAL

Herbs that inhibit the development of viral infections. Antivirals also can be found in essential oils of some herbs, such as eucalyptus oil.

SEE ALL 'ANTIVIRAL' FOODS / HERBS

Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Aphrodisiac

APHRODISIAC

Herbs that increase sexual arousal through various actions including increased circulation, relaxation, stimulation, or tonics that strengthen glandular health.

SEE ALL 'APHRODISIAC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Phosphorous,
Nitric Oxide

NITRIC-OXIDE

Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.

SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS

, Polysaccharides, Sulfated Polysaccharides, Sulphur,
Saponins

SAPONINS

Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

, Vitamin D, Melatonin,
Calcium

CALCIUM

Calcium nourishes bones and muscles. A muscle cell is activated when calcium enters the cell. It relaxes when the calcium is secreted.

SEE ALL 'CALCIUM' FOODS / HERBS

, Fats

Foods with a Similar Nature to Garlic Milk

  • Garlic

    Garlic has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Galactagogue, Makes-you-tired, Stomachic, Antiviral, Diaphoretic, General-laxative, Sedative, Vasodilator, Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Irritates-throat, Stimulant-laxative, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Garlic (raw)

    Garlic (raw) has these Actions in Common

    Antiviral, Diaphoretic, Stimulant-laxative, Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Stomachic, Cholagogue, General-laxative, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Milk

    Milk has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Satisfies-stomach, Demulcent, Nutritive, Soothes-throat, General-laxative, Quenches-thirst, Soothing

    LEARN MORE

  • Beets

    Beets has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Antispasmodic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Stimulant-laxative, Cholagogue, Nutritive, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Fenugreek

    Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diuretic, Stomachic, Demulcent, Galactagogue, Aphrodisiac, Diaphoretic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Buffalo Milk

    Buffalo Milk has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive, Soothes-throat, Makes-you-tired, Quenches-thirst, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Satisfies-stomach

    LEARN MORE

  • Tofu

    Tofu has these Actions in Common

    Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Soothing, Galactagogue, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Chamomile

    Chamomile has these Actions in Common

    Vasodilator, Diaphoretic, Sedative, Makes-you-tired, Stomachic, Antispasmodic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

    LEARN MORE

  • Jackfruit

    Jackfruit has these Actions in Common

    Aphrodisiac, Nutritive, Soothing, Demulcent, Quenches-thirst, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Satisfies-stomach

    LEARN MORE

  • Saffron

    Saffron has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Diuretic, Sedative, Aphrodisiac, Galactagogue, Stomachic, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Beer

    Beer has these Actions in Common

    Galactagogue, Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Sedative, Diuretic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Garlic Milk

  • Gokshura

    Gokshura has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Sedative, Soothing, Antispasmodic, Aphrodisiac, Demulcent, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

    LEARN MORE

  • Vidari

    Vidari has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Galactagogue, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Soothes-throat, Soothing, Aphrodisiac, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Galactagogue, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Aphrodisiac, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative, Stomachic, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Blue Vervain

    Blue Vervain has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative

    LEARN MORE

  • Saw Palmetto

    Saw Palmetto has these Actions in Common

    Soothes-throat, Soothing, Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Galactagogue, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Shatavari

    Shatavari has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Galactagogue, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Soothes-throat, Aphrodisiac

    LEARN MORE

  • Yarrow

    Yarrow has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Stomachic, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Cornsilk

    Cornsilk has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Nutritive, Soothing

    LEARN MORE

  • Blue Cohosh

    Blue Cohosh has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Kava Kava

    Kava Kava has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Makes-you-tired

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

View Other Healthy Recipes for Spring

This recipe is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring recipes here.
VIEW ALL SPRING RECIPES MORE VATA / PITTA RECIPES
MAIN RECIPE PAGE

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

Spring Diet

The season is about to shift into spring. Are you ready?

upcoming courses

Apply for Scholarship. Monhly payment plans available.

What is Ayurveda?

Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

Comments & Impressions of 'Garlic Milk'

Do you like 'garlic milk'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'garlic milk'?

128 likes
Sign in to review or comment

julie Montrose, CO
2013-08-31
“I am lactose intolerant. What kind of 'milk' can be substituted for same results? (I'm Vata.)"
Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Join Joyful Belly

Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips?
Subscribe to our free newsletter!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.