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HelloMD welcomes back Andrea Brooks, the founder of Sava, the premier marketplace for high-quality, hand-crafted cannabis goods. Sava offers next day delivery for patients throughout California and is one of the newest collectives gaining a passionate following of enthusiastic medicinal cannabis patients. Andrea is extremely knowledgeable about cannabis and here she shares her Ayurvedic recipe for a CBD tonic/tea.
The Tea
Based on the Ayurvedic recipe for “Golden Milk”, this tea combines turmeric, ginger, coconut oil, honey, and CBD to provide relief from inflammation, arthritis, sore muscles, hangover, and a range of other maladies.
Turmeric
Turmeric has long been used in South Asia for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. On the Japanese island of Okinawa - where the population has one of the longest average lifespans - turmeric tea is a staple of daily life. In India, turmeric was first used in food and was then discovered to have a range of medicinal benefits - antiseptic, anti-inflammatory detoxifying. It has also been shown to prevent and reverse the effects of Alzheimer's and is currently being studied for its anti-cancer effects.
Curcumin
Curcumin, the ingredient in turmeric that makes it yellow and gives it spice, is what science attributes many of its healing properties. In order for your body to absorb the curcumin, it is paired with both a fat and with black pepper.
Piperine
Piperine, a compound found in black pepper, has been shown to increase the bioavailability of otherwise hard to absorb curcumin by 2000%. Without the piperine, curcumin is metabolized in the liver and intestinal wall. When I make this tonic, I either add in or leave out black pepper based on how I feel. If I want my liver and intestinal wall to receive the benefits - maybe after a large rich meal or one too many glasses of wine - I leave the pepper out. If I want relief from joint or muscle pain or want my entire body to reap the effects, I add pepper in. Fat also assist with absorption, hence coconut oil which has its own host of benefits.
Ginger
Ginger, another powerful root with a big reputation, has been shown time and time again to have strong anti-inflammatory properties without the side effects of pharmaceuticalsas well as anti-oxidative and anti-cancer effects (5). It has also long been used to soothe the digestive system.
Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is an important medicinal cannabinoid that produces no “high.” CBD relieves pain and anxiety, and research has shown it to have antibacterial, anti-convulsive, anti-carcinogenic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, analgesic, antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ischemic, antispasmodic, antipsychotic, anti-insomnia and neuroprotection properties.
How To
Mix all of the ingredients together with a spoonful of honey and you have a delicious health tonic that can be used for specific ailments or as an everyday preventative medicine.
Ingredients
- ½ to 1 inch of turmeric root (or a tsp of turmeric powder)
- ½ to 1 inch of ginger root
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1 cup of your favorite milk (almond or hemp is delicious!)
- 1 cup of warm water
- 2 tsp honey
- Sprinkle of black pepper
- Drops of high CBD tincture
Warm the milk. Add all other ingredients to a blender. Combine in your favorite mug and enjoy!
Alternately, all ingredients can be blended together cool and served over ice.
This can be made in a larger batch and store in your refrigerator for several days or you can combine all ingredients, aside from milk and water, into a paste that you keep for up to a week adding to hot water and milk when you want a cup. Adjust the honey, pepper, ginger, and turmeric depending on your flavor preferences - whether you like things spicy or sweet - and drink to good health.
If you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 post. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.
