Milk
Sanskrit: Dugdha
The everyday carrier for warm night drinks in Indian homes — golden milk, cardamom milk, ashwagandha milk and more.
Also known as
Milk · Doodh · Dugdha · Ksheera
- hindi:
- Doodh
- tamil:
- Paal
- telugu:
- Palu
- bengali:
- Dudh
- marathi:
- Dudh
- gujarati:
- Dudh
Key components
- Whole, toned or skimmed dairy milk
- Milk protein, fat, lactose and calcium
- Plant milks are a different product and are not interchangeable in traditional preparations
Traditional overview
- Warmed with turmeric and a little ghee as a night drink
- Simmered with cardamom or cumin as a light after-dinner sip
- Used as the traditional carrier for herbal powders such as ashwagandha
- Mixed with almond paste into badam milk
Common traditional forms
- warm drink
- herbal decoction base
- carrier for powders
Wellness tags
- night routine
- warm drink
- carrier
- gentle nourishment
Body focus
- stomach
- bones
- brain
Concerns
- restless sleep
- low energy
- dry cough
- acidity
What to know before use
Warm gently rather than boiling hard when making a night drink. Do not add honey to very hot milk, and never give honey to a child under one. Space milk away from antibiotics, iron and thyroid tablets by about two hours.
Important cautions
A staple food for most households. The important cautions are dairy allergy, lactose intolerance and — very practically in warm climates — safe storage and avoiding spoiled milk.
Who should avoid it
- Anyone with a cow's milk protein allergy
- People with lactose intolerance, unless using a lactose-free product
- Anyone advised to avoid dairy by their clinician
- People with heavy congestion who find dairy worsens it
Medicine interactions
- Milk can reduce absorption of some antibiotics such as tetracyclines and ciprofloxacin, and of iron and thyroid medicines — leave a two-hour gap between milk and these medicines
PregnancyA normal part of most pregnancy diets. Use pasteurised milk only; unpasteurised dairy carries a real infection risk in pregnancy.
ChildrenSuitable for children over one year as part of a normal diet. Cow's milk should not replace breast milk or formula in the first year. Watch for allergy signs in infants.
Quality and buying guidance
Use pasteurised milk from a reliable source. Boil loose milk before use. Refrigerate promptly, keep it covered, and discard any milk that smells sour, looks curdled or has been left out in warm weather. Never use spoiled milk in a preparation to disguise it.
What does the evidence say?
This is primarily an established food with a long record of ordinary dietary use; nutritional information is better documented than medicinal claims.
Related ingredients
Traditional wellness information only — not medical advice. Start small, and check with a qualified practitioner if you are pregnant, nursing, treating a child, or managing a medical condition.