No highly-processed, quasi-dairy hot chocolates for us, thanks. We’re looking to one of our favorite herbalists, Adriana Ayales of Anima Mundi in NYC for recipes like the one below this season.

Blend luscious cacao with roasted hazelnuts and a kick of the highly-revered adaptogen, ashwagandha into a frothy latte you’ll soon consider a winter tradition.

Herbalist Adriana Ayales on Ashwagandha…

Ashwagandha is one of those heavily researched herbs that has put herbalism into the forefront of allopathic medicine. The enlightened Rishis —ancient Hindu holy men—considered ashwagandha to be one of the finest herbal medicines known to man. It is traditionally valued to positively impact almost every system in the body.

Revered for over 4,000 years in the Ayurvedic medical tradition in India, ashwagandha is one of the world’s most powerful adaptogenic herbs, which means that it could support the restoration of balance to the body and mind.

If you are one who is anxious or constantly fatigued, this herb is revered by the Rishis for both it’s calming and stamina-boosting qualities. That’s what adaptogens are all about.

Ashwagandha is considered to be a rasayana in the Ayurvedic tradition, which loosely translates to “rejuvenative herb”. In fact, some scientific studies have clearly demonstrated that it extends lifespan in mice (which typically suggests similar effects in most mammals) and had an effect on center types of cancer cell growth.

+ Ashwagandha is specifically used to calm the nerves. In several human based clinical trials, 300mg 2x per day showed to improve acute and chronic stress and positively effect mood. [R, R].

+ In two human trials, ashwagandha was able to decrease blood sugar levels similar to diabetic medication. It also helped reduce blood sugar levels in several animal studies. [R, R, R, R, R].

+ Ashwagandha has shown to effectively reduce pain. 10g of ashwagandha reduced pain and joint tenderness and swelling in a study conducted with 86 people with rheumatoid arthritis, also greatly reducing symptoms and potential side-effects with common medications. [R, R]

+ Due to its protective effects from oxidative stress, it has shown to boost longevity. In many animal based studies, it has greatly extended the lifespan of several kind of animals. The leaf extract, has also shown to contain anti-aging properties on cells. [R, R, R, R]

Ashwaghanda Latte
with Cacao + Roasted Hazelnuts

(Makes 2 servings)

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup roasted hazelnuts (roast at 350F for 8-10min)
1 ½ cup your choice plant milk
½ cup coffee or 2 shots of espresso
3 dates
1 tsp ashwaghanda powder
1 tbsp cacao powder

METHOD

Remove the pit from the dates.

Add the dates into a high speed blender together with all of the ingredients.
Blend on high speed until creamy. If you have a friction heat function on your blender you can blend it until it’s warm. Otherwise, pour into a saucepan and carefully warm it up.

Enjoy! (It can be enjoyed both warm and over ice).

This story is brought to you in partnership with Anima Mundi . From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.