Combining Chinese herbs with food is a traditional and effective way to supplement the body, treat minor illnesses, and enhance one’s health.
I recently wrote an article entitled Chinese Tonic Herbs – Food as Medicine. In it, I described the use of three single, food grade herbs – hawthorne berries as a tea, lycii berries as a snack, and lotus seeds cooked with rice. Patients frequently ask the question – “What else can I do with herbs?” In addition to receiving acupuncture and customized herbal formulas, supplementation with food grade herbs is one of the easiest, most effective tools for self-care to stay healthy. Herbal formulas are traditionally cooked with foods to enhance the nourishing and therapeutic properties of both the herbs and the food. Herbs prepared and ingested in this manner are particularly easy to digest, and are useful following injury, prolonged illness, childbirth, and as prevention from illness during inclement weather and times of stress.
These formulas can be readily incorporated into one’s diet, and are available any time at the office.
Sweet Pear Lily Cough Powder
Ingredients
1 Pear (medium to large, any variety)
1 Teaspoon Honey
5:1 Herbal Concentrates of:
Fritillary Bulb (Zhe Bei Mu)
Lily Bulb (Bai He)
Ophiopogon (Mai Men Dong)
Asparagus Root (Tian Men Dong)
Actions
The ingredients of this formula possess an overall cool nature and collectively moisten the Lungs and throat, stop coughing, clear heat, moisten dryness, quiet the spirit, and transform phlegm. Pears possess similar properties, and can be eaten raw or cooked to treat minor cough and throat irritation. The pear-herb mixture can be used to alleviate most minor conditions of the Lungs and throat characterized by heat, dryness, tickling, phlegm, and coughing. It is useful during the fall and winter when dry air and indoor heat cause minor throat irritation.
Instructions
Slice one large pear in half and scoop out the core. Fill the cavity with one tablespoon of Lily Cough Powder. Cover the powder with 1 teaspoon of honey (or other natural sweetener). Steam the pear mixture in ½ to 1 inch of water, in a covered pot, for 15 minutes or until the pear is soft and the herbs dissolved. Alternatively, wrap in foil and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. The pear mixture and the cooking liquid are consumed as one or two doses for adults, or two to four doses for children. One pear per day may be taken for 3 to 4 days. Each bottle of formula contains 100 grams, enough powder for 10 pears.
Qi and Blood Tonic Soup Mix
Ingredients
Angelica Root (Dang Gui)
Codonopsis (Dang Shen)
Astragalus (Huang Qi)
Disoscorea (Shan Yao)
Zizyphus Dates (Da Zao)
Actions
The herbs in this formula are mildly sweet, easily digestible Qi and Blood tonics. They are commonly used in Chinese herbal prescriptions. This formula can be cooked along with soups to create a tonifying, nourishing food-medicine. Traditionally this is eaten throughout the winter to strengthen the body and immune system. It is also used after surgery, illness, or childbirth to help restore vital Qi and Blood following a period of depletion.
Instructions
Add one bag of herbs to a pot of soup. Remove after the soup is cooked, and eat as usual.
These formulas can be ordered through the office via Stems and Branches Herbal Pharmacy.