Tag: chinese medicine recipes

Welcome to the August edition of the kitchen herbalist. Here, the AIMC herbal pharmacy director Athene Eisenhardt shares seasonal recipes based on the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine.

Blueberries are a wonderful summer food high in antioxidants and support Heart, Kidney, and Brain function. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), all three of these organs are related. The Heart can be likened not only to the heart organ but also to the central nervous system, which includes the brain.

The brain is in turn fed and nourished by the Kidney essence. And, together, the Heart-Kidney axis helps properly regulate our nervous systems’ ability to respond to traumatic events and shock. The beautiful midnight blue color of these berries is a give away that they help nourish the …

Now that we’re in the height of summer, many of us are looking for ways to stay cool and beat the heat. One classic summer food that can help us do just that is watermelon. Everyone knows how sweet and refreshing a juicy slice of watermelon on a hot day can be, it’s a summertime ritual for many of us.

In Chinese Medicine, watermelon is used medicinally to help cool and clear summer heat. It nourishes fluids and helps promote urination, making it an excellent medicine for clearing heat from the body. It also has a sweet calming nature for the spirit.

Here’s a cooling summer recipe for a Watermelon Salad:

1 small watermelon, sliced into cubes and seeds removed
½-1 cup jicama, sliced
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

This a recipe made by Sarah Donnelly for our AIMC Berkeley Intro to Herbs class, where students create and share a medicinal recipe. These delicious chocolates treat wind-cold disorders and are also act as a tonic and detox. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Gelatin
Ginger
Chocolate
Lemon juice
Honey
Coconut oil
Agave nectar
Cayenne pepper

Medicinal Ingredients and function in the body:
Ginger – Warming to the Lungs, Spleen and Stomach; releases exterior; indicated for coughing, wheezing, nausea.
Chocolate – Bitter – Anti inflammatory; dries dampness and phlegm
Lemon & Honey – Muscle/pain reliever
Honey – Tonifies
Gelatin – Eases joint pain

Instructions:

Candied Ginger Topper:
Slice ginger thinly, cover with 2C of water. Boil 10 minutes or until ginger has softened. Drain, and return 1/4C water to the cooked ginger, stirring …