Recipe
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Nourish and Store Energy for the Year to Come: Recipe for the Greater Snow 大雪 Solar Term
Da Bu Yang Cang Tang (大补养藏汤) might be translated as something like “Great Nourishing and Storing Soup” is a widely-recommended yangsheng (“nourishing life”) recipe for this time or year–starting from the Greater Snow (Da Xue 大雪) Solar Term (December 6th in 2024) and onwards for about the next month. This time of year to reduce excess physical exertion, increase stillness meditation and nourish the body’s storage capacity. Our Yang Qi has retreated to the interior and we want to carefully nourish it during this time. This soup nourishes the five internal “zang” organs: heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. It is especially nourishing for the kidneys. It nourishes kidney qi,…
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Quick and Easy (but Effective) Pear Soup Variation
Pear water aka pear soup is one of the most well-known medicinal foods among Yangsheng (Nourishing Life) enthusiasts for the Autumn season. Protecting against “autumn dryness” (qiu zao 秋燥) by moistening the lung system is of utmost importance to maintain balance, boost our immunity, and set us up for a healthy winter season. In addition to the favorite Pear soup recipe that was shared last year, there are many other great variations. Simply skinning a pear (Asian pears work great, but any will do), chopping it up, and boiling it in water for at least 20 minutes is the base recipe and is great on its own. Adding in additional…
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Autumn Wellness: Chinese Yam (Shan Yao 山药)
Chinese yam (shan yao 山药), literally “mountain medicine,” is a staple food often found in a traditional yangsheng (“nourishing life”) diet. It is one of the few foods that you will see recommended in practically every season for its diverse benefits. It is commonly recommended as food to eat in the autumn season, and is perhaps my favorite yangsheng food for autumn next to pear water. Aside from its seasonal and general health benefits, it is a great addition to a neigong cultivator’s diet because it is so beneficial to the organs systems responsible for extracting post-heaven qi from the food we eat and the air we breathe, as well…
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Apple Water 苹果水 – a Snack to Aid Digestion, Benefit the Spleen/Stomach
Late summer is associated with the spleen organ system, the foundation of digestion. Proper digestion of the food we eat is so important for both general health and supporting neigong practice. With apples now ripening and ready for harvest, now is a great time to make use of local, in-season fruit and support our spleen/stomach with this delicious snack that aids digestion and helps to remove dampness (the spleen’s worst enemy). Apple water (or we could call it apple soup) is also a great prelude to pear soup, one of the best snacks to promote health and balance in autumn. The second half of the summer is a good time…
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Li Xia Dan (Beginning of Summer Eggs) 立夏蛋
As we pass the Li Xia “Beginning of Summer” 立夏 solar term, we begin to transition away from the spring season and into the summer. Summer is associated with fire and the heart organ system, and at this time, the kidneys, associated with water, are in their weakest state. This is an important time to prepare for this transition and nourish our kidney jing (essence). Our kidney system is foundational to the three treasures (jing, qi, and shen) and therefore extremely important for those who seek progress in neigong practice. In general, nourishing our kidney jing at this time makes our health strong and robust during the shift of seasons…
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The Best Zhou 粥 (Congee) to Support the Spleen and Fuel your Neigong
One of the most important texts for Chinese Medicine, the Huangdi Neijing 黄帝内经, lists the well-known “evils” or environmental factors which can cause us harm along with the organ system most susceptible to each: 藏所惡：心惡熱，肺惡寒，肝惡風，脾惡濕，腎惡燥，是謂五惡。 The hidden evils are: heat in the heart, cold in the lungs, wind in the liver, dampness in the spleen, and dryness in the kidneys. These are the five evils. In addition to climatic factors, modern sedentary lifestyle paired with the greasy, fried, sugary and processed foods so prevalent in modern society make so many people susceptible to excess dampness, and this is especially harmful to the spleen system. A healthy spleen system is foundational…
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Autumn Wellness: Pear Soup 梨水
One of my favorite snacks (or healthy dessert) in autumn is what we refer to at home as “pear water.” A better title might be Pear and Yin’er Soup. It is an excellent medicinal food for autumn wellness as it combines several ingredients that are widely acknowledged as some of the best foods to eat during this time of year — offering the (much needed in autumn) moistening and yin nourishing support to the lungs. The result is delicious! Ingredients and their medicinal properties: Continue Reading…
