Summer time!

Posted by DAAN on July 12, 2008 under General | Be the First to Comment

It’s summer! The season of baseball, barbecue and fireworks. Mirroring ways of nature, the five elements depict the season of summer with fire and heat, and late summer with humidity. You might ask, why is this important? Since our body has to adjust itself to the rising temperature and humidity, it is usually done through intake of what TCM calls “cold property” foods like watermelon, iced drinks, cucumbers, and so on. Intake of such “cold property” foods do cool us off, but in excess they might cause one to feel sluggish, lose appetite, or have slight water retention. Here are some healthy and delicious ways to fight off heat and sluggishness that summer brings.

American ginseng

Although American Ginseng is not as potent as Red Panax Ginseng, it has a more cooling properties than Red Panax (American ginseng replenishes more Yin than Yang. Red Panax tonifies more yang than yin). Hence, American ginseng tea or American ginseng roots are a great way to boost your energy and to cool your body down at the same time!

Taiwan’s Shi Shen Tang

This is a popular summer’s soup dish in Taiwan. It is a common dish used when the kids have guzzled down one too many soda pop or popsicles and are not eating their meals! The four herbs used are to reduce “dampness” cause by eating too “cold property” foods. Hence, this is also great for those suffering from water retention!

Shi Shen Tang contains Dioscorea Batata, Euryale Ferox, Poria and Nelumbinis Semen $3.00/pack, 4 servings. Please contact Susan Yen at 1-877-322-6168 to order.

Cantonese summer soup

Cantonese people are well known for their frequent use of herbs in their cooking. This particular soup is consumed when one feels hot, sluggish and thirsty from the heat and muggy summer days.

This soup contains Glehnia Littoralis, Polygonatum Odoratum, Stemona Sessilifolia, and Doscorea Batata. $3.00/pack, 4 serving. Please contact Susan Yen at 1-877-322-6168 to order.