Spica Prunellae Healing Drink

by | May 10, 2010 | Vegetarian | 3 comments

Soup Name: Spica Prunellae Healing Drink

Traditional Chinese Name: 夏枯草涼茶 (xià kūcǎo liáng chá)

Introduction:
An extremely cooling drink that is ideal in the hot summer, for cooling the body, clearing heatiness and helping conditions such as acne, eye infections, and cold sores.  It can be served cold or hot (although tastes much better cold in my opinion) and is very refreshing.  Although slightly bitter in taste, adding rock sugar to it makes it quite delicious.  It’s definitely an acquired taste to enjoy, but the Chinese love it and it’s pretty commonplace.  I usually keep a jug of this in my fridge!

What Ingredients are required?

40g of yellow beans
50g of dried spica prunellae
50g of dried chrysanthemum flower
rock sugar (to taste)
2-3 L of water

How do I prepare it?

  1. Boil water
  2. Rinse ingredients in warm water (except rock sugar)
  3. When water boils, add all ingredients together
  4. Boil for an hour on medium heat
  5. Strain ingredients from liquid
  6. Add rock sugar and let dissolve
  7. Cool in fridge or with ice (optional)
  8. Serve and enjoy!

Any benefits?

  • Excellent soup for relieving heatiness
  • Helps relieve symptoms of sunstroke and heatstroke

Any precautions?

  • People with sensitive stomachs (otherwise known as cold stomachs) should avoid overly cooling herbs
  • Pregnant woman in their first trimester take caution as cooling soups can cause contractions

Blue Dates Water

by | Nov 4, 2009 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Soup Name:  Blue Dates Water

Traditional Chinese Name: 藍枣水(lán zǎo shuǐ)

Introduction:
An easy to make drink that is healing in nature.  It helps blood circulation and improve moisture to the body and air to the lungs.  It is commonly used for headaches, dizziness and fatigue.  Sweet and slightly tangy, it is easy to make and requires minimal ingredients.

What Ingredients are required?

Per serving (1 cup):

How do I prepare it? 

5-6 dried blue dates
2-3 Codonopsis Pilosula Root
2 cups of water

  1. Soak and rinse ingredients in warm water
  2. Start water boiling and once boiling, add ingredients
  3. Boil covered for an hour
  4. Serve and enjoy!

 Any benefits?

  • Excellent warming drink for cold days
  • Good to increase blood circulation and blood flow
  • Ideal for conditions of headaches, migraines, dizziness and fatigue

Any precautions?

  • If using red dates, be sure to pit them first (remove seeds)
  • Not ideal for women who are menstruating as blood circulation may increase blood flow