{"id":3945,"date":"2011-08-15T21:05:35","date_gmt":"2011-08-16T01:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=3945"},"modified":"2011-12-07T01:09:13","modified_gmt":"2011-12-07T06:09:13","slug":"seasonal-harmony-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=3945","title":{"rendered":"Seasonal Harmony"},"content":{"rendered":"

Later Summer Food As Medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Ellasara Kling <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Following Spring and Early Summer is the \u201cadditional\u201d season known as \u201cLate Summer\u201d during which Nature continues its upward and outward energetic flow as plants are now coming into their maturity.\u00a0 Nature is now hitting its height and preparing for Autumn when the energy begins to literally \u201cfall\u201d.\u00a0 But, for now, it is the lazy days of summer heat, and, in many areas lots of humidity.\u00a0 Consequently, you will find some recipes here that are cooling and light.\u00a0 During Late Summer, as in the two prior seasons, outdoor activities are inviting, the world is magnificently beautiful, and most people become just a bit more upbeat during the summer as they harmonize with its energy.<\/p>\n

Some Foods That Harmonize With the Late Summer Season<\/span><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Almond, Apple, Barley, Buckwheat, Cabbage, Carrots, Cherries, Chestnuts, Chicken, Chive, Coconut, Cooked Onion, Corn, Cow\u2019s Milk, Crab, Cucumber, Dates, Duck Eggs, Eggplant, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Hazelnuts, Job\u2019s Tears (Also Known As Chinese Barley and Coix Seeds) Lamb, Licorice, Lotus Root, Mangos, Millet, Mushrooms, Oats, Peanuts, Peaches, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Red Chinese Dates (Jujube), Rye, Squashes, Strawberry, Sugar, Sweet Potatoes, Water Chestnut, And Watermelon.<\/p>\n

Additional notes on Late Summer:\u00a0 Late Summer is associated with the Spleen\/Stomach system; the predominate taste is Sweet and Bland, its element is the Earth; it\u2019s color is yellow and when out of balance it\u2019s primary symptom is \u201cover thinking\u201d\/\u201dworry\u201d.\u00a0 The Spleen\/Stomach system is the \u201cMother\u201d to the Lung\/Large Intestine and is the \u201cChild\u201d of the Heart\/Small Intestine.\u00a0 The Liver\/Gall Bladder \u201ccontrol the Spleen\/Stomach system, which in turn, controls the Kidney\/Small Intestines.<\/p>\n

One of the many \u201chealing techniques\u201d of Chinese medicine is through the use of foods to, balance and harmonize the body.\u00a0 Dietary recommendations in this way are not the same as most western medicinal diets as the emphasis here is to use foods that strengthen and tonify the organ systems \u2019 functionality to assist it to come into greater balance.\u00a0 Recently, Dr. Lu spoke about the benefits of the dandelion.\u00a0 Often viewed in the U.S. as a troublesome garden weed, this little plant offers healing benefits from the top of its pretty, bright yellow flowers (a terrific tonic wine), down through its green leaves, which are a liver tonic, especially good for breast health, and edible all year long, down through its roots which make an energizing tea and have been known as a relaxant when specially prepared as an inhalant.\u00a0 Further, Dr. Lu compared the dandelion to the rose in an interesting way.\u00a0 The rose is regal and cherished for its visual beauty and aroma.\u00a0 It has some medicinal use, but not nearly as much as the dandelion, who humble in appearance, offers so much even in its \u201cpuff balls\u201d that carry its seeds far and wide.\u00a0 The \u201cpuff balls\u201d go with the flow<\/em> following where Nature leads them and grow in almost any terrain without special care.\u00a0 Wherever they land, becomes home.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t we all like to have more of that quality in our lives?\u00a0 The freedom that comes with following Nature in perfect trust, to grow and be humbly pretty and completely useful wherever we are without effort or pretense?<\/p>\n

Kitchen Medicinals<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A tea of ginger and nutmeg together as a tea are said to strengthen the Spleen\/Stomach<\/em>.<\/p>\n

1cup water, 1 tsp minced fresh ginger, \u00bd tsp ground nutmeg.\u00a0 Bring to a boil, simmer for 15 min.\u00a0 Drink \u00bd cup 2x a day before meals.<\/p>\n

Staying Cool in humid weather:<\/em><\/p>\n

3 cups of water, 1-1\/2 TB chrysanthemum flowers.\u00a0 Simmer for 15 minutes.\u00a0 This flower tea is naturally sweet and highly refreshing on hot, humid days even though you will drink it warm.<\/p>\n

Kam Wo Tea<\/span>:\u00a0 Available at Asian markets is a fabulous hot weather refresher.<\/p>\n

Cooling Soup\/cereal<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1 cup water for every \u00bc cup of mung beans.\u00a0 Mince \u00bd tsp tangerine rind &1 tsp minced ginger.\u00a0 Mix together and simmer until the beans are completely tender.\u00a0 Makes a wonderful breakfast cereal or hot weather soup.<\/p>\n

Seasonal Good Eats<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Carrot Soup<\/p>\n