Shark Fin Melon Phlegm Clearing Soup

From top left: Sharkfin Melon, dried scollops rehydrated, Job's Tears barley, Shan Yao, Gou Qi Zi, Red dates and Dang Shen.

Sharkfin Melon is from Cucurbitaceae family.  It is a type of squash grown for its edible seeds, fruit, and greens.  This particular melon is not foreign to many countries within the tropical zones - Asia, France, Argentina, Spain, Chile, Equador, Costa Rica, Cuba, Portugal, Catalan, Mexico and parts of Central America.  Vast range of recipes are obtainable from these countries and they are known with many different names http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbita_ficifolia.

The following recipe is specifically put together to help the body to clear off phelgm in the chest by combining specific herbs.  These herbs are of high grade variety purchased from a registered Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinic instead from normal any Asian groceries store, thus the medicinal value of them are guaranteed.

1kg Shark Fin Melon

60g Dang Shen (Codonopsis) – cut into small pieces

14 pcs Red dates (Jujube)

30g YiYi Ren (Job’s Tears Barley)

20g Shan Yao (Dioscorea)

10g Gou Qi Zi (Chinese wolfberries)

2 pcs dried scollops – rehydrate (optional)

1.5 L homemade stock

Method:

1. Cut open melon and cut the skin off or using a spoon to scrap off the stringy flesh.  Removed the mature seeds.
2. Placed all ingredients into a pot and bring to boil then simmer on very low heat for 1.5 hour.
3. Divide soup into 6 portions.  Consume 2 portions per day for the next 3 days.

Functions and Benefits

1. Shark Fin Melon - Tonifies Qi and blood, expels Cold, Tonifies MJ, harmonises the blood, induce bowel movements.  Benefits Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome)
2. Dang Shen – Tonifies Spleen and Lung Qi, promotes generation of Bodyfluids and nourishes blood.
3. Red Dates – tones Blood and calms the Mind
4. Yi Yi Ren – strengthen the Spleen and resolves Dampness due to weak Spleen Qi.  Enters the Lung channel with its cooling influence to treat Lung Phlegm-Heat.
5. Shan Yao – Tonifies Qi and nourishes Spleen and Stomach Yin; Tonifies Qi and nourishes Lung Yin; treats Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting) Syndrome; Tonifies Kid Yin.
6. Gou Qi Zi - benefits the Essence and nourishes the Liver.

Precautions and Contraindications:

1. Due to large quantity of herbs usage, this soup has strong medicinal action.  Therefore it is not deem suitable for everyone.
2. Not to be consume if you have Wind-Cold; Cold invasion; Yang deficiency syndromes.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

Warming Carrot Salad/Preserve

4 large red carrots

1tbsp salt

1 cup malt vinegar

1 cup sugar

3 cloves garlic – grated

Toasted black sesame seeds

Method:

1. Using an appropriate attachment to a vegetable slicer, slice the carrots into long strings.
2. Mix in the salt and let sit for 30mins so the salt can draws out excess moisture.
3. Whilst set the carrot aside, heat up the vinegar and sugar together and simmer until mixture becomes syrupy.  Set aside to cool.
4. Tip the carrots into a colander and squeeze excess moisture out.
5. When the vinegar syrup cools down, combine it with the carrots and garlic.  Sprinkle with black sesame seeds before serving.

Serve as side dish accompanied by main meal.

Functions and Benefits

1. Carrot – Strengthen Spleen and transform accumulations; promotes digestion.
2. Garlic – warming; moves Qi stasis; counteracts toxin.
3. Sweet vinegar – sweet and sour flavour harmonises the Middle Burner; digestant and appetent.
4. Black sesame – Tonifies Liver.

Precautions and Contraindications:

1. Overconsumption is discouraged.
2. If want to make into preserve, filled up in a airtight sterile container and top with light olive oil.  Keep in fridge up to 3 months.

This is a very versatile recipe.  It can be use to combine with fish of your choice as flavouring and best to steam as mean of cooking.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

Stir Fried Gingko Nuts and Shrimps

It is cold and wintery in Melbourne.  Temperatures has been fluctuating by the hour at times, and seasonal asthma, cough and wheezing are on the rise.  Few friends have already asked me if I could teach them some food they could eat that may help to relieve some symptoms such as feeling of cold in the chest and reduces sniffling throughout the day.  So here is a simple recipe I came up with.

 

Generally you can find ginkgo nuts in Asian food stores.  They are normally packaged in tin, vacuum sealed pack, not shelled and dried as whole.

For this recipe I would you use the prepackage ginkgo nuts.  You can find them in the cool room or the freezer section.  For a stronger taste of the ginkgo nuts then I would suggest the one with the shell still intact.

Directions to peel the ginkgo nuts.  First is to remove the shell.  They are not hard and thick.  Therefore you do not need to use excessive force to crack it open.  Simply use a jar and lightly tap them.  May take a few to practise if you have not done it before.

Then soaked them in hot-warm water to loosen up the membrane thin husk.  If you wish to have extra fiber, then just leave the husk and cook with it.  The membrane has a unique property because it can counteract some toxicity from the ginkgo nuts.

Please Note:

DO NOT give children more than 8 ginkgo nuts to ingest in one sitting.

Adults are not to take more than 15-20 nuts in one sitting.

Pregnant women must not take more than 10 in one meal and should only eat as directed by your local TCM practitioner.  Excess of ingestion will cause uterine contraction.

75g Gingko Nuts – Shelled and skinned

400g of medium shrimps or prawns – blanched in hot water for 2 mins or prawns become curled and coral pink.

1 small zucchini – halved and sliced

3-4 slices of ginger

2 cloves of garlic – finely chopped

1 tbsp oyster sauce or soy sauce

2 tbsp oil

1 tbsp Cooking rice wine/ Sherry

1 tsp corn flour mix with 1 tbsp of water – used as thickener but can be opt out.

Method:

1. Heat oil in a wok/pot then fry ginger and garlic til aroma rises.
2. Add in the gingko nuts and zucchini.  Reduce heat to medium.  Continue stirring for 2 mins.
3. Add the shrimps and turn heat up before adding the cooking wine and oyster sauce.  Continue stirring and coats the shrimps evenly.
4. Finally stirred in the starch until flour mixture becomes translucent.
5. Serve hot with rice.

In general this recipe can be served to family members as part of a dish but not as a meal on its own.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Gingko – strengthens Lung Qi and sooth asthma.
2. Shrimps – assist and Tonifies Yang; Tonifies Qi and Blood.
3. Zucchini – cools heat; tones Stomach and Spleen Qi; moistens dryness
4. Ginger – warms Middle Burner, counteracts toxicity of shrimps or seafood in general.
5. Garlic – warms Middle Burner, moves Qi and Blood.

Precautions and Contraindications:

1. Gingko nuts CANNOT be eaten raw* or eat cooked gingko excessively.  This herb is slightly toxic.
2. CAUTION when use during pregnancy.  Best to consult your local TCM practitioner NOT friends or relatives.
3. If present of heavy phlegm sputum, replace shrimp with chicken.

*only to be prescribed  by qualify TCM practitioner in herbal formulas.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further reading:
            

"Eat this . . . it is good for you" said Grandmama.

It has been a month now since Jakob's birth.  This last recipe will conclude the discussion of food and recipes for new mothers during the confinement period which last for 100 days or at least 2 months.

The key ingredient today is placenta.  Yes . . . it is placenta.  I can just imagine some of you might be turning way from the screen or just about dry reaching or gagging.  Some reader might have just redecorated the wall with their projectile vomit by this time.  I am trying hard now not to laugh, but  the 'visual' keep playing inside my head.

Try to put aside that image and focus on the facts and logic behind this ingredient.  The composition of placenta is complex.  It contains amino acids, protein, vitamins, minerals such as iron, enzymes and hormones.  Ingestion of placenta is not a new practice.  It has been used and still in practice by some cultures across the globe.

Dried placenta is a herb used in Chinese Herbal Medicine as a Yang-Tonic.  Originally human placenta is used but now replaced with cattle and/or pig placentas.

The placenta for this recipe is of animal, NOT from the new mother's.  However it is almost impossible to get hold onto any placenta, unless you might know some farmers might just be able to save you one.

Cook the placenta as you would with a chook or any given red meat.

1 fresh placenta - washed and cleaned.  Cut to pieces then blanched in hot water.

2 thumb size brown skin ginger - peeled and julienne.

30g Astragalus (Huang Qi)

10g Chinese Wolfberries (Gou Qi Zi)

10 pieces Chinese red dates

5g dried Mandarin Peel (Chen Pi)

2 L water

Tamari or salt to taste

Method:

1. Placed all ingredients in a pot then bring to boil.  Lowered heat to simmer for 2 hours.
2. Season with tamari or salt.  Serve hot with rice.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Placenta - Tonifies the Kidney Essence, Tonifies Blood and Raise Yang.
2. Huang Qi - Tonifies Qi and raise Yang, Tonifies Defensive (Wei) Qi, promote wound healing and reduces oedema.
3. Chinese Red Dates - Nourish Blood and sooth the mind, Tones Middle Burner Qi.
4. Gou Qi Zi -  Tonifies the Kidneys and benefits the Essence, nourish the Liver and brighten the eyes, moisten the Lungs.
5. Chen Pi - Regulate Qi of Spleen and Stomach by removing qi stasis causing qi to rebel upwards in the Middle Burner.

Precautions and Contraindications:

1. This recipe is Warm in nature and very beneficial to weak new mother after child birth or new mother has weak constitution.

IMPORTANT:  This recipe uses of herbs at higher dose.

You must consult your local TCM practitioner if you wish to try to make this medicinal soup for yourself.  Fail to do so may result in harm to your well being.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.
 

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further reading:

            

Turtle, Turle, Turtle . . .

I didn't realized it has been two weeks since the last post.  Time just flies when you having so much fun, or not.  However I have been dreading to write about this recipe because I am not sure how to really explain it all . . . why turtle?  Well . . . why not?

There are a lot of edible variety of turtles across the globe.  However export and import of edible turtles are heavily regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  Most species are now protected.


Mainly two species, Reeves' turtle and Chinese Softshell Turtles, are used as food and medicine in the current market.  A particular species called Golden Coin Turtles are used extensively to make a popular jelly called GuiLing Gao.  Due to extensive use it is now being reviewed to be listed as an endangered species.


Work is in progress to phase out the use of Golden Coin Turtle, replacing with only Softshell Turtle Pelodiscus sinensis.  This species breed and grow rapidly in tropical climate making it best choice to use as food and medicine.

For more information read  ENDANGERED SPECIES ISSUES AFFECTING TURTLES AND TORTOISES USED IN CHINESE MEDICINE

The recipe for this post is definitely not everybody's cup of tea.  I will only share one recipe of few that I know of.  If anyone who is reading this and wish to share their thoughts please do so.

The main focus of this dish is to Tonifies the Blood, Improve Qi circulation,  Boost Defensive Qi and Tonifies the Essence.

It is best prepared by double boiling.  So you will need a lidded ceramic pot which is big enough for all ingredients and 1.5 - 2 L water.  Here are the ingredients.

1 palm size turtle (Softshell or Reeves) - cleaned and cut to pieces.  If using Reeves, retain the shell.
30g fresh dried Rehmannia Glutinosa (Sheng DiHuang)
30g cooked dried Rehmannia Glutinosa (Shu DiHuang)
10 pieces Chinese red dates
30g Codonopsis (Dang Shen) - cut to pieces
30g Astragalus (Huang Qi)
10g Chinese Angelica (Dang Gui)
2 L hot boiled water

Method:

1. Prepare a pot of boiling water to poached the turtle meat.  Leaves the top shell if using Reeves'.  Bring to boil then let simmer for further 5 minutes.  Strain the water out then place the meat in a bowl of cold water.
2. Placed the herbs into the pot first before the turtle pieces.  If using Reeves turtle, turn the top shell over to save space just in case the lid cannot be secured.
3. Pour the hot water until it level with ingredients.  Make sure the water level is at least 2cm under the rim of the pot.  Secure the lid then place the pot in a deep container.
4. Fill the large container with hot water 3/4 level with the smaller pot.
5. Bring to boil then simmer on low heat for 3-4 hours.  Always check water content on both pots.  Add water if necessary.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Turtle - Tonifies Yin and Yang, taste Sweet and Neutral in nature.  Tones the Spleen, and Kidney Qi and Essence.
2. Sheng DiHuang - Clears heat and cool Blood, nourish Yin and promote body fluids.
3. Shu DiHuang - Tonifies Yin and nourish Blood.
4. Chinese Red Dates - Nourish Blood and sooth the mind, Tones Middle Burner Qi.
5. Dang Shen - Tonifies Central (Zhong) Qi, Tonifies Lung Qi, Nourish Blood and promote body fluids.
6. Huang Qi - Tonifies Qi and raise Yang, Tonifies Defensive (Wei) Qi, promote wound healing and reduces oedema.
7. Dang Gui - Tonifies Blood, invigorate blood circulation and relieve pain.

Precautions and Contraindications:

1. Sheng DiHuang is contraindicated in person with Spleen Qi deficiency and Yang deficiency.
2. Shi DiHuang is contraindicated in person with Qi stasis in the Middle Burner and deficiencies of Spleen and Stomach Qi.
3. Chinese red date is contraindicated to use when presence of excessive dampness accumulation and food stagnation.  It is also not recommended if presence of intestinal parasites.  Contraindicated to use as single herb or at large quantity.
4. Dang Shen is not recommended in cases with severe or with excessive heat or fire.
5. Huang Qi is not recommended in cases with Excessive Qi rising such as Liver Qi rising, presence of internal heat or fire, and lesions/sores cause by Heat pathogen.
6. Dang Gui is not contraindicated for person with Excessive conditions and severe Heat Yin deficiency.  Caution for those with Spleen Qi deficiency with abdominal distention or loose stool.

IMPORTANT:  This recipe uses quite a number of herbs AND at a higher dosage.  Thus it is not suitable for everybody.  Though it is recommended for new mother, it is purely base on INDIVIDUAL DIAGNOSIS.

You must consult your local TCM practitioner if you wish to try to make this medicinal soup for yourself.  Fail to do so may result in harm to your well being.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.
 

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further reading:

          

Black-bone Chicken with Cordyceps

Black-bone chicken also known as Silkies is considered the best poultry choice when preparing medicinal or therapeutic food in accordance to Traditional Chinese Medicine.  With new technology and proper scientific research, this breed of poultry is naturally high in carnosine.  Carnosine is a type of peptide where it is available as a form of nutrient supplement taken by consumers in hope to aid in muscle strengthening, anti-aging, diabetes, anemia, menstrual cramps and postpartum disorders.

Cordyceps (Dongchongxiacao) are highly valuable to the Chinese people.  It is one of the best sought out herbs and one of the most expensive too.  It is known to many as an "anti-aging" herb.  It main usage is to treat impotence, infertility, chronic cough and asthma, and spontaneous sweating and aversion to cold due to frailty or illness.

This recipe requires double boiling method as form of cooking.  A smaller lidded ceramic pot is preferred to be used where the ingredients will be place in.

1 Black-bone Chicken - cleaned and cut to pieces

10g dried Cordyceps

10 red dates

5g Gou QiZi (Chinese wolfberry)

500ml hot boiled water

Method:

1. Placed all ingredients in a small ceramic lidded pot which can fit into a larger metal lidded pot.
2. Carefully pour in cold water into the larger pot until the water level is about halfway of the ceramic pot.  TIPS:  Placed a clean cloth at the bottom of the metal pot before placing the ceramic pot.  This will ensure the stability of the smaller pot and avoid movement while the water is boiling.
3. Secure lid and bring the water to boil, then turn down heat to simmer for 1 hour.
4. Check water level occasionally and always add HOT boiling water if needed.
5. Divide dish into two separate meals on the same day.  Have it between breakfast and lunch; lunch and dinner.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Blackbone Chicken - Warms the Middle Burner, Tone the Spleen, replenish and nourishes Qi and Blood, Tonifies the Kidneys and Essence.
2. Cordyceps - Tonifies the Lungs and Kidneys, resolved phlegm and stop bleeding.
3. Red Dates - Tonifies Blood and promote body fluids.
4. Gou QiZi -  Tonifies the Kidneys and benefits the Essence, nourish the Liver and brighten the eyes, moisten the Lungs.

Precautions and Contraindications:

1. If Exterior syndromes presence e.g Wind-Cold, DO NOT use cordyceps unless prescribed by your TCM practitioner.  Failure to do so will bring harm to user.
2. If diarrhoea presence due to Spleen deficiency DO NOT use Gou QiZi.
3. Presence of Phlegm-Heat causing cough  and/or toothache, food retention and bloating due to excessive Phlegm accumulation in the Middle Burner arise from Spleen deficiencies much cautiously when using Red Dates.  Always consult your TCM practitioner for full advise.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.
 

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further reading:

         

Frog and Bittermelon Essence

Now for something interesting and maybe shocking for most people but definitely no stranger to the Asians or the French - FROG!  How does it taste?  It taste like Poussin and Shark meat mixed together - delicate, sweet and tender.
Why is this dish is to be served to new mothers?  The combination of frog and bittermelon has great therapeutic value -  promote better blood flow as well as increases platelet count to arrest further bleeding from the wound due to tearing during birth.

Frog is high in protein, low-fat and contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.  From TCM point of view frog meat is Cool-Neutral in nature and Sweet in taste.  It enters the Lung, Kidney and Spleen Channels.

Whilst the bittermelon:

1. Aids digestion.
2. Contains antiviral properties.
3. Antihelmintic - inhibits Caenorhabditis elegans (round worm) growth causing gastrointestinal disease.
4. Antimalarial.
5. Antiviral. 
   
6. Cardioprotective. 
   
7. Immunomodulator.
8. Aids Diabetes
9. Anticancer properties.

It is Cool in Nature, and taste Bitter, Sweet.  It enters the Spleen, Liver, and Kidney channels.

So let's see how it is prepared.

1 medium size frog - cleaned and cut to pieces
1 small bittermelon - deseed and diced
250 ml water
Soy sauce or Tamari to taste


Method:

1. Placed all ingredients in a small ceramic lidded pot which can fit into a larger metal lidded pot.
2. Carefully pour in cold water into the larger pot until the water level is about halfway of the ceramic pot.  TIPS:  Placed a clean cloth at the bottom of the metal pot before placing the ceramic pot.  This will ensure the stability of the smaller pot and avoid movement while the water is boiling.
3. Secure lid and bring the water to boil, then turn down heat to simmer for 1 hour.
4. Check water level occasionally and always add HOT boiling water if needed.
5. Serve hot with rice or on its own.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Frog - Tones Yin fluids, lubricate Dryness, improves Lung Qi.
2. Bittermelon - Clears heat, tones Yin Blood and fluids, relief Blood stasis in the Liver channel, alleviates Liver-Spleen disharmony, benefit for Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome.

Precautions and Contraindication:

1. Overall this dish is Cool-Neutral in nature and slightly Damp.  It is not recommended for person with Excessive Damp accumulation in the Lungs due to Cold pathogen.
2. Bittermelon is Cool and it effect Liver Yin Blood and fluids.  Therefore it is not recommended for pregnant women.  The blood moving and cooling properties may cause spotting and induce contraction.
3. For those who are insulin dependent, must be cautious when ingesting bittermelon because it may have additional effect when used concomitantly, especially drinking the juice when pressed raw.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further reading: