Kit LI
Did you know the first solar term of autumn quietly arrived a week ago? Start of Autumn (Liqiu) (1) is the 13th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. It marks the end of the hot summer season and the beginning of autumn. Although the weather may still be quite hot during this period. the overall trend is a gradual shift towards cooler temperatures.
Liqiu represents the shift from the scorching Summer to the cooler Autumn. It is a turning point where Yang energy begins to recede, Yin energy starts to grow, and the climate changes from Yang-dominant to Yin-dominant.
The period after Liqiu can still be very hot, a phenomenon known as the 'Autumn Tiger' referring to a short spell of intense heat after the start of Autumn. Nevertheless, temperatures gradually trend downward, rainfall and humidity gradually decrease, the weather becomes drier, and the temperature difference between day and night increases.
When people ask me about recipes or herbs for this seasonal change, I often recommend dietary therapy as a complementary approach. One nourishing soup, which
benefits healthy by Regulating the Qi, Strengthening the Spleen, Resolving Dampness and Nourishing Lungs:
Ingredients (for four people):
Wǔ Zhǐ Máo Táo (五指毛桃, Ficus hirta) - 40g
Yù Zhú (玉竹, Polygonatum odoratum) - 20g
Bǎi Hé (百合, Lilium spp.) - 20g
Fú Líng (茯苓, Poria cocos) - 20g
Yì Mǐ (薏米, Coix lacryma-jobi) - 20g
Raw Cashew Nuts - 30g
Water - 1.5L
If you have a nut allergy, you can cook this soup with lean pork instead.
Put the above ingredients in a pressure cooker, and put Soup setting for 30 minutes, then ready to drink.
Herbal Functions:
Wǔ Zhǐ Máo Táo (五指毛桃, Ficus hirta) (2), it helps strengthen the Spleen and Lungs, promoting the circulation of Qi, boosting energy, removing dampness from the body, and relieving muscle and joint pain. It may also be used as a supportive, complementary therapy for chronic hepatitis and fluid retention associated with liver cirrhosis.
Yù Zhú (玉竹, Polygonatum odoratum), it nourishes yin, moistens dryness, eases cough and thirst, and nourishes Lungs.
Bǎi Hé (百合, Lilium spp.), it moistens the lungs, clears Heart-Fire and calms the spirit, helps with restlessness or dry cough.
Fú Líng (茯苓, Poria cocos) (3), it strengthens the spleen, drains dampness from the Lower Jiao, and supports mental calmness.
Yì Mǐ (薏米, Coix lacryma-jobi), it strengthens spleen, reduces swelling and dampness, supports joints and relieve pain.
Additional notes:
1) Suitable as a tonic soup for elderly, convalescent, or weak individuals.
2) Can be combined with other herbs depending on individual TCM diagnosis.
3) Not suitable for severe diarrhoea from cold-damp, or for people with extreme yang deficiency, unless modified.
As the season quietly shifts from the heat of Summer to the cool embrace of Autumn, taking care of your body with gently, nourishing foods can help you adapt to the changing climate, strengthen your Qi, and support overall wellness. A simple soup like this not only warms and balances the body, but also brings a sense of comfort and harmony as nature transitions around us.
Embrace the rhythm of the seasons, and let your diet be a support companion for Health and Vitality.
References:
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