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Hawthorn Schnapps

Categories: Beverages, Blood Stasis, Cold

Anybody looking for a warm, blood invigorating, and digestive aid treat!?

Here ya go!

Directions For Hawthorn Schnapps:

  • Rinse the hawthorn berries and leave them to dry in the shadow – on paper towel.
  • Fill 2/3 of a clean glass jar with berries.
  • Cover well with clear, unflavoured vodka – 40% alcohol content (80 proof).
  • Close the jar with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Let the berries steep for 5-6 weeks – in a dark place at room temperature, 18-20°C (64-68°F).
  • Shake lightly and taste it from time to time.
  • Strain and filter your infusion into a clean glass bottle or jar with tight-fitting lid.
  • Store (age) it for a couple of months in a dark place at room temperature before serving.

Recipe from http://www.danish-schnapps-recipes.com/hawthorn.html

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Milk: Squeezed or Juiced

Categories: Articles, Food Safety

For those that have wondered about the differences between raw and processed milk then here’s a great post for you!

Some general info. about milk:

http://www.westonaprice.org/Milk-It-Does-a-Body-Good.html

The process and some research:

http://www.westonaprice.org/Ultra-Pasteurized-Milk.html

Is raw milk safe for babies:

http://www.westonaprice.org/Is-Raw-Milk-Safe-for-Babies.html

Find a farm that’s close to you with raw milk:

http://www.realmilk.com/

*If you’re interested the farmers usually sell you a cow share and you have to go fill it yourself! Fun stuff! Start squeezing!

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“LET IT FLOW” CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Categories: Constipation, Desserts, Large Intestine Qi Stagnation

12 OZ Bittersweet Chocolate (chopped)

1/3 C Heavy Cream

1 t Vanilla Extract

¼ C Almonds (chopped)

9 Grams Da Huang

 

Yields about 35 truffles (enough for plenty of bowel fun!)

 

  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat combine the Heavy Cream and Da Huang.  Bring to a boil then quickly down to a simmer. Cook for no more than 10 minutes, stirring often.
  • Remove from heat and add in the Chocolate and the Vanilla Extract.  Stir together until all of the chocolate is melted. 
  • Pour into a small bowl and refrigerate until set, but not hard (about 30 minutes to 2 hours).  Use to fill candies or form balls and roll in chopped almonds.

 

TCM Analysis

Bitter Sweet Chocolate  Bitter, Sweet; Promote Downward Movement of Qi and Nourishment

Heavy Cream  Sweet, Neutral; Supplement Qi, Nourish Blood, Moisten Dryness; Good for Constipation

Vanilla Extract  Warm, Sweet; Promote Movement of Qi, Nourishment, and Lubrication

Almonds  Sweet, Neutral; Moistens Lungs and Intestines, Supplements Spleen and Lung; Good for Constipation

Da Huang  Bitter, Cold; Heart, Lung, Liver, Stomach; Drains Heat and Purges Excess For Yang Ming Organ Stage or Intestinal Heat Excess, Constipation and Abdominal Fullness

 

Overall Intended Action(s)

Nourish, Moisten, Lubricate, and Provide Downward Movement of Qi to unblock the bowels without drying.  Vanilla Extract is added to provide enough warmth for movement and counteract Da Huang’s cold nature.

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WATERMELON AND SPINACH SALAD

Categories: Kidney & Urinary Bladder Qi Vacuity, Salad, Summerheat, Urinary Bladder Damp Heat, Vegan, Vegetarian

½  Watermelon

1 Bushel of Grapes

1 C Lotus Seeds (Soaked)

2 Carrots

1 Bag of Spinach

 

  • Soak the lotus seeds in water over night.
  • Cut up the watermelon and grapes. Grate the carrots with a large handheld grater or use a vegetable peeler.
  • Place all of the ingredients into a large bowl and stir it up.

Serve for your friends or family when the sun is out, temperature is up, and you want to get your thirst on!

 

TCM Analysis

Watermelon: Sweet, Cold; ST, HT, UB; Clears heat toxin, Quenches thirst, Promotes Urination, Relieves irritability; Difficult Urination, Summer-heat, Irritability, Sores, Dry mouth

Grape: Sweet, Sour, Neutral; Promotes Urination, Nourishes Yin and Body Fluids; Edema, Yin Xu

Lotus Seed: Sweet, Neutral, Astringent; SP, HT, KD; Stabilizes and Binds Essence, Supplements SP, HT, and KD; Diarrhea, Spermatorrhea, Insomnia, Palpitations

Carrot: Sweet, Neutral; SP, LV, LU, HT; Diuretic, Anti-Inflammatory

Spinach: Sweet, Cold, ST, LI; Stabilizes Yin, Moistens dryness

 

Overall Intended Actions

This recipe is intended to be used during the summer months when folks need to quench their thirst, battle the summer heat, and nourish body fluids.  Most of the ingredients are cold to help reduce heat for summer heat, insomnia or palpitations and support the overall approach to nourish fluids.  Ingredients like Watermelon and Grape are going to help promote urination while Lotus Seed is going to astringe and hold in the essence.

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