Jasmine Infused Pumpkin Soup
Categories: Damp Heat in the Lower Jiao, Soup, Spleen Damp, Spleen Qi Vacuity, Urinary Bladder Damp Heat, Vegetarian

JASMINE INFUSED PUMPKIN SOUP serves 4
1 3 lb winter squash (such as acorn, butternut, or kabocha squash), peeled and diced
5 c vegetable stock
Several slices fresh ginger
1 tsp jasmine (or any other) tea
1 c boiling water
Roasted squash/pumpkin seeds
Scallions or chives, sliced
dried cranberries, reconstituted in boiling water and minced
1) Boil pumpkin in stock with ginger, simmer until tender, 30 min or until squash is tender.
Remove ginger slices.
2) Steep tea in boiling water 5 min, strain.
3) Puree soup in batches, add tea until desired consistency, and simmer until warm.
4) Season with salt and pepper.
5) Ladle soup into bowls and garnish w onions, seeds, and cranberries.
ENJOY…
Jason Cox
TCM ANALYSIS
SPLEEN QI DEFICIENCY LEADING TO DAMP
Winter squash: cool, sweet; dispels damp
Ginger: warm, acrid; LU, SP, ST; stops nausea
Tea: cool, bitter; clears head, resolves phlegm, promotes urination
Squash/pumpkin seeds: cold, sweet; promotes urination, reduces swelling
Scallions: hot, acrid; induces sweating
Cranberries: sour, cooling: promotes urination, supports kidney function
This is a nourishing soup that is perfect for Spleen Qi Deficiency with buildup of damp in the body. The recipe is diuretic in action, but is mild in nature. Therefore, it would be a good addition to any
treatment protocol treating deficiency (Spleen, Kidney) rather than excess. The cool nature of the ingredients will also benefit the damp condition if it’s combined with heat.
The recipe may benefit patients with water metabolism problems like edema, ascites, diarrhea, as well as
urinary tract infections due to Damp Heat. Some of the ingredients also reduce swelling and may be useful
with issues like prostate enlargement and hydrocele with inhibited urination.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: wouldn’t be good for patients with Yin Deficiency dryness who don’t have enough
fluids to disperse.