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Category: Recipes

  • Goji berry lemonade – a summertime TCM treat

    Goji berry lemonade – a summertime TCM treat

    Looking for a delicious summer refreshment that can also support balancing the systems of your body? Goji berry lemonade:

    • Nourishes blood and yin, moistens the lungs, promotes circulation, & clears heat
    • Treats a dry cough, dry mouth or throat, blurry or diminishing vision, dizziness, & phlegm
    • Recommended for lung dryness, lung yin deficiency, liver or kidney yin deficiency, and qi stagnation
    • Drink one cup once a day for a week

    Goji berries

    • Neutral and sweet
    • Affects the Liver, Lungs, & Kidneys
    • Tonifies liver and kidney yin, moistens the lungs, improves vision, and brightens the eyes

    Lemons

    • Cold and sour
    • Affects Lungs, Spleen, Kidney, Liver, & Gallbladder
    • Lemon is known for its ability to promote qi circulation, regulate blood circulations, clear heat, eliminate toxins, and resolve phlegm

    Feng Mi (Honey)

    • Neutral and sweet
    • Affects Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung
    • Tonifies the middle burner and lung, moistens lungs to relieve cough, moistens intestines to smooth stool, relieves spasms, and reduces pain

    Ingredients

    Makes 1 pitcher (8 servings)

    • 1/2 cup Goji berries
    • 1 cup fresh lemon juice (approximately 6-8 lemons)
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 1/2 TBSP honey or sugar

    Directions

    1. Soak Goji berries in 1 cup cold water for 20 minutes, until soft
    2. Blend Goji berries in a mixer with soaking water & 1 additional cup of water
    3. Strain out Goji berries to yield about 1.5 cups of Goji berry juice
    4. Juice fresh lemons to make 1 cup of juice
    5. Combine the Goji berry juice and the remaining 2 cups of water in a pitcher
    6. Add sweetener and mix well

    Adjust the flavors as desired. Add water if it is too strong

    Warnings of over-consumption

    • Too much sour can negatively affect the liver and spleen
    • Too much sweet can negatively affect the spleen and kidneys
    • A warmer version would be better suited for winter seasons to warm internally
  • 24 Springtime TCM Recipes

    24 Springtime TCM Recipes

    When focusing on whole-body health in my acupuncture practice, this time of year (especially in Duluth) calls for some beneficial spring TCM recipes to give us a boost during the change of seasons. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is associated with the Wood element and the Liver and Gallbladder. Like a tree that grows upward and outward, Liver qi rises and spreads throughout the body. When this energy flows freely, we feel motivated, adaptable, and ready to embrace new opportunities. The muscles and tendons remain flexible, supporting smooth and comfortable movement.

    However, when Liver qi becomes restricted, the body’s natural detoxification and circulation processes can slow down, leading to a general sense of sluggishness. This imbalance may also affect the eyes, muscles, and tendons. Emotionally, it can show up as stress, irritability, impatience, or anger.

    One of the key strengths of TCM is its focus on prevention—addressing imbalances before symptoms arise. Eating in alignment with the seasons is one of the ways this balance can be maintained.

    Get the recipes here

    More TCM Posts
  • Winter Congee Recipe

    Winter Congee Recipe

    a winter TCM recipe to warm and heal your gut.

    Ingredients:

    • 1 cup of jasmine rice
    • 8 cups of chicken stock, vegetable stock, or bone broth (this makes a medium consistency congee, for a more soup-like consistency, use 10-12 cups.
    • pinch of salt
    • pinch of white pepper (warming herb)
    • 1-3 inches of chopped ginger
    • 3/4 cup of enoki mushrooms
    • 3/4 cup of thin slicked shiitake mushrooms (dehydrated work nicely)
    • 3/4 cup of thin sliced woo-ear mushrooms (dehydrated work nicely)
    • Optional: Shredded chicken

    Option ingredients to top at the end:

    • Splash of soy sauce
    • a few drops of sesame oil
    • thinly sliced scallions
    • cilantro
    • chili flakes

    Preparation:  

    Rinse the rice and soak in water for 30-45 minutes. This allows the rice to break down easier during the cookie process. (you can forgo this step if you’d prefer to just rinse)  

    Add all the ingredients to a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil then simmer on low heat, with the lid half covered for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking to the bottom.

    Congee is done when the grains disintegrate into the liquid to reach a uniformly dense texture. (You can also use a slow cooker or instapot. Instapot has a porridge setting!)

    Congee can thicken a little as it cools. Add optional ingredients from the topping list above.

  • Winter Digestive Cleanse

    Winter Digestive Cleanse

    Winter Detox Tips for Minnesota: Why You Should Try a Kitchari Cleanse

    A winter digestive cleansing routine is an excellent way to reset your health and start the new year fresh. While many people gravitate toward extreme juice fasts, freezing raw liquids can severely shock your body during a harsh Northern Minnesota winter.

    Instead of depleting your system, an Ayurvedic kitchari cleanse rests your digestive tract while deeply nourishing your cells with warming, comforting nutrients.

    The Danger of Winter Juice Fasting in Cold Climates

    In Ayurveda, winter is a time to stoke your internal digestive fire (agni), not douse it with cold juices. Cold, raw fasting during a freezing Minnesota January can leave you feeling fatigued, ungrounded, and (more) sensitive to the cold.

    Choosing a warm, cooked food cleanse preserves your energy while gently clearing out accumulated sluggishness.

    What is Kitchari?

    Kitchari (pronounced kich-uh-ree) is a traditional Indian healing dish made from split yellow mung dal (lentils) and basmati rice. Together, these ingredients form an easily digestible, complete protein that stabilizes your blood sugar.

    A traditional kitchari recipe uses a strategic blend of warming spices to balance all five tastes:

    • Sweet
    • Spicy
    • Salty
    • Pungent
    • Sour

    This delicious combination kindles your metabolism, flushes out toxins, and soothes the nervous system. If you want to safely detox this winter, skip the cold juices and try this gentle alternative!

    Here is a great recipe to get you started: Kitchari Recipe 

  • TCM warming broth

    TCM warming broth

    Cold and cough season has arrived. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the lungs, which open to the nose and mouth through the respiratory passages, are considered the most delicate of the five yin organs and the easiest for external influences to affect. These external factors are described as six types: 

    • Wind
    • Cold
    • Dampness
    • Dryness
    • Heat
    • Fire

    Coughs are most often linked to Wind, though Wind frequently combines with other influences such as Cold, Heat, or Dryness, depending on seasonal conditions. Wind enters from the back of the neck and ankles. Wrap up in a scarf or buff to keep your neck ‘wind gate’ covered!

    Here is a quick and easy recipe to nip that cold in the bud:

    • 1 green onion, white portion, thinly sliced
    • 1 clove of garlic, sliced thinly
    • 1-2 thin slices of fresh ginger, unpeeled
    • 1 to 1.5 cups of bone broth or water

    Bring the water or broth to a boil, add ingredients and turn down to a simmer after a few minutes. Strain and cool a few minutes to a comfortable temperature. Serve in a mug or bowl.

    This may induce a slight sweat which helps expel dis-ease from the body. Snuggle up in some blankets. However if you feel damp, rinse off and put on dry clothes.

  • Drink and eat your electrolytes!

    Drink and eat your electrolytes!

    How to Rehydrate Fast: Natural Electrolytes for Summer

    When summer weather heats up, we sweat more. Most people reach for plain water to stay hydrated. While drinking water is a great habit, it is only half the battle.

    Sweating drains your body of essential minerals. Drinking large amounts of plain water can flush out the remaining nutrients. To prevent muscle cramps and give your kidneys a break, you must replace these lost minerals.

    Choosing electrolyte-rich foods is the best way to restore your balance. Here are a few delicious, quick ways to get natural electrolytes without heating up your kitchen.

    Quick Savory Miso Broth

    A warm bowl of miso ramen or soba is a fantastic recovery meal. It is packed with sodium and vital nutrients.

    • The Base: Start with homemade bone broth or vegetable broth.
    • The Mix-ins: Grate in fresh ginger. Add one finely sliced Brussels sprout and two sliced shiitake mushrooms.
    • The Flavor: Pour in a dash of soy sauce and rice vinegar.
    • The Finish: Stir in one tablespoon of miso paste at the very end.

    This comforting bowl is nourishing, savory, and ready in minutes.

    Refreshing Summer Snacks

    If you prefer something cool, try these easy alternatives:

    • Salted Watermelon: Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on fresh watermelon slices. Watermelon is packed with potassium and water.
    • Mint Limeade: Muddle fresh mint into a cold lemonade or limeade. Add a tiny pinch of sea salt.
    • Pickles: Eat a crunchy, cold whole pickle for an instant sodium boost.

    Summer hydration does not have to be boring. Use fresh summer fruits and simple pantry staples to keep your energy high. Skip the sugary sports drinks and eat your electrolytes today!

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