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FALL
RENEWAL SOUP
(a good soup for lung conditions)
| 4 cps. Spring water |
1-2 pinches cayenne pepper |
| 1-2 scallions or ¼ small onion, diced |
½ tsp. Finely grated ginger |
| 1 small carrot |
4 tsp. Miso paste |
| ½ cp. Sliced daikon or turnip |
Minced clove of garlic ** |
| Chopped parsley |
Juice of ½ lemon |
Bring water
to a boil and add onion. Simmer one minute uncovered. Add carrot,
daikon or turnip, ginger, cayenne and garlic. Cover and simmer 4-5
minutes. Put the miso in a cup and dissolve with some of the hot
soup stock. Add to the soup and simmer gently (do not boil) for
3 more minutes. Stir in scallions and parsley. Turn off heat and
add juice of ½ lemon.
**NOTE: If
you have heat signs (excessive anger, irritability, migraine headaches,
constipation) or reflux or other stomach related problems, leave
the garlic out.
Benefits and
food properties according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Carrots are
sweet in flavor and are a rich source of the anti-oxidant beta-carotene
(provitamin A) which protects against cancer; alkaline-forming,
clears acidic blood conditions, benefits the lungs, improves liver
function, strengthens spleen-pancreas, treats night blindness, benefits
the skin, useful for skin lesions and lung, digestive tract and
urinary tract infections; because of their high silicon content
they strengthen connective tissues and aid calcium metabolism.
Turnips (rich in vitamin A) are sweet, bitter and pungent in flavor;
improves circulation of energy in the body; build blood, resolve
mucus, clear food stagnation; relieves coughing; promote sweating;
treat lung-related imbalances including bronchial disorders, asthma,
sinus problems.
Daikon has many of the same benefits as turnips; it is more cooling
than turnips; especially beneficial for resolving mucus and aiding
in weight loss.
Scallions are pungent and bitter and used for chest and heart pain;
promote urination and sweating; antifungal and antimicrobial; relieves
edema and other damp conditions; resolve diarrhea, abdominal swelling
and pain.
Parsley is pungent, bitter and salty and improves digestion; detoxifies
meat or fish poisoning; very high in vitamin C, provitamin A, chlorophyll,
calcium, magnesium and iron.; treats obesity, swollen glands and
breasts; stones in bladder, kidney and gall bladder; effective for
nearly all kidney and urinary problems (except inflammation); strengthens
adrenals and benefits optic and brain nerves; counteracts poor digestion.
Cayenne is warming, pungent and high in vitamin C; stimulates movement
of energy in the body; when combined with garlic in soup has antiviral,
antibiotic and diaphoretic properties - helpful at the onset
of a cold.
Garlic is pungent and dispersing and helps overcome stagnant energy
in the body; controls the growth of putrefactive bacteria caused
by overeating, poor food combining and animal products. When combined
with cayenne is anti-viral, antibiotic and diaphoretic. If one eats
a healthy vegetarian diet, the need for garlic and cayenne decreases
and can be harmful.
Ginger is warming and pungent and helps break down high-protein
foods and lessens the effects of uric acid in the body. Useful for
nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, motion sickness, menstrual cramps,
bronchitis, aches and spasms. Use minimally with heat signs (above).
Miso is high protein and contains amino acid patterns similar to
meat with a trace of B12; contains lactobacillus which aids digestion
and assimilation; creates an alkaline condition in the body and
increases resistance to disease; promotes longevity; treats and
prevents radiation sickness; treats certain types of heart disease
and cancer; neutralizes some of the effects of pollution and smoking.
©Deborah Barr, 2002. All rights reserved.
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