Chinese Food Therapy is an essential part of TCM. Appropriate nutrition is crucial to sustained good health just as sleep and movement and loving relationships. Chinese Food Therapy is a complex system that evolved alongside herbal therapy, acupuncture, qigong, and massage. It prescribes foods based on weather, personal constitution, and lifestyle.
Mung Beans are an ideal food during hot, summer weather to maintain health. According to Chinese Food Therapy they are cooling, sweet, and detoxifying. They alleviate Damp Heat in the body and cleanse the Liver and Gallbladder systems. Sprouted mung beans have a colder nature, making them stronger in action to cleanse and cool the body and particularly beneficial in the treatment of alcoholism. If you have weak digestion or feel cold, eat mung beans sparingly.
A basic recipe is to cook mung beans with Job’s Tears (barley) and ginger. Soak mung beans and Job’s Tears overnight. Strain. Put in a heavy pot and cover with water. Slice ginger to taste and place in pot. Add salt and a few bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Skim any bubbles from the surface. Turn down heat and allow to simmer for 60 min or until soft.
An excellent source on Chinese Food Therapy is “Healing With Whole Foods” by Paul Pitchford.
