Fluid Retention Remedy Job’s Tears Dessert Soup
Have you been feeling extra sluggish lately?
Or have Brain fog?
If the answer is yes, then this is the perfect Herbal Dessert for you.
This recipe is a simple yet delicious dessert soup that can combat fatigue and brain fog by helping to eliminate turbid fluid retention (dampness) in the body whilst boosting the functions of your digestive organs.
You’re probably wondering what on earth is Job’s tears?
Yì Yì Rén, otherwise known as Job’s Tears, Coix Seed, and sometimes mislabeled as Barley.
In TCM,
Yì Yì Rén is a gluten-free grain that has the ability to clear turbid fluids in the body by promoting water metabolism.
As well as nourishing the Spleen to help its function in transforming food into useful nutrients in the body.
In Western Medicine,
Research has shown that Yiyiren is anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, and modulates gut microbiota.
It is also a diuretic that can help the body get rid of extra fluid and salt. They are used to treat high blood pressure and edema (extra fluid in the tissues)
You may have seen this delicious beverage at Asian restaurants, this recipe is a more TCM take on the dessert beverage, removing its harsh cold properties and enhancing the metabolising functions.
- Recipe -
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1hr and 10 min
Servings: 3-4
Ingredients:
70g of Coix Seed
5 pieces of Black Dates
A desired amount of Brown Sugar or Rock Sugar
1L of water
Step 1
Wash the seeds thoroughly using a strainer.
Step 2
Heat up a non-stick pan on low heat and stir fry the washed seed for 5-10 minutes without any oil until it is a light golden colour. Tossing them liberally to ensure even cooking.
This step is to heat up the seed in order to get rid of its harsh cold properties. This will enhance its effect of eliminating turbid dampness whilst protecting the Digestive organs (Spleen and Stomach).
Step 3
Now add the golden seeds into a pot along with the black dates and 1L of cold water.
Step 4
Bring to a boil and simmer on low heat for around 40-50 minutes.
Step 5
Once the seeds are nice and soft, Add your desired amount of brown sugar or rock sugar to taste.
There you go,
a super simple and delicious metabolism boosting Herbal Dessert Soup is ready!
Enjoy it warm as it is, or as a chilled beverage as the weather is getting warmer.
TCM Terms Explained - Dampness
Dampness is quite a confusing concept, in our modern society, we associate the word with the state or condition of being slightly wet or humid.
However, in TCM it is a pathogenic factor that can accumulate in the body when food and water are not digested or transformed into useful nutrients.
They become a turbid fluid that can accumulate in the Lungs and turn into phlegm, goes into the lymphatic system and turn into swollen glands, and even benign tumours in the different organs.
In our body, it doesn’t only manifest physically, but also present as a type of sensation or symptoms that may not show up in scans or lab results but is very valid.
These include having a cloudy mind, inability to focus, a heavy sensation in the limbs, fatigue.
Our modern-day lifestyle and food culture are very stimulating, which puts a lot of strain on the digestive system. This is one of the main reasons for dampness to accumulate in the body.
So it is very important for us to combat this with either lifestyle changes, or herbal remedies and acupuncture to eliminate fluid retention.
*You can find all the ingredients in the Asian groceries in your local area.
*As always, speak to me or your TCM doctor before performing any self-treatments if you have any concerns.
Sources:
Bai, Chunqing et al. “Development of Oral Delivery Systems with Enhanced Antioxidant and Anticancer Activity: Coix Seed Oil and β‑Carotene Coloaded Liposomes.” Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 67.1 (2019): 406–414. Web.
Du, Weifeng et al. “Research on the Effect of Spleen-Invigorating and Anti-Swelling Active Ingredients in Crude and Processed Coix Seed Based on Spectrum – Effects Relationship Combined with Chemometrics.” Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis 205 (2021): 114350–114350. Web.
Xia, Ting et al. “Coix Seed Polysaccharides Alleviate Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus via Gut Microbiota-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids Activation of IGF1/PI3K/AKT Signaling.” Food research international 150 (2021): 110717–. Web.
Yang, Shou-zhong. The Divine Farmer’s Material Medica : a Translation of the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing by Yang Shou-Zhong . First edition. Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press, Inc., 1998. Print.