Category: Yang Deficiency

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Steak and Kidney Pie for Life

According to the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Kidney is the treasure chest of Essence, the vital substance that gave us our first breath and will allow us our last breath after a quality life.

Kidney is one of those powerful foods that is recommended by TCM to nourish the body at a deep level. A delicious steak and kidney pie recipe using puff pastry.

Both steak and kidneys are rich in protein and iron and therefore excellent for sufferers of anaemia, who lack these elements in their body. Aside from that, steak and kidney pie is a delightful dish that should be enjoyed throughout the whole year.

Ingredients

  • 340g (12oz) of shortcrust pastry
  • For the filling
  • 900g (2lb) of rump steak, diced and removed of fat
  • 450g (1lb) of ox kidney, diced
  • 300ml (½ pint) of beef stock
  • 300ml (½ pint) of red wine
  • 225g (8oz) of chestnut or Portobello mushrooms, sliced
  • 85g (3oz) of butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 tbsp of flour
  • 2 bay leaves
  • thyme
  • rosemary and parsley
  • salt and black pepper
  • To glaze
  • 1 beaten egg

Method

  • Heat ¾ of the butter in a frying pan and gently fry the onion.
  • Coat the steak and the kidney in the flour seasoned with salt and pepper.
  • Remove the onion and set aside and add the meat to the frying pan.
  • You may have to cook the meat in batches. Fry until browned on all sides and transfer to a large casserole dish as you go.
  • When you have finished browning the meat, pour the stock and the wine into the frying pan and bring to the boil. Ensure that all the crusty bits from the side of the pan are included in this mixture.
  • Pour into the casserole dish over the meat.
  • Heat the remainder of the butter in the frying pan and add the mushrooms. Fry gently and then add to the meat and stock together with the bouquet of herbs.
  • Cover the casserole dish with a lid and cook in a preheated oven set at 150°C (300°F) for approximately 2 hours.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
  • When the filling mixture has cooled, transfer to a pie dish.
  • Roll out the pastry so that it covers the pie dish and add 1 inch (2.5cm).
  • Dampen the edge of the pie dish with water and cut the 1-inch of pastry from the larger piece. Arrange the pastry strip to the edge of the pie dish and gently press down.
  • Arrange the pastry lid on top and press down the edges of the pastry lid onto the edging.
  • Make a small hole in the top of the pastry so that steam will be allowed to escape during cooking.
  • Brush with the beaten egg.
  • Place into a hot oven at 220°C (425°F) and bake for 15 minutes.
  • Reduce the temperature to 170°C (325°F) and continue to bake for a further 45 minutes.

Hoping that you enjoy this exceptionally healthy dish.

James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's a wonderful life
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
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Farmers Lamb Healthy Stew

This exceptional warming recipe is based on Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which believes that winter, with its cold, damp, and inactivity all Yin characteristics. TCM suggests that in order to live in harmony with nature, we should slow down, stay warm, replenish our energy and conserve our strength during the winter season.

The TCM Kidney is associated with winter. Our Kidneys are considered the source of all Qi (energy) in our bodies, especially the deepest type of Qi called Essence. During the winter it is important to nourish and nurture our Kidney Qi by choosing appropriate foods and preparing them in ways that support the Kidneys.

Lamb is world-renowned, flavoursome, tasty and tender. Traditional Chinese medicine considers that lamb has especially good health promoting properties. It is warm in nature, it invigorates Yang, especially the Kidneys to benefit the Qi and warm blood circulation.

Ingredients.

  • 1 tbsp. butter or olive oil
  • 350 grams grass fed lamb stew meat, cubed, seasoned with salt, pepper and cumin
  • 2 onions, peeled and quartered
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 1 ginger chopped
  • 4 cups water or stock
  • 1 cup organic red wine
  • 1 tsp. dried rosemary
  • 2 carrots, chopped into 2-3 inch pieces
  • 1 medium potato, chopped into 1-2 inch cubes
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • Parsley

Cooking procedure:

  • In a soup pot, sear lamb cubes until lightly browned. Add ginger onions and garlic and cook 2-3 minutes.
  • Add stock, red wine, dried rosemary, and bring to a boil.
  • Cover and reduce heat to medium/low for 45 minutes.
  • Add carrots, potato and cook 20-30 minutes.
  • Add sea salt and black pepper and cook an additional 5 minutes.
  • Season with chopped parsley.

This is very simple and easy to cook and has very positive benefits like

  • Warms Kidney Yang and the Gate of Vitality
  • Warms Qi and Blood circulation
  • Strengthens the lower back and legs
  • Nourishes Blood and increase production of milk after labour

Precautions.

  • Lamb is warm in characteristic so I would suggest to AVOID eating lamb if your body has an infection.
  • The heat from lamb is best AVOIDED when you suffer from high blood pressure.
  • Eat lamb less during the hot summer

I hope you enjoy all the benefits of this deep nourishing recipe.

James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's a wonderful life
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
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Chicken Bone Broth

This simple dish is probably one of the most nutritious and energy rich soups you will ever eat. I’m recommending that every house, should have a good old-fashioned reliable stock or broth in the kitchen. Choose only free-range organic meat, bones, vegetables and herbs.
This nutrient rich dish is the perfect boost for modern stress and the affects it can have on our bodies and minds. It will also nourish our constitutions and immune system providing us with that prevention against future ailments and disorders.

It’s also delicious and great tasting.

Bone broth is crammed with nutritional powerhouses, such as glucosamine, chondroitin, essential minerals and gelatine. Take a look at the ingredients and discover that bone broth is simple and inexpensive to make. The cider vinegar used in this recipe helps to release more minerals from the bones.
The recipe below can be altered to suit whatever leftovers you have in the kitchen. Other broths can be made using whole, raw chicken.

To prepare this wholesome nutritious, chicken broth full of essential nutrients, I recommend a heavy-bottomed stock pot and a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. You can use kitchen leftovers and scraps, such as carrot peelings, onion ends, celery leaves and bits of leek, which may have been kept in a large plastic bag in the freezer.

Ingredients

  • 1 Roast Chicken Carcass leftover
  • Vegetable leftovers (onion trimmings, celery leaves, carrot peels, garlic etc)
  • 2 Bay Leafs
  • 1 Tablespoon Cider Vinegar

Instructions

  • Pick the chicken carcass clean of useable meat and keep for another dish.
  • Add the chicken carcass, vegetable leftovers and bay leafs to the heavy-bottomed stock pot.
  • Pour filtered water over contents to cover.
  • Add cider vinegar.
  • Simmer for a minimum of 4 hours and up to 12, adding more water as needed or desired.
  • Skim any scum that rises to the top.
  • Strain solids from the broth through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth.
  • Bottle and reserve the stock.
  • The broth should gel, but it is not necessary.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Nutritional Healing

Nature: Warming

Organ: Spleen and Kidney

Vital Substances: Qi, Blood and Essence

This warming dish Invigorates the Kidney, Strengthens DNA, Supports the Digestive System and Builds Blood. It is perfect in Autumn/Fall/Winter when we are susceptible to cold. Always serve hot and with hot food, but not spicy.

Drink every day for maximum benefits

James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's a wonderful life
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
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Treating Yang Deficiency

You may suffer one of more of the above. If in doubt see a practitioner.

Ancient Chinese people were greatly interested in the relationships and patterns that occurred in nature. Instead of studying situations and things in isolation, they viewed the world as a harmonious and holistic entity. In their eyes, no single being or form could exist unless it was seen in relation to its surrounding environment. By simplifying these relationships, they tried to explain complicated phenomena in the universe.

Yang is the energy that is responsible for warming and activating bodily functions. When Yang is in decline or deficient you feel cold and your body begins to slow down, displaying signs of under activity. There are a number of simple methods to tonify Yang.

Clinical pIcture: Deficient Yang syndrome is manifested as aversion to cold, cold extremities, soreness and weakness or cold pain in the lower back and knees, impotence, spermatorrhea, sterility, watery leukorrhea, enuresis, pale, wet and swollen tongue coating, deep slow, weak, pulse, wheezing and diarrhea (without odour).

Foods that benefit Yang, with the greatest tonics in bold:

Animal protein: Lamb, Venison, Kidneys (both beef and lamb), Chicken,
Lobster, Mussel, Prawn, Shrimp, Trout, Anchovy,
Grains: Quinoa, sweet (glutinous) rice, wheat germ
Vegetables: Leek, mustard greens, onion, radish, scallion, squash, sweet potato, turnip, watercress
Fruits: Raspberry, Cherry, Lychee, Logan berry, Peach, Strawberry
Nuts and seeds: Chestnuts, Pistachio nuts, Walnuts, Pine Nuts,
Herbs/other: Basil, Clove, Black pepper, Chive seed, Rosemary, Fennel seed, Fenugreek seed, Horseradish, Caper, Cayenne, Cinnamon bark, Dill seed, Garlic, Ginger, Nutmeg, Peppermint, Sage, Savory, Spearmint, Star anise, Turmeric, Thyme, White Pepper
Beverages: Jasmine tea, Chai tea,

Every day western foods examples that can be used to Tonify Yang

  • Mussels cooked with a little garlic
  • Roast chicken with sage and thyme
  • Roasted vegetables with and rosemary
  • Rice porridge with cinnamon, nutmeg and a little brown sugar
  • Leek and potato soup with black pepper
  • Or by adding any of the many spices as listed above to dishes when cooking.

Foods to avoid. If you are experiencing Yang deficiency then it is important to avoid foods that will further deplete your body’s Yang energy. Cold food and liquids fall into this category. Here ‘cold foods’ refers not only to those directly taken from the fridge but also to raw foods, as these require extra energy for digestion compared to pre-cooked foods. This may mean choosing a pasta salad over a green salad or switching from muesli to oat porridge for breakfast.

It is important to remember that we can change the “nature” of food to warming foods by cooking or warming them. This will preserve their energetic and nutrient value, while increasing their Yang nature, therefore soups, porridge and slow roasted foods show become the dishes of choice for those with a Yang deficiency. The herbs and spices mentioned above are warming and as such in small amounts encourage digestion and circulation throughout the body. While it may seem reasonable to achieve an improved warming effect by using the stronger spices such as black pepper liberally, care needs to be taken as these can be used to excess, inducing sweating which in fact actually has a cooling drying effect on the body.

Herbs That Tonify Yang

In general, herbs that tonify Yang are warm and dry in nature.  They can injure Yin and give rise to fire, so they are contraindicated for a person with deficient Yin and excessive fire syndrome.

Recipes that Tonify Yang

 

Incomplete – Come back for more later………..

James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's a wonderful life
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
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Eating according to the Seasons

Balance your energy by eating in harmony with the Yin Yang of the season and this will have a massive effect on your health.

The ancient theory of Yin and Yang, tells us that your Qi, known as the essence of life flows through the body and that half of certain organs and meridians are considered Yin, while the other half are Yang. When Yin and Yang are balanced there is optimum health and vitality however when they are out of balance, disharmony caused he body to experience illness, sometimes vague symptoms, that allow you into work (but only just!) but you also may experience more serious disharmony or disease. We believe that nutritional or dietary choices play a hug part in achieving optimum health.

Each new season is a time of growth, rebirth and new beginnings, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) says that eating in accordance with the season will help you gain massive reap health benefits.

Lets look at how TCM advises us to eat according to the seasons.

Spring

Traditional Chinese Medicine says that Spring is a time of renewal, growth and rebirth. The organs most influenced during this season are the Liver and the Gallbladder, meaning that you should eat a diet that supports these two organs during springtime.

The rational here, is that when the Liver functions effortlessly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body also runs smoothly, which lend itself to optimum health. The liver also is responsible for detoxification within the body, so incorporating foods that support this process is ideal.

Nutritional Advice for Spring (Liver and Gallbladder):

  • Leafy green vegetables like kale and chard
  • Bitter greens like dandelion, endives and parsley
  • Milk thistle tea for its cleansing properties
  • Sour foods like lemon, lime and grapefruit supports the liver’s naturally sour flavour
  • Radishes as they help to move Qi around the body
  • Sprouts like alfalfa, mung bean and sunflower make delicious, nutritious additions to every meal

Summer

Traditional Chinese Medicine says that the summer, where we experience most heat during the year is the season of upmost Yang, and this can quickly lead to imbalances if not treated sensibly. Because of the hot, drying weather, the best foods for summer are cooling, sweet, hydrating and neutral.

Nutritional Advice for Summer (Heart and Small Intestine):

  • Neutral foods can help to counterbalance the heat, so things like rice, sweet potatoes, mushrooms and salmon can make healthy choices during summer
  • Hydrating foods like cucumber, strawberries, lettuce, celery, and pears really help to temper excess yang in the body and are especially good in dry heat
  • Sweet foods like sweet corn, carrots, sweet potatoes and cooked grains
  • Light broths and soups to keep portions smaller than during other seasons
  • Cooling foods like coconut, apples, tomatoes and chilli are great in hot, humid environments

Autumn

Traditional Chinese Medicine says that Autumn is a season of distinct transition from the hot Yang summer to Yin influenced winter. Warming, pungent foods are the best picks and methods like slow-cooking or braising make for delicious meals that will support your emotional and physical health and focus on the Lungs and Large Intestine which are associated with Autumn.

Nutritional Advice for Autumn (Lungs and Large Intestine):

  • Seasonal fruits and vegetables like pears, figs, pumpkin, apples and brussel sprouts
  • Onions, peppers and cabbage are great to incorporate during autumn or prepare and preserve for oncoming winter
  • Ginger, leeks, cinnamon, coriander, turnips, mushrooms, garlic and radishes will all help to nourish the lungs
  • Quinoa, rice and oats are the perfect grains for this transitional season

Winter

Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes that winter is associated with increased levels of Yin where rain, cold, snow and ice energy influence the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder. The TCM Kidneys are the root of our deepest constitution, when damaged can be very difficult to bring back into harmony.

So foods that have a warming nature, cooked foods are advised to nourish your Kidneys in Winter.

Nutritional Advice for Winter (Kidneys and Urinary Bladder):

  • Spices, spices, spices! Warming ones like cardamom, cinnamon and ginger will help to stimulate digestion
  • Black beans and lentils reinforce kidney energy
  • Ginger tea will nourish body and soul
  • Potatoes, pumpkin, Brussel sprouts, beets, parsnips and turnips are great for roasting or including in slow-cooked soups and stews
  • Dark leafy greens like kale, spinach and other collard greens

 

Have a look at these suggestions and remember to eat according to the seasons, according to local produce and don’t forget to always smile and enjoy the food that nature provides.

James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
It's a wonderful life
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
Please share! Help the word get out. Pin the graphic too.