Here in America, we eat what tastes good. School children through the school lunch line to choose foods based on whether the food tastes good or not. Even adults to choose fast food over nutritious home cooked meals from time to time on the basis of taste. Who would not want cake or candy on the vegetables?
Chinese food very different view of those in the U.S. They know that food can have a beneficial effect on the healing of their bodies through strengthening the immune system and cure diseases.
People in the U.S. can learn about the concept of using herbs in your diet to benefit your health by reading Chinese Herbal Secrets by Stefan Chmelik. This book explains the principles of some of the most common herbs.
Chinese medicine uses the herbs that most Americans are familiar, such as:
Sesame seeds are used in salads, to garnish green vegetables or on toast with black currant jam.
Nuts in salads or used in baking can help those with low energy, pain back or weak knees.
Women ginseng (Dang Gui) can be added to the soup for women who suffer from poor sleep, general weakness, fainting, dizziness or fatigue. In Chinese medicine, these symptoms are known as blood deficiency and common in young women who are vegetarians in their diet choices.
The Chinese call cooking with herbs, "Kitchen of Medicine, and many mothers and grandmothers were caring for the health of family members of their kitchens for centuries.
Soups and stews are common forms of the preparation of Chinese herbs for medicinal purposes. These foods (meats, vegetables and Chinese "tonic" herbs) is used to increase Qi, blood accumulate, wet the Yin Yang heat, and generally improve organ function.
Not only are soups and stews used to promote good health, which are also used to help the body recover from surgery, childbirth, illness or trauma.
Chinese women also use another way to prepare herbs in food called, congee. This food item is served at breakfast and is a blend of herbs and rice.
An example of a favorite soup is:
Chicken Soup with the following herbs: astragalus, ginseng, Cordyceps, and dates. The herbs used are astragalus root, Chinese Red root ginseng, American ginseng root, Cordyceps fungus, Dioscorea root Yan, between Tangerine Peel, Chinese Red Date, Green beans either India or Cardomon Chinese Cardomon Poria Hongo.
This soup contains the following foods and other commodities:
Cold-pressed sesame oil
Fresh ginger root
Brown onion
Chopped vegetables (variety, usually carrots, turnips, daikon)
Free of the hormone without skin (very important) chicken
Dark pasta Miso
White pepper
There are many websites with recipes and instructions on how to cook soups and stews.
About the Author:
Scott Meyers is a staff writer for Its Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Benefits of Traditional Chinese Herbs