Essence & Qi

A blog by Pacific College

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Oktoberfest…”What-to-do-for-a-Hangover” Soup

Oktoberfest “festivities” are upon us and why shouldn’t you participate? Well…if you’re worried about partaking because of how you may feel the next day, let Chinese medicine help with a yummy recipe that’s bound to be your go-to cure!

Courtesy of Pacific College Faculty Member Yuan Wang and her cookbook: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen.

Ingredients : 1/2 cup dried mung beans, rinsed, 1 tbsp pre-cut wakame seaweed, 4 cups water, 2 tbsp white miso paste (or 1 tbsp red miso paste)

Directions :

  1. Combine mung beans, seaweed, and water in a medium-size pot of water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, then simmer, covered, over low heat for 1 hour.
  2. Remove 3-4 tbsp of the stock from the pot and, in a separate bowl, mix with the miso paste, making sure all lumps are stirred out before gradually stirring the miso mixture back into the soup.
  3. Serve and enjoy!

"With the first glass, a person drinks wine. With the second glass, the wine drinks the wine. With the third glass, the wine drinks the person." - Japanese Proverb

Click here to see a special tea making video with Yuan Wang!

Health Store Pick-ups For Your Summer Camping Trip

Going on any camping trips this summer? Maybe you’re just going hiking for the day or taking a river tubing adventure…either way, be sure to add these essential travel items to your health store shopping list!

  1. White Flower Oil - Whatever outdoorsy activity you’re going on, one nasty bugger is always there…mosquitoes. White flower oil is a natural and effective treatment for bug bites, so be sure you have some in your backpack and use generously…no itching!
  2. Zhen Gu Shui - Don’t be intimidated by the name, you should be able to find this Chinese formula in a health store or Chinese herb store. It is great for treating muscle aches and pains. So if you’re going on a hike and pull a muscle, apply directly to the area to relax and soothe the muscles.
  3. Mung Bean Soup - Go right to the soup aisle and pick up some of this soup to bring along on your camping trip. Even if it’s hot outside, mung bean helps to cool the body and is easy to heat up over a camp fire!
  4. American Ginseng - This herb can be taken as a powder or preferably as a tea. It helps to boost energy and immunity to help keep you well as you travel. When traveling, the body’s immunity tends to go down, so help it out with some American Ginseng!

Happy travels!