Despite the colder days creeping up on us, autumn is not quite over yet and it is still a good time to let go of unwanted stuff from our bodies. This week we will look at how carrots and daikon radishes help dissolve the solidified fat deposits in our bodies and how to make lotus root drink to get rid of mucus or phlegm.
Cleansing Carrot-Daikon Drink
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This carrot-daikon drink recipe helps discharge solidified fatty deposits and dissolve calcified stones in the kidneys and the gall bladder.
• 1/2 cup finely grated carrots
• 1/2 cup finely grated daikon
• 1/2 an umeboshi plum
• 1/3 sheet of nori seaweed
• 2 cups of filtered water
• A few drops of soy sauce or tamari
• 1 teaspoon of finely chopped scallions (optional)
1. Place the grated vegetables in a small pot with the water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 3 minutes.
2. Add the soy sauce, the nori, and umeboshi. Continue to cook for a few minutes.
3.Garnish with the chopped scallions. Drink the broth and eat the vegetables, seaweed, and plum.
4. Drink this every day for 10 days or on alternate days for three weeks. A good time to have it is in the evening as the last meal.
The carrot, a more yang vegetable, has a strengthening effect, while the daikon is yin and produces a dissolving effect.
Carrot and daikon cooked together like this have a deep cleansing effect but also weaken the body. The umeboshi plum and the nori seaweed are more yang and balance the yin effects of the drink, helping your body maintain its strength and allowing you to eat the combination for a longer period.
Umeboshi plums are widely known for their healing properties and are naturally pickled with red shiso leaves, which makes them red. Be sure to avoid any brands that use dyes instead of shiso, also known as beefsteak leaves.
If you choose to do this carrot-daikon regime, a very important rule of thumb is to always listen to your body. If you start to feel weak or tired, stop eating it. You can also consider adding some grated ginger to the pot while you boil the vegetables. You can also add 1/3 cup of grated lotus root for lung or lymphatic conditions.
Fresh Lotus Root Drink
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As the cold weather fast approaches, and many of us start to succumb to those nasty colds, we can make this lotus root drink to ease coughs and discharge secretions from catarrh (inflamed mucus membranes) from the respiratory system.
There are three ways to prepare the lotus root drink using either fresh, dried, or powdered lotus root. For the best result, make the drink from fresh lotus root, which you can buy at an Asian food store or market.
Ginger is usually added to this drink for a more warming effect. If you have clear and runny mucus, it’s beneficial to add ginger juice but if your mucus is thick and yellowish it’s best not to add it.
• 1/2 cup finely grated lotus root
• A pinch of sea salt or a few drops of soy sauce
• Filtered water
• A few drops of grated ginger juice (optional)
1. Wash and finely grate the lotus root.
2. Place the grated lotus on a piece of cheesecloth or a tight-meshed strainer and squeeze out the juice into a bowl.
3. Add 2–3 tablespoons of water to the pulp and squeeze out the liquid. Repeat this procedure 2-3 times until you cannot get anymore juice out of the pulp.
4. Pour the lotus root juice into a bowl that can be used for steaming, and place the bowl in a pot with some water.
5. Bring the water to a boil on high heat, and then lower, cover, and let the lotus root juice steam on medium heat for 3–5 minutes.
6. Remove the pot lid and stir the juice.
7. Add a pinch of sea salt or a few drops of soy sauce and a few drops of grated ginger juice, depending on your condition.
8. Cover the pot and let the lotus juice cook until it thickens. The drink should be thick and creamy.
9. Serve hot and eat with a spoon.
Dried Lotus Root Drink
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You can make the drink with dried lotus root. Place a handful of dried lotus root in a pot with 1 to 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Add a pinch of sea salt or a few drops of soy sauce and let the drink simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink it while it is hot. Add a few drops of grated ginger juice, if your condition allows you.
You can also use dried lotus root powder to make this drink. Place 1 teaspoon of the lotus root powder in a cup. Add some cold water and stir till the powder dissolves.
Add a pinch of sea salt or a few drops of soy sauce. Boil some water and pour it into the cup. Add a few drops of grated ginger juice if your condition can tolerate it. Consume the lotus root drink while hot.
These natural food remedies are for maintaining your health and wellness. They are not meant to replace any medical treatment. If you have a diagnosed condition or are in doubt, you should always seek medical advice.
Dr. Margaret Trey holds a doctorate degree in counseling from The University of South Australia. She was trained in oriental medicine, Zen shiatsu, Oki-do yoga, and the macrobiotic or yin-yang way of life and cooking. Dr. Trey was a natural health consultant and the director of Spirit Shiatsu and WellnessWorks Counseling in Australia for more than 10 years. Now based in New York, Dr. Trey writes and continues her research on the effects of meditation on health and wellness.
