Food for colds – the Best Medicine!

Mon, Dec 31, 2018

Enjoy our weekly wellness tip from Licensed Acupuncturist, Michael Savalli, from the office of Elizabeth Martin.

Congee Recipe to Fight Cold and Flu – Chinesemedicineliving.com

Congee is like “the chicken soup” of Asia.  It’s the meal of choice to prevent and help recover from, any colds and flu that occur during the cold months.  At its most basic, it’s a porridge made from white rice. However, with that as a foundation, there are infinite varieties.  It is quintessentially a healing food for body and soul. It tonifies blood and qi, harmonizes digestion and helps fight inflammation.  It helps mothers produce milk, and the strained broth can be easily drunk by infants.

Well cooked rice is easy to digest.  It also helps the digestion of these other ingredients, which are important for their medicinal properties.  For example, ginger aids with digestive problems, garlic kills many types of bacteria, and onions can help with respiration and clear mucus.  This recipe has the added benefits of bone broth as well.

Ingredients

2 cups white rice, 5 cups water

½ lb. Chicken bones, or 2 thighs

3, ¼ inch slices of ginger

1 mashed garlic clove

1 green onion, tied in a knot

¼ cup of whole yellow or red onion

soy sauce, salt, pepper (white pepper if you have it)

Sesame oil

For garnish: shredded leftover chicken, chopped green onion, fried garlic, fried shallots.

Directions

1. In a large pot, put the rice, water, chicken bones, ginger, garlic, green onion, and onion.  Bring to a boil, and skim any foam.

2. Reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 1-1 ½ hour.  Stirring occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the pot.

3. After 20 minutes, remove the chicken bones, put aside any meat you can scrape off, then return the bones to the pot.  Cook another 40 minutes or so.

4. Once the thickness is like oatmeal, it is done.  If it’s too thick, add more water. It’s better off on the watery side.

5. Remove bones, ginger, garlic, green onion, and onion.  Add soy sauce, salt, and pepper to taste.

6. Bowl, and drizzle with sesame oil or garnish.

7. Enjoy!

Meet Michael Savalli, MSOM, L.Ac

Michael is a board certified NY State Licensed Acupuncturist, who received his Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine from New York College of Health Professions.  While in this program, he also specialized in Chinese Herbal Medicine. If you or anyone you know is interested in staying healthy this season, schedule your appointment and learn how Acupuncture and herbs can boost your immunity. 

631-601-6491

Click to learn more about Michael Savalli, MSOM, L.Ac

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We Sell Products

To enhance your healthy lifestyle experience we sell all forms of Chinese herbal linaments, to pain patches and liquids that help the pain, enhance healing, and promote wellness. Each product has been carefully selected and tested. We only sell high-quality medicinal grade products. Ask your practitioner what products would be right for you!

631-601-6491

All this December we will be focusing on traditional, and holistic ways to prevent, treat, and recover from ailments like the common cold.

With Love,

Liz

Elizabeth M. Martin, MSOM, L.Ac, LMT and the Staff at Hands on Acupuncture and Massage Therapy, P.C.