Pears of all kinds – Anjou, Bartlett, Bosc, etc. – ripe, luscious, and abundant in the fall, are one of nature’s versatile healing foods. According to TCM, this fruit has a cool essence, which makes it good for relieving heat in the Lung, or any kind of dry cough, skin problem, or constipation. The Lung itself dislikes the condition of dryness and pear essence can bring soothing moisture to this organ. TCM prescribes pears (as well as kiwis) to relieve internal heat produced by radiation or chemotherapy. Pears are also a bit harder to digest than some other fruits like apples. This makes them an ideal food for fending off hunger or for dieters, because pears help the stomach to feel full. Here is a pear recipe that can help strengthen your Lung and its partner organ, the Large Intestine.
Pear and Almond Soup to Prevent Dry Coughs:
5 ripe pears
4 handfuls of almonds
2 quarts of water
honey
frest mint leaves
Take five ripe pears, any kind will do. Cut in half and remove stem and seeds. Chop pears into small pieces leaving the skin. Take four handfuls of almonds. Combine fruit and nuts with two quarts of water. Bring mixture to a boil. After it reaches the boiling point, turn down the heat and simmer for ten to fifteen minutes. Add honey and fresh mint leaves to taste. Drink one to two cups of this soup daily to enhance Lung function and help prevent those dry coughs of autumn that sometimes develop into more serious conditions.
