3. Bitter Chinese Medicine
Chinese Medicine is founded on a great many bitter herbs and plants that can heal and prevent a tremendous amount of ailments. Here's how and why it works.
Chinese medicine is full of wholistic healing practices that weaves together diet, exercise, and mindset. Many of these practices almost spit in the face of western practices that prides itself on revering the laws of cause and effect. Fortunately, with 1.4 billion Chinese, their medicine doesn’t care what the west or Big Pharma thinks because it’s got a great many wins on the scoreboard. It even invented the first smallpox vaccination where they exposed people to an infected scab.
It focuses on many herbal products used to treat every ailment a garden variety hypochondriac’s imagination could love to nurse. These herbs have factored into Chinese story telling because this has always been a way to pass information from one generation to the next. Here’s how some of the bitter herbs may have factored into the famous Chinese Lost Horse proverb that’s become one of the most beloved tales.
Sia Weng’s Lost Horse
Sai Weng was a humble farmer who lived in the countryside where he raised his family on his horse farm. It was the sunniest of days when Sai Weng’s prized stallion was accidentally given a ginseng bulb amongst the ginseng leaves to remedy his low energy from a long riding trip.
Unexpectedly, the horse reared up and ran away from the stable hand.
“Bad luck has come to you master, your best horse has just run away,” said the stable hand to Sai Weng.
“Good luck. Bad luck. Who can tell?” shrugged Sai Weng.
The stable hand was shocked at Sai Weng’s neutral response. Several days later, the prized horse returned with the most beautiful white mare by his side.
“Fortune has smiled upon us Sai Weng, your horse has brought an incredibly strong companion with him,” said the stable hand.
“Good luck. Bad luck. Who can tell?” shrugged Sai Weng.
Later that day, Sai Weng’s eldest son tried to ride this new white horse, fell, and broke both his legs.
“More bad luck sir, your son has broken his legs,” said the stable hand to Sai Weng.
“Good luck. Bad luck. Who can tell?” shrugged Sai Weng as he brewed his son ginger tea to ease his pained muscles.
A short time later, soldiers stormed into the village to recruit young soldiers for the war. Since he was unable to walk, Sai Weng’s son was lying down as he sipped goji berry and dandelion tea to improve blood flow and heal faster. The soldiers could see he looked too sick and frail to fight so he was not drafted, sparing him from almost certain death.
“Good luck. Bad luck. Who can tell?” said Sai Weng when he was told of the news.
Moral Of The Story
Life is ruthlessly unpredictable. What seems bad short term, is often good long term, and vice versa. Nobody can predict the future with certainty. In today’s world, this wisdom remains true. Think about lottery winner William Post who may have won big ($16 million to be precise) but his girlfriend sued him for his winnings then his brother tried to kill him. Win big. Lose bigger. Conversely, Babe Ruth had the record for the most strike outs long before he secured his home run record that cemented him as the god particle of baseball.
Such is the case for bitter foods, which your taste buds regard as a stone in their shoe. However, that’s often because these foods protect their secrets with a taste sensation that’s terrifically disgusting. Bench press your mouth through their heavy flavors, and you’ll be rewarded with chest full of superior health and a spine of steel. Here’s a breakdown of the healing properties found in this tale that Chinese medicines can offer you.
Ginseng
This root’s name has in-built with pep, but increased energy is not the only reason you should take it. Ginseng kind of looks like turmeric and acts accordingly by taking aggressive action against inflammation while helping you to see the world through rose colored glasses thanks to its brain enhancing benefits. It’s no one trick pony and even helps level out your blood sugar, increase your immune system and fight erectile disfunction. Not a bad effort from something that hides underground.
Ginger
This ginger has a soul that can spare you from the afterlife. If you’re struggling with an upset stomach, sore muscles, nausea, arthritis, migraines, and everything a fun person would feel the day after a Vegas bachelor party, ginger has got your back. It’s food medicine in the truest form so use a ginger beer to ease your hangover after your next night on the razzle.
Goji berry
Ah ha! These taste sweet, right? Yes, but that’s the dried variety which amplifies their sweetness. Taken fresh, they’re fiercely bitter and with that comes many healing properties because Chinese medicine has used them to augment the health of people’s eyes, skin, and mood. Western research has supported all these claims and even added mood improvement, digestive health, and energy to the mix. Small, yet much like dynamite.
Dandelion
If you believe in wishes, you believe in dandelions. While beautiful, they taste like medicine that acts as a diuretic which helps your kidneys, lowers blood pressure, and calms an upset stomach. This yellow charmer can even fight inflammation and give your immune system a bump. Some wishes do come true.
Bittersweet Tip 5: Health Ninja Using Ginger
You know the unmistakable ginger flavor, but it’s often hidden by sugar and sparkling soda bubbles. Ginger doesn’t care if it’s been vandalized by sweetness. It keeps giving, explains a systematic review in the journal Nutrient that looked 109 studies on this root. The flavor has a bitter kick like the zing you feel from caffeine and the research found it can do a lot of good. Here’s what it will offer.
Soothes nausea
Quells inflammation
Improved digestion
Offers pain relief
Relieves metabolic syndrome
Lowers colorectal cancer risks
Six ways to eat more ginger
1. Combine 5g of grated with honey, hot water, and lemon for a morning tea
2. Add generous quantities to all stir fries and salad dressings
3. Combine into juices and smoothies that have carrot and orange
4. Use ginger jam on crackers
5. Pair with creamy soups
6. Add crushed ginger to sauteed vegetables like broccoli