Discover the Healing Power of Chinese Soups as Lupus Remedies

Consider the following lupus remedies tailored to the specific lupus symptoms you may be experiencing.

Lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease, occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s cells and tissues. This disease predominantly affects young women. It presents a complex array of symptoms that can fluctuate inexplicably. Sufferers can become depressed because they do not seem to have any control over it.

Lupus is extensively documented in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Practitioners have identified common symptom categories amongst lupus patients, each linked to different types of bodily imbalances. Recommendations for dietary remedies are then matched with these symptoms and imbalances.

I found some of these dietary remedies in some Chinese dietary therapy sources, translated them, and added additional cooking instructions. I know these may be met with skepticism, but my hope is that lupus sufferers will find it useful as a guide to eat well, nourish their bodies, and gain better control over their immune systems. Remember to pay close attention to the body’s responses. If there are discomfort, discontinue.

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Drink Recipes

Chinese pearl barley drink recipe

This drink is supposed to be good for lupus patients who suffer from high and persistent fever and have rashes on the face or all over the body.

Ingredients

• 15-30g Chinese pearl barley or coix seeds
• Sugar to taste

Directions

1. Cook the barley with water until soft
2. Add sugar to taste
3. Drink a cup daily

Mung bean sprout juice recipe

Mung bean sprouts have a detoxifying effect and has been quite effective on patients experiencing pain and inflammation in the joints, suffer from fever, feel thirsty all the time, and have facial rashes.

Ingredients

• 500g fresh mung bean sprouts
• Sugar to taste

Directions

1. Wash the bean sprouts thoroughly
2. Wrap them in a muslin cloth and crush to release the juice
3. Add the sugar to the juice and drink

Congee Recipes

Barley and mung bean congee recipe

Suitable for patients suffering a sudden relapse of fever and rashes or have come down with a cold.

Ingredients

• 50g coix seeds or Chinese pearl barley
• 25g mung beans
• 100g fresh lily bulbs (50g dried)
• Sugar to taste

Directions

1. Separate the lily bulbs into individual petals and wash thoroughly
2. Wash and rinse the coix seeds and mung beans
3. Place the seeds, beans and sufficient water and bring to a boil
4. Cook for about 20 minutes and add the lily bulbs
5. Simmer on low till ingredients are soft
6. Add sugar to taste

Congee with kombu, lotus leaves and hyacinth beans recipe

Suitable for patients with low fever, constipation and poor appetite.

Ingredients

• 50g rehydrated kombu
• 3 pieces of lotus leaves
• 50g hyacinth beans

Directions

1. Chop the kombu and lotus leaves into small
2. Cook the hyacinth beans with water for about 30 minutes
3. Add the chopped konbu and lotus leaves
4. Cook till everything is soft

Congee with astragalus, red dates and codonopsis root recipe

Suitable for patients suffering from heart palpitations, lower backache, weak limbs, hair fall and fatigue.

Ingredients

• 60g astragalus
• 30g codonopsis root
• 10 red dates
• 100g white glutinous rice
• 1 litre water
• Sugar to taste

Directions

1. Cook the astragalus and codonopsis root till soft
2. Squeeze the cooked herbs for juice
3. Place the glutinous rice and red dates in a pot, add water and cook till done
4. Add the herb juice
5. Add sugar to taste

Soup Recipes

Ginseng thickened soup recipe

A tonifying soup to strengthen patients weakened by lupus.

Ingredients

• 100g astragalus
• 30g American ginseng
• 50g glutinous rice flour
• Sugar to taste
• 1 litre water

Directions

1. Slice the astragalus into thin slices and wrap them in muslin cloth
2. Slice the American ginseng into thin slices
3. Bring the water, American ginseng and astragalus to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer
4. Simmer until the water is reduced to about 500ml
5. Add the glutinous rice flour to thicken the soup
6. Add sugar and serve

Stewed pigeon with ginseng and astragalus recipe

Red ginseng, astragalus and pigeon are gentle and warming ingredients. They work on the lungs, spleens and kidneys to strengthen them. This recipe is suitable for lupus patients with kidney inflammation.

Ingredients

• 10g red ginseng
• 30g astragalus
• 1 pigeon (about 50g)

Directions

1. Clean the pigeon thoroughly
2. Bring a small pot of water to a boil
3. Add the astragalus to cook for 10 minutes
4. Place the ginseng and pigeon into a double-boiling jar or small stew pot
5. Pour the astragalus and liquid sufficient to cover the pigeon and other ingredients
6. Place the stew pot into a bigger pot of boiling water and double steam for 3 hours
7. Season with salt before serving
8. Drink the soup and consume the meat

I am not a trained doctor, nutritionist or dietician. These recipes are not meant to be taken as medicine. They should be seen as complementary dietary suggestions. Never replace medications prescribed by your doctors with them.

I believe doctors would agree that lupus patients should consume food that are high in animal protein, packed with multi-vitamins (especially vitamin C) and calcium and low in fat, salt and sugar.

Featured image: iced barley juice | Leslie | Flickr