I woke up on Sat morning feeling dizzy, heavy headed and low in energy. It feels like I’m under the weather but I know I’m not. I ate well and slept well, probably too well. I slept more hours than I usually do and woke up feeling like my brain was foggy. An hour later, I started to feel my throat getting dry and slightly swollen. By 11am, I felt my esophagus (the canal that connects the throat to the stomach) was swelling and I had difficulty even swallowing my saliva. I’ve never had allergies so this reaction was new to me. I was wondering what triggers such an allergic reaction? It isn’t a million dollar question. The SMOG and the dry weather.
I poked my head out the window. It was grey and it smelled burnt. I could see sunlight beaming through the heavy smog. I went online to check the air quality and the whole Bay area is dyed in a dark red color. The air quality index was at 160 and later climbed up to 220 in Berkeley. As my symptoms were getting worse, I knew I had to keep myself hydrated. I kept drinking lots of water but it didn’t seem to help ease out the dryness. Then I remembered I had some Asian pears and apples at home. Bingo! I can make my favorite drink that my mom always made for me when I was a kid.
I took the honey-ed drink and a supplement with Cordyceps mycelium. This is a fantastic herb that’s sold at HeCares. We normally prescribe it to patient to prevent altitude sickness. In this case, it helps to increase red blood cell production. Hence, it increases oxygen levels and decreases inflammation. My symptoms were almost gone in 30 mins after I took the herbs. I drank the juice throughout the whole day.
This recipe is well-known in every Chinese family. We made it during the fall season to fight dryness in the lung. The traditional way to make juice in the Chinese culture is to boil the fruits in water but not cold press or put them in the juicer. When you boil the whole fruit, it retains all nutrients in the juice. It is also nourishing and hydrating.
I poked my head out the window. It was grey and it smelled burnt. I could see sunlight beaming through the heavy smog. I went online to check the air quality and the whole Bay area is dyed in a dark red color. The air quality index was at 160 and later climbed up to 220 in Berkeley. As my symptoms were getting worse, I knew I had to keep myself hydrated. I kept drinking lots of water but it didn’t seem to help ease out the dryness. Then I remembered I had some Asian pears and apples at home. Bingo! I can make my favorite drink that my mom always made for me when I was a kid.
I took the honey-ed drink and a supplement with Cordyceps mycelium. This is a fantastic herb that’s sold at HeCares. We normally prescribe it to patient to prevent altitude sickness. In this case, it helps to increase red blood cell production. Hence, it increases oxygen levels and decreases inflammation. My symptoms were almost gone in 30 mins after I took the herbs. I drank the juice throughout the whole day.
This recipe is well-known in every Chinese family. We made it during the fall season to fight dryness in the lung. The traditional way to make juice in the Chinese culture is to boil the fruits in water but not cold press or put them in the juicer. When you boil the whole fruit, it retains all nutrients in the juice. It is also nourishing and hydrating.
 | Ingredients:
Method: Boil it down for 1.5 hours on medium low heat |
 | Cordyceps: 2 pills, 2 times a day |
--Carla Chan, L.Ac.
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