The fall season according to Chinese medicine is a time of withdrawal and shifting inward (vs summer which is very externally focused). Seasonally the light shifts to later in the morning and earlier in the evening. Plants turn color, wither, and molt their summer plumage, birds leave for warmer climates, the air becomes dry, cool, and crisp, food is less abundant. The organs associated with this time of the year are the lungs and large intestine. This organ pair is about purification of the body – of cleaning out and letting go of what no longer serves us.
In the fall season you may notice that people often develop infections of the upper and lower airways and sinuses that often cause dryness. As if she planned it Mother Nature ripens pears as a medicine just in time to nourish and moisten our lungs and lower digestive tract to protect us from dryness. As you know, pears are very juicy fruits and as such, they nourish the fluids of the body. These fluids include blood, lymph, mucus membranes lining our organs, mouth, nose, joints, and reproductive tracts.
Pears are cooling in nature, which makes it good for relieving heat in the Lung, or any kind of dry cough, skin problem, or constipation. Very hydrating and refreshing, the pear is rich in water (84%) and semi-calorie-filled (about 50 calories/100 grams of weight). It contains vitamin E and folate (B9), potassium, and other trace minerals like copper, zinc, and cobalt. It also contains about 2.3g of fiber for every 100g of weight.
My sister moved in to a new home in Washington this Spring and discovered shortly after that the yard contained a few Anjou pear trees! She gave me a sack full of them that I let ripened in the fridge for a month (making them even juicier). So I made some stewed pears for my breakfast porridge! Check out the recipes below and eat them for good respiratory and poop health!
Stewed Pears for Autumn Breakfast Porridge
By: Dr. Kate Sydney
Ingredients:
4-5 medium pears of any variety
1-2 cups of water
1 TBSP of grated ginger
¼ tsp of cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg
1 TBSP lemon juice
Sprinkle of salt.
Directions:
Wash, peel, slice, and core 4-5 medium pears
Put in medium pot, ½ covered with water
Grate in ginger
Add cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom
Stir all ingredients together
Bring to a boil, and then simmer for 10-15 minutes until pears are soft and tender
Remove from heat
Season with 1 TBSP of lemon juice and a dash of salt
Millet Porridge Directions
1 ¼ cups of millet
3 cups of water
2.5 cups of your favorite milk alternative
1 cinnamon stick
1 ½ tsp of vanilla extract
½ tsp of almond extract
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cardamom
½ tsp nutmeg
Pinch of salt
2 TBSPs ghee or coconut butter
1 TBSP of honey (optional)
Grease bottom and up the sides of a slow cooker
Add all ingredients to pot and stir well
Turn on slow cooker to the low setting and let cook for 8 hours
Serve topped with stewed pears, nuts, alternative milk and nut butter of choice!
I’m not sure how, but I recently ran across this song that I actually listened to on repeat while making Stewed Pears – it’ll have you dancing and shaking your booty while you do so!
Thank you Dr. Kate for sharing with us your beautiful Pear Recipe and Song!!! I'll be dancing in my kitchen with my daughter for this one. AHHH!! Love it. If you're in the Oregon/Washington Area, please feel free to contact Dr. Kate for a wellness/acupuncture appointment!! She's fantastic at what she does!! Website below!