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Internal Remedies

Special Dishes & Drinks

Kidney & Urinary Function • Prostate Health • Better Elimination

ADUKI BEAN TEA

Aduki bean tea helps support kidney and urinary functions. It is beneficial for prostate health and helps establish smooth and regular elimination. It also helps neutralize recent heavy animal food intake. Take 1 small cup for 3 to 4 days. If constipated, reduce use. To relieve more chronic conditions, take daily, every other day, or every third day for about 3 weeks depending on the condition.

Place one cup of aduki beans in a pot.  
Add four to six cups of water and bring to a boil.  
Lower the flame, cover with a lid, and simmer for approximately one-half hour.  
Strain out the beans and drink one or two cups of the liquid while hot. Refrigerate leftover liquid for use on subsequent days. Place in a saucepan and heat before drinking.  
You may continue cooking the beans longer with additional water until soft and edible. Try adding chopped carrot or sweet winter squash, and shoyu or sea salt as seasoning to make an aduki bean side dish.

Note: If your condition permits, you may occasionally add soaked and finely chopped kombu (a one-inch strip) at the beginning.

Relaxation • Sweet Cravings • Falling Asleep

AME (SWEET) KUZU

Adding brown rice syrup, or “ame,” to kuzu tea produces a sweet soothing beverage that helps relax tension and ease the craving for sweets, simple sugars, and alcohol. Taken before bed it helps promote deep relaxing sleep.

It is also good for intestinal problems, hypoglycemia, premenstrual and menstrual cramps, and tension caused by intake of too much yang in the form of chips, crackers, and other hard baked goods.

Dilute one heaping teaspoonful of kuzu in several teaspoons cold water.  
Place one-cup cold water in a saucepan and add the diluted kuzu, mixing thoroughly.  
Place on a medium to high flame. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon to prevent clumping.  
Add one-tablespoon brown rice syrup to the hot liquid and stir in.
When the kuzu becomes thick and clear, pour into a cup or bowl and drink hot.

Note: You may substitute organic apple juice or cider for water in the recipe. Omit the brown rice syrup. Prepare as above.

Relaxation • Constipation • Tight Bladder & Kidney

APPLE JUICE

Fresh apple juice or cider is very refreshing. Besides its use as part of a balanced diet, it can be used medicinally to relax an overly tight or yang condition.

One to 2 cups may be taken per week, either heated, at room temperature, or chilled. For usual good health, it is fine to prepare the juice from fresh (preferably organic) apples with an electric juicer. But wait for 5–10 minutes before drinking for the vibration to come down. For sickness, it is best to finely grate an apple by hand, wrap the gratings in a cheesecloth, and squeeze out the juice by hand.

Fresh apple juice (warm or at room temperature) will also relax an overly tight bladder. It may seem counterintuitive to drink liquids when you have to urinate. But often the tightness is due to too much animal food, salt, or baked food and juice will relax and expand the bladder. This is especially helpful to keep in mind while driving or traveling, and a restroom is not immediately available. Drink or sip some juice and it will immediately relax the bladder.

Relaxation • Regular Elimination • Laxative

APPLE KANTEN

Kanten is a refreshing jelled dish that cools and relaxes the body and promotes regular elimination. It has natural laxative properties.

Place organic apple juice or cider in a saucepan and add kanten flakes. Stir to distribute evenly.  
Bring to a boil and simmer until the flakes are thoroughly dissolved.  
Continue to simmer on a low to medium flame for about ten minutes, gently stirring throughout.  
Pour into individual cups or shallow bowls, ideally with two to three inches of hot kanten liquid.  
Set aside or place in refrigerator until completely jelled (about 1⁄2-hour in refrigerator). Serve as is. Eat as a snack between meals or at the end of a meal as dessert.

Variation: Fresh seasonal fruit, such as melon, berries, apple, pear, etc. may be added to kanten. Slice when needed and place fruit at bottom of cup or bowl. Pour hot kanten liquid over the fruit and jell as suggested above.

Female Reproductive Health • Smooth Elimination • Coughing

BLACK SOYBEAN TEA

Black soybean tea helps support female reproductive health. It is good for loosening, softening, and warming the body and establishing smooth and regular elimination. It also helps relieve coughing (especially dry coughs), mucus in the throat, and laryngitis.

It is especially good for cramping, heavy menstruation, or constipation from animal food intake. It also promotes mother’s milk, especially when cooked with mochi.

For less acute symptoms, take 2-3 times a week. For acute ones, 1 cup may be taken daily. Sea salt may be added at the end of cooking instead of kombu. For more yang conditions, it is better to use no seasoning.

1. Place one cup of black soybeans in a pot.  

2. Add four to six cups of water and bring to a boil.  

3. Lower the flame, cover, and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.  

4. Strain out the beans and drink one or two cups of the liquid while hot. Refrigerate leftover liquid for use on subsequent days. Heat before drinking.  

5. You may continue cooking the beans with additional water until soft and edible. Try adding chopped carrot or sweet winter squash, and shoyu or sea salt as seasoning to make a black soybean side dish.  

Note: If your condition permits, you may occasionally add soaked and finely chopped kombu sea vegetable (a one-inch strip) at the beginning.

Strengthening the Blood • Energy • Kidneys

BURDOCK TEA  

Good for restoring energy, strengthening the blood, and activating kidney function. It can be made by boiling and straining dried burdock root and is also available in tea bags.

Place 1 tablespoonful of dried organic burdock in one and one-half cups of water.  
Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.  
Strain the liquid into a cup and drink hot. You may season with several drops of shoyu.

Fat Deposits • Liver or Heart Troubles • Tumors

CARROT-DAIKON DRINK 

This drink helps to dissolve solidified fat deposits existing deep within the body. It was first developed by Michio Kushi for liver troubles, to help discharge eggs, cheese, and beef fat. It is also helpful in dissolving fat deposits anywhere in the body and quickly reducing high cholesterol. It is often recommended for heart disease, selected tumors, and to help dissolve calcified stones in the kidneys and gallbladder.

Daikon is more yin and gives a dissolving effect. Carrot is more yang and is added to strengthen and help move energy down in the body. However, if taken continuously they tend to lead to weakness. Umeboshi and nori are added for strength and the drink may be taken daily for 10 days or every other day for 3 weeks.

Finely grate one-third to one-half cup carrot and one-half cup daikon. Place in a saucepan.  
Add one or one and a-half cups water and bring to a gentle boil.  
Simmer for about three minutes and add a few drops of shoyu/soy sauce toward the end.  
Eat and drink the vegetables and the broth.

Note: As a variation, you may add one-third of a sheet of nori and one-half umeboshi plum to the grated carrot and daikon at the beginning.

Lowering Cholesterol • Diuretic

CORN SILK TEA

This tea can be purchased in tea bags. It is good for discharging fat and cholesterol and effective as a natural diuretic. Be sure to purchase certified organic corn silk tea.

Bring one cup of water to a boil. Turn off the flame.  
Place one bag of organic corn silk tea in the water, cover, and let steep for ten minutes.  
Strain and drink hot.

Note: Corn silk tea may be prepared by drying the silk from organic corn on the cob. Prepare as above.

Worms • Weakness after Childbirth

CORSICAN TEA

This tea made from Corsican seaweed is traditionally known in the East as Makuri and is taken to prevent or relieve intestinal worms. Eating raw salad can lead to worms in the body, and organic vegetables sometimes contain worm eggs. Also worms are found in all sorts of animal food, including fish. Biting the fingernails is a sign that worms are nibbling in the body.

The tea is smelly, strong tasting, and looks something like worms. But it effectively kills round worms and pinworms and their eggs and flushes out the intestinal tract. It is also good for female troubles, such as weakness after childbirth.

Corsican Tea should be taken on an empty stomach. Skip breakfast and take 1 big cup at lunchtime. Then the worms will become intoxicated and come out. Note: discontinue if the taste becomes too unpleasant or if any negative effects result.

1. Prepare a handful of Corsican seaweed in 4 to 6 cups of water, bring to a boil, and let simmer for about 20 minutes.

2. Take daily for 3 to 5 days; wait about a week, and then repeat.

Variation: Another traditional treatment for worms is to skip breakfast and lunch. Then when hungry, eat a handful of raw rice (let it soak in your mouth before chewing), along with half a handful of raw pumpkin or sunflower seeds, and a half handful of raw scallion, onion, or garlic. Wait 2 hours before having a regular meal. Do this for 3 days in a row, then wait 7 to 10 days, and do it again for 3 days.

Reduces Fever • Toxicity from Animal Food

DAIKON DRINK NO. 1

This variation of grated daikon tea helps lower fever by inducing sweat. It can also to bring relief from toxicity caused by dairy, meat, fish, or shellfish.

Grate about three tablespoons of fresh daikon.  
Mix the daikon with one-quarter teaspoon grated ginger and a few drops of shoyu/soy sauce.  
Pour one cup of hot bancha-twig tea or stem tea over the mixed ingredients.  
Drink as much of the tea as possible while hot.  
After drinking this tea, go to bed and wrap yourself in a blanket to induce perspiration.

Notes

Since this tea is very strong, do not take more than twice a day for one or two days.  
To reduce fever in children, it is best to give apple juice, grated apple, or a kuzu drink with rice syrup (dissolve one teaspoon of kuzu in two teaspoons of cold water.  
Add one teaspoon of rice syrup. Bring to a gentle boil over a medium flame while stirring and turn off the flame as soon as the drink has thickened and become translucent.

Induces Urination • Swollen Ankles and Feet

DAIKON DRINK NO. 2  

This variation of grated daikon tea is helpful in inducing urination and relieving swollen ankles and feet.  

Grate one-half cup of daikon.  
Place daikon in a cheesecloth and squeeze out the juice.  
Add three parts water to one part daikon juice.  
Bring to a boil, reduce the flame and simmer for one minute.  
Add a pinch of sea salt or a few drops of shoyu/soy sauce toward the end.  
Drink once a day or once every two days, no more than three times in a row.

Relaxation • Sweet Cravings • Falling Asleep

DANDELION TEA

This traditional remedy is good for strengthening the liver, cleansing the gallbladder, and purifying the blood. It can be purchased in tea bags.

Bring one cup of water to a boil. Turn off the flame.  
Place one bag of organic dandelion tea in the water, cover, and let steep for ten minutes.

3. Strain and drink hot.  

Dissolves Animal Protein & Fat • Headache and Migraine

DRIED DAIKON TEA

Dried daikon tea helps dissolve accumulations of animal protein and fat throughout the body. It can also be used for the relief of headaches in the back or sides of the head, as well as migraines. Dried daikon is stronger than fresh daikon and can be used for a longer period of time. It is good for dissolving all fatty substances and a small cup may be taken daily for a couple months.

Combine 1/4 cup dried daikon (cut into 1” pieces), and 1 1/4 cup of water.  
Bring to a boil, reduce flame and simmer 20 to 25 minutes.  
After 20 minutes add a pinch of sea salt or several drops of shoyu and simmer 5 minutes more.  
Strain out dried daikon and drink the remaining juice.

Variation: DRIED DAIKON/SHIITAKE TEA

Good for same purpose as dried daikon tea with the added benefit of helping the body discharge excess salt and minerals. Prepare as above but add 1 medium to large dried shiitake mushroom at the beginning. You may soak and slice the shiitake and add the shiitake soaking water as part of the water measurement.

Strength • Vitality • Inability to Eat

GENUINE BROWN RICE CREAM

This dish makes a delicious breakfast cereal and is also good for those who have difficulty eating or are extremely weak. The lives of many people who otherwise could not eat have been saved with rice cream. The love, care, and energy of the cook can be imparted to the food with his or her hands and even chewed and predigested, if necessary.

Genuine refers to homemade rice cream compared to instant brown rice cream that is available in the natural foods store. That variety is fine for occasional use by those in good health. But for healing and restoring vitality, use the genuine variety. Even though it is very labor intensive, the results are much superior.

1. Dry-roast 1 cup brown rice in a cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet until golden brown.

2. Place in pot, add 5–10 cups water, ½ umeboshi plum or a pinch of sea salt, and bring to a boil.

3. Cover, lower heat, and place flame deflector beneath pot. Cook until water is one-half of original volume.

4. Let the rice cool and place in cheesecloth or unbleached muslin, tie, and squeeze a creamy liquid out of the pulp through the cloth.

5. Heat the cream again, then serve. Add salt if needed. The remaining pulp is also very good to eat and can be made into a small ball and steamed with grated lotus root or carrot.

Variation: Garnish with scallions, chopped parsley, nori, gomashio, or roasted sunflower seeds.

Neutralizes Heavy Food • Warms the Body • Insomnia

GINGER TEA

Ginger Tea helps strengthen digestion, especially after eating too much animal quality food or oily, greasy foods. It is also accelerates blood circulation, warms the body, and helps with asthma, colds, shivering, or diarrhea caused by cold foods or intestinal cramps resulting from icy foods. Further, it helps relax and helps you go back to sleep if you have insomnia after about 2 a.m. to sunrise.

1. Grate a small handful of ginger root.

2. Squeeze out about 1 teaspoon of the oil.

3. Place the oil in a small saucepan and add 1 cup of cold water.

4. Add a tiny pinch of sea salt.

5. Bring to a boil, reduce flame, and simmer for several minutes.

6. Drink hot.

Optional: Add a slice of lemon to the tea to make it even more relaxing.

Discharge Fat & Oil • Liver • Kidneys • Lungs • Pancreas

GRATED DAIKON

Daikon, the white radish, helps digest fat and oil, as well as discharge animal products from the past. It is an important part of the daily macrobiotic way of eating and a principal healing food.

The large, juicy ones are sweet and usually preferred for ordinary cooking, while the small, thin ones have a strong, sharp taste and are used more medicinally.

Besides eaten alone, cooked or raw, daikon is used in many other medicinal drinks and external preparations. Dried daikon is also used as a food and a medicine.

Grated daikon is especially good for yin diarrhea, heart problems, irritable bowl syndrome, problems with the kidneys, liver, lungs, or pancreas, and seasonal affective disorder.

1. Grate from ¼ to ½ cup of fresh daikon finely with a hand grater using gentle, circular motions.

2. Add a few drops of shoyu.

3. Eat the grated daikon.

Variations

• Heat the grated daikon in a saucepan for 1-2 minutes makes it less pungent.

• Daikon is fast acting and effective, but also weakening as it causes the body to lose liquid. Use in small amounts or slightly increase the amount of shoyu or add a touch of umeboshi plum.

Stimulating Appetite • Cleansing Liver • Reducing Fever

GRATED SOUR APPLE

Green (Granny Smith) apple is helpful for stimulating appetite, cleansing the liver, and reducing fever.

Finely grate two to three tablespoons of organic green (sour) apple.  
Place in a bowl and eat before meals to stimulate appetite.

Weakness • Fatigue • Dizziness

HOTO

Hoto is a special noodle stew made with udon or other whole-wheat noodles, squash (included when available), and about a half dozen other fall and winter season vegetables. Hato is traditionally prepared in a ceramic dish, which gives a more peaceful, stable vibration than metal, especially for healing. It is very strong and energizing, especially for persons with weak, more yin conditions.

1. Prepare by making homemade noodles, or boiling a quart of water and cooking an 8-ounce package of ready-made udon.

2. Set the noodles aside to be added with the vegetables later.

3. Select among such vegetables as daikon, carrots, onions, and lotus root. Slice equal amounts of five or six vegetables and layer with the more yang (denser, harder, or firmer) on the bottom (e.g. carrot) in the ceramic pot on the stovetop. Half cover with water and cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until done.

4. When the vegetables are almost done, add the noodles and, if desired, small pieces of mochi for further strength.

5. To season, add miso (especially young sweet miso) to taste and several pinches of sea salt to firm up the noodles and make the vegetables sweeter.

6. Watch the water level carefully, especially after adding the noodles, and add more when needed.

7. Serve when done. The dish should have sufficient broth to be enjoyed as a stew or soup.

Variation: Dried tofu may be added to this dish, but usually not fresh tofu.