Dr. Vu is a lecturer and a medical doctor specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is currently affiliated with Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, providing his expertise in the field.
The pear is a beloved fruit during the autumn season, cherished not only for its sweet and refreshing taste but also for its myriad health benefits. Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that pears possess the ability to soothe coughs, nourish the lungs, clear heat, and extinguish internal fire, earning it the moniker of “natural mineral water.” Some even believe that consuming a pear in autumn is more beneficial than taking tonic herbal remedies.
Western medicine also recognizes the value of pears. High in dietary fiber, pears promote healthy bowel movements and help prevent constipation. Regular consumption of pears is also believed to contribute to healthy skin, especially in women.
Dr. Vu, a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Branch 3), explains that pears have a sweet and slightly acidic taste, with a cooling nature. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, pears are believed to clear heat, moisturize the lungs, transform phlegm, stop coughs, nourish the blood, promote bowel movements, and detoxify the body. This versatile fruit is commonly used as a medicinal ingredient to treat various ailments, including lung-related conditions, fever, excessive phlegm, sore throat, and bronchitis.
Pears are packed with nutrients and are considered a tonic for the autumn season. Illustrative image.
According to Dr. Vu, pears are also rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium. Consuming ripe pears offers numerous benefits to the body, and they can be enjoyed as a dessert, a refreshing snack after strenuous work, or simply as a delightful autumn treat.
Additionally, Dr. Vu recommends a simple step to enhance the health benefits of pears: steaming them with select medicinal ingredients. Here are two pear-based tonic recipes shared by Dr. Vu:
– Steamed Pear with Red Dates: This traditional remedy is effective in relieving coughs. Easy to prepare and delicious, it also helps to cool the body. The recipe combines pear with red dates, goji berries, ginger, and honey. Here’s how to prepare it:
+ Ingredients: 1 pear, 5 red dates, 10 goji berries, a few slices of ginger, 1 kumquat (optional), 3 teaspoons of honey, and a pinch of salt.
+ Step 1: Wash the pear (leave the skin on) and cut off the top, keeping the stem intact as a lid. Hollow out the core.
+ Step 2: Soak the red dates and goji berries in clean water for about 15 minutes. Finely chop the ginger.
+ Step 3: Stuff the pear with the prepared ingredients. Steam the filled pear over simmering water for about 15 minutes on low heat.
+ Step 4: Allow the steamed pear to cool slightly before serving.
Note: When preparing this remedy for children, replace honey with rock sugar, and steam for a longer period, about 20 minutes, to ensure the pear is soft and easy to eat. The addition of ginger and goji berries enhances the nutritional value of this dish.
Steamed pear with red dates is a simple and delicious way to treat coughs. Illustrative image.
– Steamed Pear with Rock Sugar: Ingredients: 1 pear, 1 red date, 2 tablespoons of rock sugar, 1/4 ginger root (cut into strips).
Instructions:
+ Step 1: Cut off the top of the pear and set it aside. Hollow out the core.
+ Step 2: Mash the pear’s pulp, removing the seeds, and return it to the pear.
+ Step 3: Chop the red date into small pieces and add it to the pear, along with the ginger strips.
+ Step 4: Add 2 tablespoons of rock sugar and replace the pear’s lid.
+ Step 5: Place the stuffed pear in a bowl and steam it over simmering water for about 30 minutes on low heat.
The resulting dish will have a delightful aroma. The pear’s natural sweetness blends perfectly with the rock sugar, and the gentle heat of the ginger helps alleviate coughs effectively.
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