50 grams Hawthorn fruit ‘Shan Zha’

150 grams Walnuts ‘Hu Tao Ren’

sufficient water for soaking and boiling

6 TBS honey or ¼ cup sugar

Soak the walnuts overnight or at least ½ hour.  Rinse well and moisten with new water.  Grind this walnut and water mixture into a thick liquid.  Add more water to dilute if necessary to make it smooth and even.

Wash the hawthorn fruit in a strainer and then place in a Asian herb pot or other suitable pot.  Add water to cover fruits by about 1 inch.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a medium fire and cook 20 minutes.  Strain and reserve the liquid in a mason jar.  Add more water to the pan of hawthorn and repeat the boiling and straining process one or two more times.  Discard the dregs and save the liquid.  The remaining liquid should total roughly 1000ml.  Combine the hawthorn fruit liquid and the honey or sugar and stir and heat over a soft heat.  When the honey or sugar has melted, slowly add the thick walnut liquid, stirring continually while pouring.   Cook this mixture until it starts to boil slightly.  Then pour into a bowl.  Top with fresh mint leaves or other colorful bits of fresh fruit.

Therapeutic effects of this recipe

Supplement the lungs and kidneys

Nourishes yin fluids in the body

Indications:

Chronic, weak lung cough & shortness of breath

High blood pressure and/or high cholesterol

Kidney deficient impotence

Low back pain

Chronic thirst

Dry stool (because the nuts have moistening oils)

Slow digestion with abdominal distention (especially of fatty foods)

Cautions:

Hawthorn may interact with vasodilating medications and may potentiate or inhibit the actions of drugs used for heart failure, hypertension, angina, and arrhythmias.  Do not use hawthorn with blood thinners such as Warfarin.

Large amounts may cause a drop in blood pressure and possibility of fainting. Generally considered safe for long-term use, do not exceed recommended dosage. Consult your health care professional for assistance with heart problems.