Barley and Vegetable Soup

Barley Vegetable and mixed bean SoupBarley in China is an ancient crop. According to research, as early as the mid-Neolithic, the ancient Qiang people (living in Qinghai) began planting barley in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. This dates the history of barley cultivation in China back more than 5,000 years.

Dating back 2000 years ago in China, an ancient Medical text, the “Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine”, mentioned a disease called ” “Wasting and Thirsting” Disorder of which the main symptoms are similar to nowadays’ “Diabetes Mellitus”. That is: excessive thirst, excessive hunger and excessive urination. This ancient chinese textbook states that the patient also experiences emaciation (which is “weight loss”). Today, with medicine to control blood sugar, I no longer find patients having weight loss issues. Instead, most of my diabetic patients have a very healthy appetite, gain weight steadily and some of them are quite “well-rounded”.

The very first medical use of Barley is recorded from around  206BC in an ancient chinese medical text called “Medical Problem-Solving Formula”, 《别录》. This text documented the use of Barley as a medicine to treat the “Wasting and Thirsting” Disorder”, clear heat, strengthen Qi and regulate the digestion.

《别录》: “主消渴,除热,益气,调中”。

Based on recent scientific evident, Barley has been successful in being able to regulate sugar in some  clinical trials involving healthy volunteers or patients with impaired fasting glucose. You can find the clinical study results in the links below:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24218874

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25850814

Scientific evident has also clearly indicated that Barley can reduce blood cholesterol. In July 2012, Health Canada published an article regarding “Health Claims” in their website. In this document “Summary of Health Canada’s Assessment of a Health Claim about Barley Products and Blood Cholesterol Lowering“, Health Canada supports the therapeutic claim linking barley grain products to a reduction of blood cholesterol. The publication can be found in their website below:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/label-etiquet/claims-reclam/assess-evalu/barley-orge-eng.php

Barley Vegetable and mixed bean Soup
Barley and Vegetable Soup
Print Recipe
Barley has been a staple of diet in China for over five thousand years. In today's science, it has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing Total Cholesterol and regulating blood sugar. Since Health Canada has concluded that scientific evidence exists in support of the therapeutic claim linking barley grain products to reduction of blood cholesterol, I decided to create a recipe using Barley as the main ingredient which is tailored for Western tastes.
Servings Prep Time
4 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
1.5-2 hours
Servings Prep Time
4 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
1.5-2 hours
Barley Vegetable and mixed bean Soup
Barley and Vegetable Soup
Print Recipe
Barley has been a staple of diet in China for over five thousand years. In today's science, it has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing Total Cholesterol and regulating blood sugar. Since Health Canada has concluded that scientific evidence exists in support of the therapeutic claim linking barley grain products to reduction of blood cholesterol, I decided to create a recipe using Barley as the main ingredient which is tailored for Western tastes.
Servings Prep Time
4 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
1.5-2 hours
Servings Prep Time
4 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
1.5-2 hours
Ingredients
Servings: people
Instructions
Stove Top Cooking Method
  1. Combine all ingredients into a large pot.
  2. Add the Bean Soup Mix if you want extra plant protein
  3. Add water, bring to Boil, then cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 1.5-2 hours.
  4. Remove bay leaves before serving.
Rice Cooker Method
  1. Pour 2 L of water into the rice cooker.
  2. Add all ingredients and cook for 1.5-2 hours.
  3. Remove bay leaves before serving.
Recipe Notes

 

As early as 206BC, in one of the earliest chinese medical texts, the "Problem-solving Medical Formula" Text, it said barley can be used to treat the "Wasting and Thirsting Disorder", described with symptoms similar to "Diabetes Mellitus" - excess thirst, excess urination and excess hunger.
In this medical text, it said: Barley, treats Wasting and Thirsting Disorder, clears heat, benefits Qi and regulates the middle burner".

《别录》"主消渴,除热,益气,调中。"

In another ancient medical textbook 《唐本草》, completed in the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Gaozong ( Xian Qing ) of the Tang Dynasty ( 618 A . D . - 907 A . D. ), it said "Ground Barley can treat stomach disorder, stop thirst, clear food stagnation and treat abdominal fullness and bloating".
《唐本草》:"大麦面平胃,止渴,消食,疗胀。"

 

Here is summary of what is said in my Traditional Chinese Medicine textbook about Barley:

Properties: Sweet, salty and cool
Meridian(s) Entered: Spleen and Stomach
Main Functions: Harmonize Stomach, calm the mind, promote urination. It can treat food stagnation and diarrhea, painful urination and edema. It can also apply to mild burns (dry-fry the barley, grind and mix with oil).

 

Disclaimer:

  • The use of Dietary Therapy, Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture may lead to major improvements in your health.
  • However, you should not self-adjust medication prescribed by your Medical Doctor.
  • If you are on medication prescribed by your Doctor and your health improves, you should consult with your Doctor to ensure your medication is adjusted appropriately.
  • This recipe and its info are not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to your health condition.
  • Dietary information provided by www.AcupunctureMississaugaClinic.com  web site is for informational and educational purposes only.
  • You should not disregard professional medical advice, delay in seeking treatment, or rely on the information contained in this web site in place of seeking professional medical advice.
  • If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.
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About Bernadette Yu-Hayhurst

Bernadette Yu is an Ontario Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Acupuncturist and certified holistic nutritionist. After a successful career in Information Technology, Bernadette’s ongoing interest in health, healing and Chinese medicine led her to study Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and holistic nutrition. Following achieving her qualifications as a TCM practitioner and Acupuncturist, Bernadette works in her own practice in Mississauga. She has also lectured in Chinese Herbal Medicine for a number of years at the Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In her private practice, Bernadette uses TCM diagnosis and her understanding in western medicine to identify underlying imbalances, following which she prepares unique individual treatment plans for each of her patients. These plans may include a combination of acupuncture treatments, cupping, tuina massage, scrapping, herbal medicine, dietary and nutritional therapy. Having also graduated as a certified holistic nutritionist, Bernadette has an abiding interest in Chinese Medical healing using dietary remedies and incorporates this with her knowledge of western holistic nutrition to assist her patients. Bernadette combines her experience and knowledge of TCM, acupuncture, herbs and nutrition, both Chinese and western, with a keen interest in research. Her medical research interests and her knowledge gained from clinical studies have led her to work with patients suffering ailments such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver disorders, celiac disease, chronic degenerative disorders and other illnesses to alleviate their conditions.

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