Steamed Pears With Brown Sugar - Chinese Food Therapy For Winter Dry Cough

Simple Steamed Pears with Brown Sugar (or Fig Preserves) are definitely SASSY (Super Affordable, Simple, Satisfying & Yummy!)  They are so easy to prepare, and so delicious, you'll wonder why you haven't made these more often!  But, did you know that in addition to being a great seasonal fruit along with apples, persimmons, cranberries and others that are enjoyed as part of the fall / winter diet, pears  also have several therapeutic health benefits?   Both pears and brown sugar are used in Chinese food therapy to treat dry cough and other dry symptoms, common during this time of year, explained below.

Simple Steamed Pears with Brown Sugar are great whether or not you are using them therapeutically.  They can be enjoyed for breakfast ~ with your morning porridge or served with whole or sprouted wheat English muffins or bread for breakfast, or topped with some nondairy Greek style yogurt or Skyr as a naturally sweet, yet light dessert.  The recipe is, well, quite simple.  You can skip ahead, but I think you'll be interested in knowing how to use pears (and brown versus white cane sugar) therapeutically, should the need arise.  Be sure to keep plenty around this winter to stay well lubricated.  Read on to learn more.

Brief Intro to Chinese Food Therapy

Chinese food therapy (and Ayurvedic medicine) classifies all foods - fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, roots, flower and herbs, along with various animal foods and parts - according to their innate energetic effects on the body when consumed.  This includes their thermal nature, whether they are hot, warm, cool, cold, or neutral; their flavor(s) - sweet, sour, salty, bitter or pungent;  and the effects of each of those foods, along with the channels or organs / organ systems which the foods or herbs have an affinity for.  

This is similar to the macrobiotic approach which focuses more on whether a food or herb is more yin or more yang.  In both cases, foods, herbs, and proper cooking techniques are applied to restore a healthy balance of the yin and yang energies within the body, which I discuss more in-depth in The Macrobiotic Action Plan, Your MAP to Greater Health & Happiness.

How Pears Are Used in Chinese Food Therapy

According to Liu Jilin and Gordon Peck, editors of Chinese Dietary Therapy, pears ~ which are the ripe fruits of Pyrus bretschneideri or P. ussuriensis of the Rosaceae family ~ have a sweet and slightly sour flavor, a Cool nature and a propensity for the Lung and Stomach channels.  

"They have the effect of clearing Heat, promoting the production of Body Fluids, moistening Dryness and dissolving Phlegm."  Wind, Heat, Toxic Heat, Cold, Dampness, Phlegm, and Dryness are the primary external pathologies affecting our internal organ system.  (Internal pathologies stemming from the emotions.)

In Chinese System of Food Cures Prevention & Remedies, by Henry C. Lu, pears are good for treating cough with mucus, (dry) constipation, difficulty swallowing, difficult urination and indigestion.  How they are prepared (or pre-pear-ed!) would depend on the condition being treated.

In addition to generating body fluids, and lubricating the lungs, Maoshing Ni, Ph.D., C.A adds from his book, The Tao of Nutrition, that pears relieve restlessness, and lubricate the throat, therefore they are great for treating cough and bronchitis, cough with yellow phlegm (a sign of internal heat), and acute loss of voice.  Since pears 'descend the Qi (pronounced Chee, and often spelled Chi), they can also be used to treat nausea and belching, and prevent hangover.   According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), each of the organs have a natural flow or direction with which their Qi moves.  The Liver, for example, moves up and out, and is most active during the Spring season.  Vomiting, nausea and belching are considered 'rebellious Qi' because the natural flow of Qi of the stomach should be downwards, versus up and out like the Liver.

It may seem counter intuitive to consume cooling pears during the fall and winter.  However, when pears are cooked, and warming herbs or foods are added, they create an ideal balance ~ like these Steamed Pears with Brown Sugar.  

Now, you may be wondering, why brown sugar? 

Chinese Food Therapy Uses for Brown Sugar Versus White Cane Sugar

I made these Steamed Pears with Brown Sugar because I tend to have dry symptoms (a typical Vata Dosha trait), and I have a circulation issue.  A few of my fingers and toes get so cold, they either turn really red and purplish (purple being a sign of blood stagnation) or totally white and numb.  It's a bit painful until circulation returns.  This started years ago while living in the mountains of Colorado, but didn't bother me while living in Arizona.  

My constitutional nature always tended towards having cold hands and feet, also a typical trait for those with a predominant Vata dosha, according to Ayurvedic medicine.  Now that we are back in the Midwest, and our house does not have many south facing windows, my fingers can turn white even while cleaning greens in cold water.  It's a problem that requires dedicated Chinese food therapy and macrobiotic quality food and cooking techniques, along with the right exercises and mobility work.

Here's where brown sugar comes in.

Oat & Whole Wheat Porridge w/ Stewed Pear, Raisin & Goji Berry (recipe below)

Therapeutic Nature of Brown Sugar 

Brown sugar is warm and has a sweet taste.  Its actions are to strengthen digestion, lubricate the lungs, stop cough and warm the body.  Let me repeat that last part.  Brown sugar warms the body!  If you ever wondered why you crave or love brown sugar, and you run cold, like I do, now you know why!

Brown sugar is also used to treat dry cough, poor digestion, sore throat (when mixed with grated carrots), and coldness.

Therapeutic Nature of White Sugar

White sugar, by contrast, is sweet and cold.  It is also used to lubricate the lungs, and treat dry cough although it is more often used in remedies for a wind-heat, or colds with more heat signs, such as fever, or red, sore throat.

White sugar also is used to promote healing of bed sores, ulceration and burns as an externally applied remedy.

Brown and White Sugar Contraindications 

The key is to not consume in excess.  Excess of anything can cause the effect to turn into its opposite.  Too much brown or white cane sugar can lead to an accumulation of mucus or dampness in the body.

Steamed Pears w/ Brown Sugar & Fig Preserves, and a Sprinkle of Cinnamon, 
Topped w/ Vanilla Icelandic Provisions Oatmilk Skyr

Pear Remedies

Although pears have a Cool nature, they can still be enjoyed during the winter, even if you run cold like I do.  By adding heat, they are less cooling.  Steamed Pears with Brown Sugar (recipe, below), or my other recipes for baking or stewing apples, pears, and other dried fruits (especially with fresh or dried ginger or cinnamon) are an ideal addition to the fall / winter diet because they provide an ideal balance.  Even if we are cold, we don't want to over consume only warming foods and vegetables or our condition will quickly change to its opposite - over heating.  It's all about striking that right balance for our individual needs.

Therapies suggested by Dr. Ni include:

Cough and Bronchitis - core pear and steam, as per the Steamed Pears with Brown Sugar recipe, below, using brown or white sugar according to other symptoms.  Eat 3-4 times per day.  Steam several at once, and quickly reheat before eating.

If there is a Cough with Yellow Phlegm, steam pears with brown sugar and 3 grams of fritillary bulb (Chuan Bee Mu).  

For Acute Loss of Voice, pears can be peeled and juiced.  Traditionally honey is added  because it is very moistening.  Brown rice syrup can be used instead.

To treat Nausea or Belching, core pear and add 10-15 cloves, steam, remove cloves, and eat the pear.

Steamed Pears with Brown Sugar Recipe

4-6+ pears of choice

Brown sugar or fig preserves

Cinnamon

Water and a steamer pot

1. Cut pears in half lengthwise.
2. Using a small teaspoon or melon scooper, scoop out the seeds in the center to create a little hollowed out area.
3. Place in a steamer basket.  Fill pot with a couple inches of water, and bring to a boil.
4. Spoon about 1/ 2 teaspoon or so of brown sugar into the hollowed area of the pear.
5. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of the pears.
6. Steam until soft.  About 15 minutes, give or take.

Oat Millet Porridge, one of our favorite combos,
with Steamed Pears w/ Fig Preserves

Variations:

• Spoon 1/2 teaspoon or so of fig preserves in the center instead of brown sugar.  
• Bake pears instead of steaming in a baking dish.  Cover and bake at 350º for about 20-30 minutes until pears are soft.
• Stew pears with golden raisins and goji berries to add to your morning porridge.  Add cinnamon, a pinch of clove, or fresh grated ginger ~ all of which add warmth.
• Sub apples for pears.  Pears or Asian pears are especially good for treating dry coughs, and are so sweet and delicious, however, apples can be used if good pears are not available.

Stewed Pear, Golden Raisin & Goji Berry Sauce

Stewed Pears, Golden Raisins & Goji Berries

Goji berries nourish the yin, and are good for the eyes, as I shared in my article, here.  These three fruits taste great simmered together as you would an apple sauce.  Apples and pears can be combined, or just use pears.

Simmer 3-4 chopped pears, 1/4-1/2 cup of golden raisins, and 1/4 cup of goji berries in a little apple cider or juice, or water with grated ginger for about 15 minutes, until fruit is soft.  

Serve as is, or on top of your morning porridge.  For more sweetness, you can also add chopped dates.

You may also want to check out my other Baked & Stewed Fresh & Dried Fruit recipes, and Apple Raisin Goji Berry Sauce and Sugar-Free Apple Cranberry Sauce recipes.

Baked & Stewed Fresh & Dried Fruit Recipes

Porridge w/ Stewed Fresh & Dried Fruit

Sugar-Free Apple, Raisin Cranberry Sauce