|
When it comes to alternative medicines, particularly those treatments that focus on herbs, Jiaogulan is the ingredient of choice. Fondly named the “miracle leaf”, it is known for possessing healing properties that can cure common ailments and help prevent serious and life-threatening ones. As a plant, the leaves are the only part that you have to touch. You can purchase this herb from local apothecaries and the markets in Chinatown. There are plenty of ways by which you can consume this product, and of course, eating it by mouth is more appealing than taking it as injections. Unfortunately, with its bitter taste, a lot of people grow to dislike ingesting it regularly. On the other hand, there are several recipes for Jiaogulan that will surely encourage you to eat some every day. Of course, the most popular way by which you can serve Jiaogulan is by brewing it to make a tea. For this method, you have the option between preparing it as an infusion or as a decoction. For the former, again you have to choose between brewing it by cup or by pot. An infusion basically means that you need to steep the leaves in boiling water for a period of time. Depending on the amount of water that you poured on the container, suffusing the leaves can take as short as three minutes or as long as fifteen minutes. A decoction, on the other hand, means that the Jiaogulan leaves will be boiled with the water. This method is said to bring you the fullest flavor of the herb, especially when you let it sit for a few more minutes after it has stewed for three minutes. As a tea, you have the freedom to add in the condiments of your choice, from sugar to lemon. However, if you want to drink it purely but want a little sweetness, allow the infusion and decoction process to brew longer. You can also place the tea in the refrigerator to cool it. Once the tea is prepared, you can take the remaining Jiaogulan leaves out of the pot. However, you are advised not to throw them away as they can still be used for several other recipes. For example, they can be crushed and mixed with other herbs to make a salad. These can add flavor to any stew, and they can even be combined with batter when you are baking pastries. The Japanese is known for producing bottled beverages that are made with Jiaogulan plants. If you think that Jiaogulan leaves can only be used for cooking, you cannot be any more wrong. The herb can be made into a topical ointment just by crushing it into a pulp. If you are having problems with rough and calloused skin, try putting a bunch of crushed leaves inside a cheese cloth and directly compressing it into the problematic areas. After a few weeks, the results will be noticeable. Other products that are acquired with squeezing Jiaogulan leaves are massage oils and body salves. In fact, if you look closely at natural cosmetic products in stores, you will see that some of them use the herb as a main ingredient. Rocky M. Smith is an expert on the benefits of tea. He is currently researching about the benefits of Super oxide dismutase in tea. Check this out at http://www.immortalitea.com/jiaogulan-tea-gynostemma-pentaphyllum-p-229.html.
Related Articles -
Jiaogulan, recipes, tea, home, how to,
|
