Arco (TN)

Arco (TN)

Monday, November 3, 2014

Kudzu - Haiku - November 3, 2014

 Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

Many years ago when I practiced Shiatsu, I used to cook and eat macrobiotic ... kuzu (kudzu) was an important ingredient for many dishes but also for home cures against fevers, colds and digestive problems .. 

Ume Sho Kuzu @ Macrobiotic Kitchen


a cup of water
four bits of Umeboshi
kuzu - a teaspoon
when the water's boiling hot
add a spoonful of Shoyu

(a recipe tanka ... but follow the link Ume Sho Kuzu for the real thing (C) G.s.k. '14)
Effect :
This dink strengthens the blood, promotes good digestion, and restores energy.
Circulation, allergies, anemia, Atrophy, blood disorders, constipation (yin type), diabetes, diarrhea (yin type), hypoglycemia, lack of vitality, insomnia, hernia, hangover. 
Kuzu (kudzu) is used as a thickening agent for Sauces & Soups in the same manner as cornstarch. It has been used medicinally to treat colds, fevers, digestive disorders, hangovers and alcoholism.


in the winter cold
kudzu in my morning cha
- the fever breaks 

gathering kudzu
roots and flowering blooms
winter solace

(C) G.s.k. '14

12 comments:

  1. How neat --- I learned a lot here! Perhaps if more people knew how to make these great remedies out of kudzu it wouldn't be running rampant all over the south, where it's a problem, evidently. There's certainly enough to go around! (But then, the drug companies wouldn't be too happy with that, would they?!?)

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    1. And I learnt a lot from your post ... I never realized that there was a problem with Kudzu in the U.S. and with all that arrowroot around, you'd think the Macrobiotic industry would be digging the stuff up!

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  2. Very nice 2 haiku - the post was very informative, enjoyed it a lot.

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    1. Thanks ... a bit of lore picked up along the path ..

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  3. I think you were awfully kind to the kudzu in your haiku!

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    1. Didn't know it was an enemy ;-) we've no problems with it here in Italy!

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  4. Nature provides us with much. The key is learning how to use it and where it shouldn't be...
    Not a friendly plant in the south of the USA.

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    1. So I discovered that kudzu is sacred in Japan and a demon in the U.S. as you say, they should have looked into the plant a little closer before wholesale planting it in the 30s ... a shame, with all the arrowroot, would be cool if suddenly the Americans discovered they have a gold mine without realizing it ... can you imagine what happened when petroleum became an assent and not a bane ;-)

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  5. Oh thanks, Georgia, I must check out these herbs at our special place here, L'Alchemist.

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    1. You can find it easily - the macrobiotic people use it everywhere not only as herbal medicine but as a thickener in soups and puddings!

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harmonious words ... like crystal clear water ... pure ectasy

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