Dessert as your cold sore medication.

INSIGHT

Most classic 'cold' desserts are categorized as "heaty" in TCM, opening an interesting space for truly cooling treats.

The “heaty” and “cooling” concept is usually not one that needs any introduction if you grew up in Asia and were aware of the different properties of foods (since traditional medicine looked to food as medicine far before Hippocrates and today’s Functional Medicine resurgence). To be brief, inflammation in traditional medicine from China and India is described as a pattern of “heat” in the body. As a naturally-occurring response to injury or infection, our immune systems protect us by producing cytokines, chemicals that produce a chain reaction to destroy any invading bacteria or viruses that might do long-term damage to our tissues. However, they produce inflammation (usually heat) as a side effect to this natural healing process. Chronic inflammation happens when this natural response is no longer short-lived but a reaction to conditions like arthritis, bowel diseases, autoimmune disorders, acidosis or chronic disease in the body. These diseases in TCM are classified as patterned symptoms to a deeper root cause and depending on ones reactions, are classified as excess of “heat” or “cold” (or wind, dampness or dryness). To alleviate these elemental properties, you counteract them simply by introducing foods or herbs that create the opposite effect in order to achieve a state of balance or homeostasis. This is an everyday occurrence happening naturally in the body — but sways on the side of low-grade sustained inflammation if we don’t counteract the effects occasionally.

So if you’re one to crave or rely on “heaty” foods like coffee, meats, sweets and spices, and don’t counteract them with cooling foods, then chances are you are inflamed. Finding creative (and delightful) ways to incorporate more cooling foods into our diets could find opportunity in the dessert or snacking categories. There are many tasty foods (and cooking methods) that we can consume and apply to help manage our chronic low-grade inflammation (think: watermelon, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cucumber, peppermint, chrysanthemum). After all, the fun in cuisine comes in a balance of flavours; and now, perhaps a balance of constitutions.

INSPIRATION

Tom’s Palette: Pipagao Ice Cream

A handmade, homemade ice cream shop in Singapore has taken some traditional flavors (like Pi Pa Gao and White Rabbit!) and created premium-grade ice cream that different generations can enjoy — and actually in some cases, cool the palette or balance one’s digestion. The Singaporeans are masters of Asian flavor in Western packaging!

Though falling on the indulgent side, Tom pulls together some classic tastes to be enjoyed in modern dessert form:

Nasi Lemak / Salted Egg Yolk / Mango Sticky Rice / Black Sesame / Longan Red Date / Yuzu / Chendol / Hainanese Kaya

...the list goes on! . And the best part, they only use homemade ingredients instead of adding artificial stabilizers, premixzed flavoring or thickeners.

INNOVATION

“Soothsicles”

TCM-based functional foods and herbs in an icicle/popsicle format to sooth throat aches, fevers, mouth inflammations and bad breath.

• Supportive "constitution care" through an enjoyable dessert-like treat to soothe the mouth (and body) for inflammatory ailments.

• Borrowing from Chinese TCM ingredients known to sooth mouth inflammation (Watermelon Mist), sore throat (PiPaGao), or bad breath (peppermint/licorice) in a low-GI popsicle format. All treats are made from ground up herbs, use natural cane or palm sugars for light sweetening that does not interfere with the functional purpose.

• Great as a dessert post-hot pot or spicy meals, as a 7-Eleven emergency treat or storing at home if you know you often suffer from cold sores, mouth inflammation or effects of smoking.