Chuanbei & Rock Sugar Stewed Pear (Fritillaria Bulb & Rock Sugar Stewed Pear)

Main Ingredients

• Snow pear (or Asian pear) 1-2 pieces
• Chuanbei (Fritillaria cirrhosa/unibracteata) 3-5g
• Rock sugar 10-20g
• Water as needed

Steps

1. Take 3-5g of Chuanbei and have it ground into very fine powder at the pharmacy. Note: Chuanbei is hard and difficult to grind at home; purchasing pre-ground powder is recommended. Wash 1-2 snow pears, keep the skin on (scrub with fine salt). Cut off the top 1/4 of the pear horizontally as a “lid.” Use a spoon or small knife to remove the core, being careful not to pierce the bottom, forming a cup.

   

2. Place 3-5g of Chuanbei powder and 10-20g of rock sugar into the pear cup. Add a small amount of water (about 10-20ml) to help dissolve. Put the “lid” back and secure with toothpicks to prevent it from opening during steaming.

   

3. Place the pear in a stewing cup or deep bowl and steam over water (water level reaching halfway up the cup). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and steam for 30-60 minutes until the pear is soft and the liquid is clear.

   

4. Remove, take out the toothpicks, and eat the pear along with the liquid. Best served warm. Once daily for 3-5 consecutive days as one course. Discontinue after symptoms improve.

   

TCM Notes

Chuanbei (Fritillaria Bulb): Bitter and sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature; enters the Lung and Heart meridians. Known for clearing heat, moistening the lungs, resolving phlegm, relieving cough, and dispersing nodules. Used for lung-heat dry cough, dry cough with little phlegm, yin deficiency consumptive cough, and phlegm with blood streaks. Modern research shows it contains various alkaloids (peimine, peiminine, etc.) with antitussive, expectorant, antiasthmatic, and antibacterial effects. Chuanbei is preferred for moistening the lungs and relieving cough, suitable for lung dryness and yin deficiency cough; Zhebeimu (Fritillaria thunbergii) is preferred for clearing heat and dispersing nodules, suitable for wind-heat and phlegm-heat cough. They should not be used interchangeably. Snow Pear: Contains approximately 40-50 kcal per 100g, with over 85% water content. Rich in vitamin C, dietary fiber, pectin, potassium, and various organic acids. Known for generating fluids, moistening dryness, clearing heat, resolving phlegm, and nourishing the heart and lungs. Pectin helps protect the gastric mucosa, and organic acids stimulate digestive juice secretion. Rock Sugar: Sweet in taste, neutral in nature; enters the Lung and Spleen meridians. Known for tonifying the middle, boosting qi, harmonizing the stomach, and moistening the lungs. Combined with Chuanbei and snow pear, it enhances the lung-moistening and cough-relieving effects. Synergistic Effect: Chuanbei clears heat, moistens the lungs, resolves phlegm, and relieves cough; snow pear generates fluids, moistens dryness, clears heat, and resolves phlegm; rock sugar tonifies the middle, boosts qi, harmonizes the stomach, and moistens the lungs. One clears, one moistens, one harmonizes—clearing heat without harming the body, moistening the lungs without stagnating phlegm, and relieving cough without trapping pathogens. Total approx. 150-220 kcal (depending on rock sugar amount)—a low-fat, lung-moistening, cough-relieving medicinal dessert.

Suitable for：Those with lung-heat dry cough, dry cough with little phlegm, dry throat, and itchy throat Those with yin deficiency consumptive cough, chronic cough, and scanty thick phlegm Those with throat discomfort and hoarseness during dry autumn and winter Those in the late stage of wind-heat colds with residual heat, cough, and dry throat Those with dry throat after smoking or drinking alcohol General population for autumn-winter dryness relief and daily wellness

Not suitable for：Those with wind-cold cough – avoid. Symptoms include white thin phlegm, chills, clear runny nose, itchy throat, and worsening with cold. Chuanbei is slightly cold and snow pear is cool, which may worsen cold cough. Those with cold-phlegm or damp-phlegm cough – avoid. Symptoms include excessive white watery phlegm, chest tightness, and white greasy tongue coating. Chuanbei moistens the lungs and may promote dampness and retain phlegm. Those with Spleen-Stomach Cold Deficiency or prone to diarrhea – use with caution. Both Chuanbei and snow pear are cool in nature; may worsen abdominal pain and diarrhea. Diabetes patients – use with caution or avoid. Rock sugar is high in sugar and raises blood glucose quickly; strictly control intake, consult a doctor for sugar substitutes, or omit rock sugar. Pregnant women – use with caution. Chuanbei is a Chinese medicinal herb; pregnant women should use it under medical guidance and avoid large amounts. Children – use with caution. Children have delicate organs; Chuanbei dosage must strictly follow medical advice. Do not give to infants without guidance. Those taking Aconite-type herbs (Wutou) – avoid concurrent use. Traditional “eighteen incompatibilities” state that Fritillaria is incompatible with Aconite (Chuanwu, Caowu, Fuzi, etc.). Those allergic to Chuanbei, snow pear, or rock sugar – avoid. Those with severe cough, fever, blood-streaked phlegm, or persistent cough – seek medical attention promptly; do not rely solely on dietary therapy.