Immune System Booster: Immune-Building Herbal Tonic Soup

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<em>Makes 6 servings</em>
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<p>Savory vegetable soup is a traditional way of incorporating astragalus, garlic and medicinal mushrooms into your diet.</p>
<p>• 1 ounce dried astragalus root slices<br />
• 1?2-inch piece fresh gingerroot, slivered<br />
• 1?4 cup brown basmati rice<br />
• 8 cups vegetable or chicken stock<br />
• 1?2 cup onion, chopped<br />
• 1 cup winter squash, chopped<br />
• 1 cup shiitake or maitake mushrooms, sliced<br />
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil<br />
• 1 cup corn, fresh or frozen<br />
• 2 tablespoons light miso, or to taste<br />
• 8 medium cloves garlic, minced<br />
• 1?4 cup fresh parsley, minced</p>
<p>1. Simmer astragalus, ginger, rice and stock in a heavy covered pot for 1 hour.<br />
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2. Sauté onion, squash and mushrooms in olive oil for 5 minutes, or until vegetables soften.<br />
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3. Add sautéed vegetable mixture to the soup pot, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add corn; simmer an additional 10 minutes. Remove astragalus.<br />
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4. Dilute miso in a small amount of hot broth and add to soup. Thin soup with additional broth if desired and add more miso to taste.<br />
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5. Add garlic and parsley, let stand for 5 minutes and serve.</p>
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<em>Laurel Vukovic writes from her home in southern Oregon. She is the author of</em> 1001 Natural Remedies <em>(DK, 2003) and</em> Herbal Healing Secrets for Women <em>(Prentice Hall, 2000).</em>
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<p>Click here for the main article, <a href=”https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/how-to-boost-your-immune-system-with-herbs.aspx”>
<strong>How to Boost Your Immune System</strong>
</a>.</p>