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\tSpeculators have driven up the price of mung beans, popular for their medicinal value. Li Shizhen<\/strong>(\u674e\u65f6\u73cd L\u01d0 Shízh\u0113n), a pharmacologist in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), identified medical functions of mung beans and recorded them in "Ben Cao Gang Mu" ("Compendium of Materia Medica"), a classic of TCM pharmacopoeia.<\/p>\n \tLi said the little cooked bean could help relieve edema, clear internal heat and toxins, relieve heat stroke and thirst, calm the nerves, reinforce yuan qi (original energy), harmonize the organs and nourish the skin.<\/p>\n \tMung beans can be ground into powder for internal or external use, treating skin ulcers and burns by expelling toxins. Mung bean starch is also made into glass noodles.<\/p>\n \tMung bean skin helps dispel pathogenic heat and improve eyesight. Mung bean sprouts are said to help relieve alcoholic intoxication.<\/p>\n \tMung bean soup and congee are the conventional ways to eat the bean, but how you cook it is important.<\/p>\n \tAs the bean skin helps expel pathogenic heat, don't overcook.<\/p>\n \tWash the beans, bring them to a quick boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Done. The soup is clear and green. You can drink the soup and leave the beans.<\/p>\n \tIf you want more effective detoxification, you should eat the bean itself.<\/p>\n \tSoak washed beans in hot water for 20 minutes. Make soup, cooking until the beans are soft and liquid is cloudy. Then eat the beans and the soup.<\/p>\n \tThis helps dispel toxins by acting as a diuretic. Eating mung beans regularly can help relieve high blood pressure, high cholesterol and hardening of the arteries, TCM practitioners say.<\/p>\n \tMung beans are good for most people – most people have "neutral" constitutions.<\/p>\n \tHowever, if you are "cold" (too much yin energy), suffer from cold extremities or diarrhea, don't overdo the mung beans. They can aggravate the cold and cause other ailments. Light congee is advised.<\/p>\n \tPeople with digestive problems should avoid mung beans because they are very high in protein and may be difficult to digest. As they expel toxins, mung beans may decrease the effectiveness of some medicine.<\/p>\n \tAvoid eating mung beans less than half an hour before or after taking medicine.<\/p>\n