In astrology, be it Kabalistic, Chinese or Sidereal, planets have been given to rule the various parts of the body. When a planet is debilitated or badly placed, the organ it represents will be weakened, easily infected or in danger of being hurt or damaged.

In the period of Cancer, the planet Saturn is weakened. With Saturn at such a disadvantage, we will see that bones and joints can be a problem to those born during this period. It is more pronounced if Saturn is a significant planet in your astrological birth chart.

To find out if Saturn is significant in your astrological birth chart you could obtain your personal Horoscope done by Mr. Andi Singh at www.yourdestiny.com.my

But in general, I would like to advise those born in Cancer to take special care of their teeth, exercise regularly right up to ages of sixty, seventy or eighty and beyond if you have been blessed by longevity and not to neglect maintaining a good posture so as to ensure the proper alignment of your muscular skeletal frame so as not to put excessive strain on any one part of their body. When the body frame is unbalanced, one automatically makes compensation, thus causing chronic aches and pains in other parts of the body.

The Chinese and Indians in their verdicts of medical cures have always been of the opinion that one can compensate the degeneration of our organ by eating a similar organ of an animal.

Today, I am giving you a popular and tasty recipe for those who suffer from backaches or rheumatism.

2 trotters or knuckles chopped into 1-inch pieces

1 cup Black Beans

1 tablespoon White Pepper Pods

              5 cups Water

              1 teaspoon Salt

1. Place cleaned and cut pig’s trotters or knuckles in cold water. Bring to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes. Discard water and wash the boiled Pig’s trotters again in cold water.

2. Roast the Black Beans in a pan without oil till it begins to split and is fragrant.

3. Wrap the pepper seeds in a muslin bag and tie.

4. In a clean saucepan place the pig’s trotters, beans, whole garlic cloves, pepper bag, salt and 5 cups of cold water.

5. Bring to a boil and simmer over a low flame for 3 hours or until the trotters are tender.

   If you have a slow cooker, you could use it, cooking on low heat for 6 hours.

   Serve as soup or a main meal with steamed rice or steamed dumplings.

   Beef knuckles can be substituted for trotters or if you prefer use a whole chicken or better yet chicken feet. However, the best meat would be the trotters or knuckles of pig or beef as these give soup with stronger consistency. You will notice this when the stock is cold. The soup turns gelatinous.

6.  

Pigs Knuckles or Trotters with Black Beans

There are 2 types of Soyabeans. The yellow or white soyabean which is used for drinks and Tau Foo and the Black Soyabeans which we used in this cooking. Black beans belong to the family of peas and lentils. They are also referred to as Pulses. The use of pulses can be traced in archaeological site that date back 10,000 years BC thus indicating that they were a significant food source as far back as that.

A healthy liver and kidney is essential to detoxify the body of harmful acids and toxins which is the cause of various diseases and in particular rheumatism and lactic acid build-ups which brings about fatigue.

White pepper is pepper dried with the outer rind removed. Besides adding flavor to the food, pepper is a stimulant and is capable of expelling gases especially from the bowels.

Ayurvedic medicine also uses pepper for lumbago and I was given a recipe from an Aborigine friend of mine in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia for the treatment of sprains and contusions for my horses and myself.