Winter is the best time for medicinal food tonic, which has a certain scientific basis, because the human body after the spring, summer and autumn, especially in the summer physical energy consumption, in winter it is necessary to the human body to timely conditioning and replenishment, for the next spring and even the whole year’s health to lay a solid foundation.
More tonic herbs are used to nourish the body and prevent diseases, with emphasis on nourishment and prevention. It is worth reminding that tonic herbs have their own strengths and should be chosen according to one’s health condition, not abused.
Winter worm, summer grass
Cordyceps sinensis is a tonic herb for the yang, with the effects of protecting the lungs and kidneys, stopping bleeding and phlegm, stopping asthma and cough, strengthening the body with blood, calming the eyes, fighting cancer, enhancing sexual function and physical strength. It can promote immunity and prevent colds. Cordyceps is a good flat tonic medicine, which is perfect for winter health tonic.
Cordyceps is sweet in taste and warm in nature. In clinical practice, it is mainly used for post-illness recuperation, but also for the treatment of lung and kidney deficiency, chronic cough and asthma, impotence and spermatorrhea, spontaneous sweating and night sweating, soreness of the waist and knees, etc. It is also suitable for people who are prone to colds or bronchitis. It is worth noting that it is contraindicated in patients with lung heat and hemoptysis, and in patients with superficial evil.
Food therapy recipe: steamed duck with Cordyceps
Ingredients] 5 pieces of Cordyceps, 1 duck.
The duck head is split open along with the neck, put the Cordyceps, tied with a thread, put it into a large bowl, add yellow wine, ginger, white onion, salt, water, steam for two hours.
【Efficacy】Nourish the kidney essence. Cordyceps is warm in nature, not suitable for people with yin deficiency fire; duck is cool in nature, can nourish kidney yang, cordyceps stewed with it, can make the medicine neutral, flatten the lungs and kidneys, yin and yang deficiency of patients are suitable.
Western ginseng
Western ginseng is a herb that nourishes yin, nourishes yin, cleanses fire and generates fluid, and clears the intestines to stop bleeding. It is suitable for those with internal heat due to yin deficiency, especially for recuperation after recovering from a fever, or for postpartum qi-yin deficiency.
American ginseng is sweet and slightly bitter, slightly cold in nature. It is effective in relieving symptoms of both qi and fluid deficiency, easy fever, thirst, irritability, red face and eyes, dry stools, red tongue and dry yellow tongue coating. It is also effective for people with deficiency of lung and prolonged cough, fatigue and weakness, intestinal heat and blood in the stool, and chronic atrophic gastritis. It is worth noting that it is contraindicated for people with a weak and cold constitution, such as those with a shriveled complexion, thin tongue coating, women with thin bandages, and those who are afraid of cold, etc. It is also contraindicated for those infected with influenza and whose fever has not yet subsided.
Food therapy: American ginseng stewed with black chicken
Materials]: 10 grams of American ginseng, 1 black bone chicken, salt, wine, ginger appropriate amount.
【Method】 The chicken is marinated in yellow wine and then scalded with boiling water to remove the blood foam, placed in the stewing pot, add the ingredients such as American ginseng, water, steam for one and a half hours.
Efficacy】Nourish the qi and yin, clear the fire and produce fluid, fix the essence and calm the mind.
C. Radix Codonopsis
Radix Codonopsis is a traditional tonic herb commonly used for nourishing the middle and benefiting the qi, strengthening the spleen and lung, and nourishing the blood. It is mild in nature and sweet in taste, and can be taken by people with symptoms such as malnutrition anemia and chronic cough. Generally speaking, it is advisable to use it raw for nourishing the blood, while fried and charred is more focused on tonifying the qi and strengthening the spleen. It is worth noting that it should be used with caution for those who have actual or heat evidence but do not have deficiency of vital energy.
Food therapy recipe: stewed pig’s heart with Chinese ginseng and angelica
Ingredients] 1 pig heart, 30 grams of Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng, 15 grams of Radix Angelicae Sinensis.
【Method】Pig heart cut open and washed, and party ginseng, angelica put stewing cup, add water, stewing cooked, add salt seasoning is ready.
Efficacy] Benefit Qi and nourish blood, invigorate blood circulation and resolve stagnation.
Fourth, astragalus
Astragalus, also known as “small ginseng”, can nourish the vital energy, increase resistance, prevent colds, diuretic, lower blood pressure, protect the liver and other effects; with the ability to repair tissue, the wound is not easy to heal a very good effect.
Astragalus is sweet in taste and warm in nature. It is suitable for spontaneous sweating and night sweating, weakness and anemia, malnutrition, spleen deficiency and diarrhea, wound inflammation, edema, urinary disorders, diabetes, and all symptoms of deficiency of vital energy. However, it is not suitable for those with actual symptoms and yin deficiency and yang strength.
Recipe: Astragalus Red Date Soup
Ingredients】Astragalus membranaceus 15, red dates 20.
【Method】 Add water to the above two items, bring to a boil and then change the fire to decoction for more than 1 hour. Daily 1 dose, divided into 2-3 times to eat dates and drink soup. Use for 15 days for a course of treatment.
Efficacy】Benefiting Qi to fix the surface and stop sweating. Indicated for children with sweating evidence of defensive surface not solid, spontaneous sweating often, aggravated by movement, easy to catch cold.