Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Chinese Herbs and Ingredients in meals

Shall start a little reference here on Chinese herbs which I have been using in soups and meals.

1. Lily Bulb (Bai He)

Lily bulb is cool in nature. It nourishes the lungs, treats cough and calms the spirit. Good for those who suffer from anxiety and isomnia.

I have been adding about 3 pieces to cook in X's porridge when he was having cough. Remove them after porridge has been cooked.

2. Red Date (Hong Zhao)

It has blood nourishing properties and can be widely used with other ingredients to nourish the body.

3. Medlar Seeds aka Wolfberries (Gou Qi)

Wolf berry improves eyesight, strengthens immune system, delays aging, nourishes the liver and kidney and activates blood circulation.

It is beneficial for those who suffer from dizziness, blurred vision, soreness of loins and weakness of the legs.

4. Kernel Almonds (Nan Bei Xing)

Sweet almond tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It is non-toxic and reliefs cough.

Bitter almond tastes bitter and is warm in nature. It carries slight trace of toxics but heals cough and expels phlegm.

5. Dried Longan (Long Yan Rou)

Dried Longans are warm in nature. It nourishes the heart and spleen, benefits blood and calms the spirit. It is effective in treating tension, palpitation, insomnia and poor memory.

I have boiled made Longan tea with red dates for Jo. Believes to aid in inreasing the supply of breastmilk.

6. White Fungus (Xue Er)

White fungus tastes slightly sweet and is neutral in nature.

It benefits the spleen, strengthens the stomach and expels dryness. It calms the spirits, treats insomnia, and is good for body types that resist beneficial food.

7. Candy Date (Mi Zhao)

Candy date enhanes human immunity and inhibits cancer cells.It is also help to against allergic and enhance appetite.

8. Cnidium Root (Chuan xiong)

It tastes acrid and is warm in nature. It promotes circulation of Qi and blood, expels winds, relieves pain, calms the spirit, lowers blood pressure and treats spasmolysis.

Do not use during pregnancy.

9. Bei Qi

Helps to retard aging and enhance immune system.

10. Codonopsis Root (Dang Shen)

It is a neutral herb, bitter in flavour, reinforces Qi and invigorates and improves blood circulation. It is also effective in the treatment of fatigue, lack of appetite, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, shortness of breath, thirst and pale complexion.

Similar in action to ginseng, but not as strong, this herb is often substituted in places or at times when ginseng is too expensive.

11. Chinese Angelica Root (Dang Kwei)

It tastes sweet and it's warm in nature. Helps to nourish and tonify the blood, regulates menstruation, treats pain and soothes intestines.

12. Solomon's Seal Rhizome (Yu Zhu)

Nourishes Lung and Stomach Yin, Moistens Dryness

It can treats dry cough, dry throat, irritability, and thirst.

Also for cough with scanty, sticky sputum or chronic respiratory disorders with a consumptive cough. Treats wasting and thirsting disorder with intense hunger and constipation.

Also treats symptoms of Stomach Yin Deficiency including hunger but no desire to eat, dull epigastric pain, stomach discomfort, dry mouth and dry tongue.

Extinguishes Wind, Softens and Moistens the Sinews
For Pain and spasms in the sinews due to wind generated by deficient Fluids. For dizziness due to internal wind.

13. Fritillaria (Chuan Bei)

Fritillaria has bitter, sweet, and slightly cold properties. The bulb's color, white, is believed to affect the heart and lung meridians. As such, it is used to treat various lung conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis and tuberculosis.

Fritillaria is particularly useful for all types of coughs. TCM practitioners often employ fritillaria to moisten dry mucus membranes, resolve phlegm and control coughing.

Research conducted in China has shown that compounds in fritillaria (including verticine, verticinone, imperialine and thymidine) help inhibit the contraction of bronchial smooth muscle and decrease mucus secretion.

14. Fig fruit (Wu Hua Guo)

It clears heat and phlegm, nourishes the lungs and aids in digestion with it's high fibre content.

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