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Chinese herbs used in chinese soups
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Thinking of trying your hand at making some chinese herbal soups?
Want to use some chinese herbs in your soups but feel intimidated by them? Find out more about these special ingredients here. Astragalus (huang qi)
Astragalus possesses manifold benefits for a wide range of illnesses, which is why it is featured frequently in chinese soups and gentle tonic drinks. Modern alternative healthcare has caught on. Scientific research has found that astragalus is effective in checking diabetes. Astragalus extracts and supplements are now quite common in the drug stores. But nothing beats preparing the real thing in a chinese soup. asian chicken soup with chinese angelica root astragalus vegetable soup No.1 astragalus vegetable soup No.2 beef soup with sirloin and chinese herbs healthy chicken soup with astragalus Chinese angelica root (dang gui)
It is supposed to strengthen the blood, nourish the female reproductive organs, regulate menstruation and alleviate period pains. Chinese medicinal shops sell chinese angelica root as dried unprocessed pieces of root. Some health shops also sell them in capsule form. In its dried state, chinese angelica root emits a certain woody aroma that develops into a strong flavour when cooked. It is usually steamed or simmered with a combination of chicken, mutton, pork and some other herbs, depending on the nature of the ailments to be addressed. The angelica root requires no preparation before cooking. asian chicken soup with chinese angelica root Chinese wolfberries (gou ji zi)
Dried goji berries are known as gou ji zi in mandarin and kei chi in cantonese. They are quite sweet and are found as an ingredient in many chinese soups, sweet teas and tonic drinks. It is one of the most popular chinese herbs. Not very expensive either. It is a natural supplement for improving eyesight especially if poor eyesight is caused by malnutrition, vessel expansion and inflammation. Consuming goji berries may help if you experience eye strain from staring at computer screens and documents for long periods of time. Goji berries are also beneficial for the liver. A healthy liver manifests in better looking eyes and vision. Traditional chinese medicine taught that any sickness in the liver can be observed from the eyes. For instance, people suffering from hepatitis or jaundice have very yellowish eyes. In recent years goji juice has been marketed widely as a natural remedy, like some wonder drug. However, it is not a panacea. In fact, people who have diabetes should take it in moderation. Dietary therapy emphasizes balance, moderation and combination in the use of chinese herbs in soups and other foods. This goes the same for goji berries. asian chicken soup with chinese angelica root beef soup with sirloin and chinese herbs Chinese yam (shan yao)
Extolled for its wide-ranging health benefits, chinese yam has been recorded as having the ability to enhance vigour, promote muscle growth and repair worn-out tissue, and alleviate bodily weakness after a long-term illness. The herb has also been used to counter diabetes, diarrhoea, kidney defects, coughing and dehydration. It can, however, cause frequent urination and perspiration. So be careful not to over-use. Chinese yam is usually used in conjunction with meats and other herbs to aid digestion, regulate body's sugar level and control inflammation of the uterus. beef soup with sirloin and chinese herbs Codonopsis root (dang shen)
dried lily petals (bai he)Details comingdried tangerine peelDetails comingasian chicken soup with chinese angelica root Euryale seeds (qian shi)Details comingGingko nuts (bai guo)
GinsengGinseng root is cheaper than the whole ginseng and is ideal for making soup tonics.Hawthorn (shan zha)Details comingHe shou wu (fo-ti)He shou wu, which means black hair Mr Wu, is known as fo-ti in english. It is most commonly used to treat greying hair. A lot of chinese ladies prepare he shou wu soups for their husbands (^_^). Please note that fo-ti will react with metal, please do not cook it in metal pots, including thermal cookers.Honey datesDetails comingLotus seedsDetails comingRed dates (hong zao)
Tonic soups made from a combination of red dates, astragalus, dried goji berries, ginseng, and dang gui were fed to those recovering from surgery to improve immunity, strengthen the body and prevent relapses. Red dates must be cored before cooking. asian chicken soup with chinese angelica root beef soup with sirloin and chinese herbs Solomon's seal (yu zhu)
Solomon's seal is believed to be excellent for alleviating a host of ills, including throat, and lungs ailments. |
