Drink Astragalus soup regularly to prevent diseases and maintain health

Just after the beginning of winter, the drop in temperature and cold wave herald the arrival of light snow.

In ancient my country, Minor Snow was divided into three stages: "In the first stage, the rainbows disappear; in the second stage, the air in the sky rises and the air on the ground falls; in the third stage, the sky is closed and winter comes." This means that because the yang energy in the sky rises and the yin energy in the ground falls, the sky and the earth are blocked, and the yin and yang are not connected, so all things lose their vitality, the sky and the earth are closed, and the cold winter comes.

Therefore, during the Minor Snow season, it is even more important to replenish vitality and prevent qi deficiency caused by weather conditions. Astragalus, which was called "the best tonic" and "the best of all qi-replenishing medicines" by the Medicine Saint Li Shizhen, is naturally a must-have for replenishing qi during the Minor Snow season. People have had the habit of "taking astragalus in winter to make nourishing and strengthening foods" since ancient times.

Nature and flavor

Astragalus, sweet and slightly warm in nature, enters the lung and spleen meridians

effect

Astragalus has the effects of invigorating qi and strengthening the exterior, astringing sweat and preventing loss of body fluids, promoting the growth of new tissues, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling. It is used to treat qi deficiency and fatigue, sinking of middle qi, chronic diarrhea and prolapse of the anus, bloody stool and metrorrhagia, spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency, carbuncle that is difficult to ulcerate, long-term ulcer that does not heal, blood deficiency and sallow complexion, internal heat and thirst, chronic nephritis, proteinuria, diabetes, etc. Roasted Astragalus can invigorate qi and nourish the middle qi, and raw Astragalus can strengthen the exterior and support sores.

Modern Research

Astragalus contains saponins, sucrose, polysaccharides, multiple amino acids, folic acid, and trace elements such as selenium, zinc, and copper. It has the effects of enhancing the body's immune function, protecting the liver, diuresis, anti-aging, anti-stress, lowering blood pressure, and a wide range of antibacterial effects. However, it should not be taken in patients with symptoms such as strong external pathogens, stagnation of qi and dampness, stagnation of food accumulation, early onset of carbuncle or strong heat and toxicity after ulceration, and those with yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity.

History of Astragalus

The New Book of Tang, Biography of Xu Yinzong, records that when Xu Yinzong first served as a military officer at the Xincai Wang's place, the Queen Mother suffered a stroke, was unable to speak, and her pulse was deep and untraceable. Xu was an expert in medicine and knew that the Queen Mother had a deficiency of yang qi, and that her qi and blood could not flow, and that she could not take medicine. He boiled dozens of hu of hot soup with astragalus and saposhnikovia divaricata, placed it under the bed, and fumigated her mouth, nose, and skin. The imperial doctors used it accordingly, and the smell of medicine filled the room for a day and a night. The Queen Mother gradually woke up and was able to speak, and then recovered.

Legend of Astragalus

According to legend, there was a kind old man in ancient times. His surname was Dai and his name was Mian. He was good at acupuncture and moxibustion. He was very kind and humble. He was willing to help others all his life. Later, he sacrificed his life to save a child who fell off a cliff. Because the old man was thin and his face was pale yellow, people called him "Huangqi" to show respect for the elderly. After the old man died, a sweet herb with the functions of tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, stopping sweating, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, and removing toxins and promoting muscle regeneration grew beside his tomb. In memory of him, people called this herb "Huangqi"

Historical Origins

"Shennong's Herbal Classic": sweet, slightly warm. Indications: carbuncle, long-term sore discharge, pus and pain relief, leprosy, five types of hemorrhoids, fistula, tonic, and all kinds of children's diseases.

"Ming Yi Bie Lu": Non-toxic. Mainly used to treat evil wind in women's viscera, expel bad blood between the five internal organs, replenish men's deficiency, treat five kinds of fatigue and emaciation, quench thirst, relieve abdominal pain and diarrhea, replenish qi, and benefit yin qi.

"Rihuazi Bencao": It is incompatible with Dictamni. It helps with Qi, strengthens the tendons and bones, grows flesh, replenishes blood, breaks up syndromes and addictions, treats scrofula, goiter, intestinal wind, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, red and white dysentery, all diseases before and after childbirth, irregular menstruation, thirst, phlegm and cough, and treats wind and heat toxins in the head, red eyes, etc.

"Yao Xing Fu": sweet in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic. It is ascending and yang. It has four uses: warming the flesh and strengthening the skin, replenishing the vital energy and nourishing the three burners, supporting the sores and ulcers of Yin syndrome internally, and strengthening the night sweats of superficial deficiency externally.

Common Medicinal Food

Astragalus Lamb Soup

Ingredients: 1000g mutton (fat and lean), 50g astragalus, 2g pepper, 2g star anise, 10g ginger, 10g salt, 10g shallot

practice:

1. Wash the mutton and cut it into 3 cm square pieces

2. Put the mutton into the stew pot, add seasoning and astragalus, then add 3 times the amount of water as the mutton, and simmer over low heat until it is cooked.

3. The dosage of Astragalus can be increased or decreased according to the amount of meat

4. Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off the foam, then simmer over low heat for about 2 hours.

Red Dates and Astragalus Soup

Ingredients: Astragalus, red dates, Xanthium sibiricum, rock sugar, etc.

practice:

1. Put all the ingredients into the pot, add water, and simmer over low heat for 40 minutes.

2. Add appropriate amount of rock sugar. Don't add too much, and don't cook for too long.

Wolfberry and Astragalus Pigeon Soup

Ingredients: Pigeon, astragalus, wolfberry, ham cubes, lean meat cubes, ginger slices, green onion knots, etc.

practice:

1. Wash the pigeon, remove the fishy smell and blood, boil the pigeon, then take it out and rinse it with cold water.

2. Cut the pigeon into pieces so that it is easy to taste. Put it into a stew pot, add ham cubes, lean meat cubes, appropriate amount of astragalus and wolfberry, ginger slices, scallion knots, and salt. Add mineral water to the stew pot until the water is equal to the pigeon cubes.

3. Steam over high heat, bring to a boil, then steam over low heat for about 2 hours.

Taboo

Astragalus has been used as a medicine for more than 2,000 years. It has the effects of enhancing the body's immune function, protecting the liver, diuresis, anti-aging, anti-stress, lowering blood pressure and a wide range of antibacterial effects. However, it should not be taken in patients with symptoms such as strong external pathogens, stagnation of qi and dampness, stagnation of food, and strong heat and toxicity in the early stage of carbuncle or after ulceration, as well as those with yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity.