When the autumn wind blows, the search for love is like the waves washing away the “sand”——Adenophora

The weather has started to cool down recently, which can be described as "autumn is high and refreshing", but at this time, we should pay more attention to moistening the lungs!

Dryness is the main air of autumn, which is called "autumn dryness". Its air is clear and its nature is dry. The lung controls the air and controls breathing. The lung is related to the skin and fur, and is the exterior and interior of the large intestine. Dryness can easily damage body fluids, and common symptoms include dry mouth, dry lips, dry nose, dry throat, dry tongue, dry stool, dry skin, and even chapped skin.

The lung is a delicate organ, which likes moisture and hates dryness. The lung is a canopy that can protect other organs and resist external pathogens. Dryness is most likely to damage the yin fluid of the lung. If the lung loses moisture, its function will inevitably be affected, and the function of ascending and descending will be impaired. In mild cases, there will be dry cough with little sputum, and the sputum will be sticky and difficult to cough up. In severe cases, the lung collaterals will be damaged and bleeding will occur, and blood will be seen in the sputum. Lung yin deficiency cannot help the large intestine, which will cause dry and hard stools.

At this time, you can eat some medicinal herbs that moisten the lungs and nourish yin, such as Adenophora.

Adenophora radix, also known as American ginseng and soaked adenophora, is used as medicine with its roots. It is harvested in autumn, the above-ground parts and fibrous roots are removed, the rough skin is scraped off, and it is immediately dried in the sun.

[Main Indications] Blood stasis, frightening qi, removing cold and heat, tonifying the middle, and benefiting lung qi (Ben Jing). Clearing away heat and nourishing yin, moistening the lungs and relieving cough. Mainly used to treat tracheitis, whooping cough, lung heat cough, and yellow and thick sputum.

Adenophora: A North-South Mystery

1. Nansha Ganoderma and Glehnia littoralis

According to ancient documents, the Adenophora used by the ancients was Adenophora australis. In the Qing Dynasty, it was recorded that Adenophora australis was divided into two types: southern and northern. It is generally believed that the two medicines have similar effects and are both yin-nourishing medicines, which have the effects of nourishing yin, clearing the lungs, and benefiting the stomach and producing body fluid.

Although both are called Adenophora australis, Adenophora australis and Adenophora sutchuenensis are actually two different medicinal herbs derived from completely different plants. Because the effects of the two are very similar, the later Adenophora australis and the original Adenophora australis were recorded side by side, and the original medicinal Adenophora australis was renamed "Adenophora australis" to distinguish it from the latter.

In fact, the north and south of southern and northern adenophora are also relative. The main production areas of southern adenophora are concentrated in the Yangtze River Basin and the areas to its south (Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Jiangsu, etc.), while northern adenophora is mainly produced in Laiyang, Shandong, Dingzhou, Hebei, etc.

2. The effects of the north and south are similar

When it comes to efficacy, both northern and southern Adenophora are inseparable and can be summed up in eight words: "nourishing yin and clearing the lungs, benefiting the stomach and producing fluid", while southern Adenophora has four more words: resolving phlegm and invigorating qi.

This is also where the similarities and differences in the effects of the two lie.

The medicinal properties of Northern Adenophora are sweet and moist, slightly bitter and slightly cold. It can replenish lung yin and clear lung heat. It is often used for lung heat and dry cough, and cough with blood in sputum due to fatigue. The sweet and cold properties can nourish stomach yin, while the bitter and cold properties can clear stomach heat. Therefore, Northern Adenophora is also used for insufficient stomach yin, loss of body fluid due to fever, and dry throat and thirst.

The nature and flavor of Adenophora australis is similar to that of Glehnia littoralis. It is sweet and slightly cold. It can nourish lung yin, moisten lung dryness, and clear lung heat. It can be used for dry cough due to lung heat, cough due to yin deficiency, dry cough with sticky sputum, etc. Because it has the function of resolving phlegm, it is suitable for those with dry lung and sticky sputum and difficulty in expectoration.

Adenophora ·Introduction

Meridians: Lung and stomach meridians.

Nature and flavor: sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold.

Efficacy: Nourishes yin and clears heat, moistens the lungs and resolves phlegm, benefits the stomach and produces body fluid.

Historical Origins

1. Ben Jing: "It can treat blood stasis, shock and qi, eliminate cold and heat, nourish the middle, and benefit the lung qi. Long-term use is beneficial to people."

2. "Bie Lu": "It treats stomach numbness, heart and abdominal pain, heat evil qi, headache, evil heat between the skin, calms the five internal organs, and replenishes the middle."

3. "Medicinal Properties": "It can remove floating wind from the skin and muscles, treat hernia, treat frequent sleepiness, nourish the liver qi, and relieve the wind from the five internal organs."

Simple Medicinal Diet Preparation Strategy

Adenophora and Polygonatum odoratum Fish Tail Soup

Adenophora and Polygonatum odoratum can regulate qi, moisten the lungs, promote fluid production and quench thirst. They are especially helpful for people who smoke and drink too much and lack sleep.

Ingredients: 4 grams each of Adenophora Root and Polygonatum Odoriferum, 5 grams of Chinese and Southern Apricots, 1 candied date, 1 silver carp tail (about 750 grams), 200 grams of lean meat, and 1 slice of ginger.

Method: First, clean the fish tail, put it into a pan with a little oil, and fry it until both sides turn golden brown. Bring the water to a boil, put all the ingredients into the boiling water, cook on high heat for half an hour, then simmer on medium heat for 1.5 hours, and finally add salt according to taste.

Red ginseng stewed with pig heart and lung

The stew of safflower, Adenophora Root, Polygonatum odoratum and pig heart and lung is refreshing and delicious. It has the functions of nourishing the stomach, promoting body fluid, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. It can be used as a dietary and medicinal food for low back pain, cerebrovascular diseases.

Ingredients: 10g safflower, 20g adenophora, 20g polygonatum, one pig heart, one pig lung,

3 slices of ginger.

Cooking: Wash the pig heart; clean the pig lungs by filling them with water, put them in a wok without adding oil and salt, and fry until dry. Put them together with the medicinal herbs and ginger in a clay pot, add 2500 ml of water (about 10 bowls), boil over high heat, then simmer for about 2 hours, add salt. It is for 3-4 people.

Stewed Fish with Adenophora and Polygonatum

Adenophora and Polygonatum odoratum are both mild and sweet Chinese medicines for nourishing yin. Adenophora has the functions of nourishing yin, clearing lungs, benefiting kidneys and promoting fluid production; Polygonatum odoratum has the functions of clearing heat, moistening dryness, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst. The delicious bamboo shoots and shell fish stewed together are especially suitable for this increasingly dry weather. They are sweet, refreshing and delicious, nourishing yin, benefiting lungs and promoting fluid production, and are suitable for men, women, old and young.

Ingredients: 25g each of Adenophora Root and Polygonatum Odoriferum, 3 candied dates, 250g of snapper, 50g of lean pork, and 4 slices of ginger.

Preparation: Wash all ingredients. Soak the herbs for a while; remove the pits from the candied dates; clean and fry the fish until slightly yellow, then splash in a little water. Put all ingredients into a stew pot, add 1250 ml of cold water (about 5 bowls), cover and stew for about 2.5 hours. Add salt when drinking. This is enough for 3-4 people.

Precautions

If the cough is caused by wind and cold, it is not suitable to eat Adenophora. People who have no real heat in the lungs, no heat evil damaging the yin, or lung deficiency and cold should not take Adenophora in large quantities. If you eat it blindly, it may threaten your health, so you should take it with caution.