As the weather turns cooler and the climate becomes drier, the human body may exhibit symptoms of fluid damage and lung dryness.Here are several easy-to-make medicinal soups suitable for autumn and winter, along with 6 tips for making a great soup!
Medicinal soups suitable for autumn and winter
1
Four Substance Chicken Soup for Nourishing Blood
Individuals with blood deficiency typically present with pale or sallow complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and scanty menstruation. It is best to perform a “gentle supplementation” in autumn to achieve the goal of nourishing blood. The Four Substance Decoction (Si Wu Tang) is a classic TCM formula for nourishing and tonifying blood, primarily using cooked Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) to nourish Yin and blood.
Ingredients: 1 black-boned chicken, 10g raw Rehmannia (Sheng Di Huang), 5g white peony root (Bai Shao), 10g angelica (Dang Gui), 3g chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong), ginger and salt to taste.
Method: Place raw Rehmannia, white peony root, angelica, and chuanxiong into a cloth bag. Clean the black-boned chicken, place the herb bag into the chicken’s abdomen, sew it up, and simmer in a clay pot until tender. Add salt to taste.
2
Old Duck Soup for Nourishing Qi and Blood
For patients with various chronic deficiency diseases, autumn is a suitable time for nourishment. Old duck soup is beneficial for those with Qi and blood deficiency, anemia, hair loss, chronic cough, malnutrition, and irregular menstruation.
Ingredients: 1 local duck, 10g codonopsis (Dang Shen), 10g astragalus (Huang Qi), 10g fried white atractylodes (Chao Bai Zhu), 10g poria (Fu Ling), 10g cooked Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang), 5g white peony root (Bai Shao), 5g angelica (Dang Gui), 5g cinnamon (Rou Gui), 3g chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong), 3g licorice (Gan Cao), 3 jujubes (Da Zao), 150g daylily (Huang Hua Cai), ginger, salt, and tea oil to taste.
Method: Cut the duck into appropriate pieces; except for the jujubes, break the other herbs into smaller pieces and place them in a cloth bag. Stir-fry the duck meat and ginger slices in tea oil for 2 minutes, then transfer to a clay pot, add water, herb bag, and jujubes. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the meat is tender. Add the cleaned daylily and season with salt before serving.
3
Moistening Yin and Nourishing the Lungs – Fritillaria and Soft-Shelled Turtle Soup
In autumn, symptoms of chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis may become more pronounced. Therefore, Fritillaria and soft-shelled turtle soup, which can nourish Yin, moisten the lungs, and relieve cough, is very suitable. This soup is also effective for those with cough, wheezing, low fever, and night sweats in autumn.
Ingredients: 1 soft-shelled turtle, 5g fritillaria (Chuan Bei Mu), 3 jujubes (Da Zao), 1000g chicken broth.
Method: Cut the soft-shelled turtle into pieces and place in a steaming bowl. Add chicken broth, fritillaria, jujubes, and season with salt, cooking wine, Sichuan pepper, ginger, and scallions. Steam for 1 hour.
4
Calming the Liver and Nourishing Blood – Gastrodia and Angelica Fish Head Soup
For individuals experiencing dizziness, shortness of breath, and anemia due to excessive heat and hyperactivity of liver Yang, autumn is a suitable time to consume dishes that calm the liver and nourish blood. Gastrodia and angelica fish head soup can nourish Yin, tonify deficiency, invigorate blood circulation, and is particularly suitable for those engaged in prolonged mental work.
Ingredients: 500g fish head, 6g gastrodia (Tian Ma), 6g angelica (Dang Gui), 6g goji berries (Gou Qi Zi), 3g chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong), 3g licorice (Gan Cao), 2 pieces of tofu, ginger, scallions, and salt to taste.
Method: Place chuanxiong, angelica, and licorice in a cloth bag and set aside. Clean the fish head, sprinkle with salt, and marinate with 2 slices of ginger for 15 minutes. Sauté briefly, then add boiling water, the herb bag, tofu, scallions, ginger, goji berries, and gastrodia. Simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes, then season to taste.
5
Clearing Heat and Promoting Diuresis – Job’s Tears and Kudzu Root Pork Rib Soup
In autumn, patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart disease should consume medicinal dishes that clear heat and promote diuresis. Job’s tears and kudzu root pork rib soup can effectively alleviate discomfort. Additionally, those who sit for long periods and experience symptoms such as dizziness, chest tightness, bitter mouth, dry throat, numb limbs, and difficulty urinating can also benefit from this soup.
Ingredients: 500g fresh kudzu root, or 50g dried kudzu root slices, 20g job’s tears (Yi Yi Ren), 1 carrot, 1 corn, 200g pork ribs, 2 slices of ginger, and a pinch of salt. Clean the pork ribs and blanch; peel the kudzu root and cut into thick pieces, or soak the dried kudzu root slices and job’s tears in clean water. Place all ingredients in a clay pot, add water, and bring to a boil. Then simmer on low heat for about 2 hours, seasoning before serving.
6
Clearing Dryness and Promoting Bowel Movements – Luo Han Guo and Persimmon Cake Soup
In autumn, it is easy to experience excessive heat, leading to symptoms such as lung heat cough, dry mouth, constipation, and reduced urination. Drinking Luo Han Guo and persimmon cake soup can clear dryness, promote bowel movements, and moisten the lungs to relieve cough. However, both Luo Han Guo and persimmon cake are slightly cooling, and long-term use may harm the spleen and stomach in individuals with spleen deficiency, leading to loose stools; therefore, they should be used sparingly.
Ingredients: 30g Luo Han Guo, 15g persimmon cake.
Method: Rinse the persimmon cake and Luo Han Guo with water, place in a clay pot, and add water to boil for about an hour.
Even with the same ingredients and methods, why does the soup not taste good? Here are 6 tips for making soup!
Click the image to view
