Daily Herb: Cang Zhu (Atractylodes)
Alias: Chi Zhu, Qing Zhu, Xian Zhu.
Source: This herb is the dried rhizome of the perennial herbaceous plant Mao Cang Zhu or Bei Cang Zhu from the Asteraceae family.
Properties: Pungent, bitter, warm.
Meridians: Spleen, Stomach, Liver.
Functions: Dries dampness, strengthens the spleen, dispels wind and cold, brightens the eyes.
Indications: Used for dampness obstructing the middle jiao, abdominal distension, diarrhea, edema, beriberi, wind-damp pain, wind-cold common cold, night blindness, and blurred vision.
Dosage: 3-9 grams.
Health Recipes:
1. Cang Zhu Guanzhong Tea
Ingredients: Cang Zhu and Guanzhong, each 15-20 grams.
Preparation: Grind the two ingredients into a fine powder, wrap in cloth, and steep in boiling water.
Usage: Drink frequently, finishing daily.
Effects: Dispels foulness and detoxifies, clears away evil qi.
Indications: For those experiencing headaches, nasal congestion, and a heavy feeling in the body during cold seasons.
2. Cang Zhu Porridge
Ingredients: Cang Zhu 10 grams, rice 100 grams, a little white sugar.
Preparation: Clean the Cang Zhu, place it in a pot with an appropriate amount of water, decoct to extract the juice, then add rice to cook porridge. When cooked, add white sugar and boil for another 1-2 minutes.
Usage: Consume as breakfast, one dose daily.
Effects: Dries dampness, strengthens the spleen, dispels wind and dampness.
Indications: For abdominal distension, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and wind-cold-damp bi syndrome caused by damp obstruction in the middle jiao.
3. Pork Liver Cang Zhu Soup
Ingredients: Pork liver 50 grams, stir-fried Cang Zhu 3 grams, salt to taste.
Preparation: Add stir-fried Cang Zhu to a pot with an appropriate amount of water, decoct for 30 minutes, strain to obtain the juice. Clean the pork liver, slice it, and add it to the boiling medicinal juice, cooking until the liver is done, then season with salt.
Usage: Serve as a side dish.
Effects: Nourishes the liver and brightens the eyes.
Indications: For assisting in the treatment of blurred vision.