In autumn, the temperature changes from hot to cool, and the climate becomes dry, making it easy for people to be affected by cold and dryness. In addition, for some people, the summer heat may still linger in the early autumn, causing dryness and heat in the body, leading to symptoms such as dry mouth, irritation, and cough.
Therefore, the use of medicinal food and porridge in autumn should target these characteristics and choose foods that are cool and moisturizing, warm and moisturizing, rich in fat and fluids, and nourishing and moisturizing. It is important to pay attention to the spleen and stomach, and eat foods that are rich in moisture and gentle on the stomach. It is also important to maintain a calm state of mind and consume plenty of water and fruits rich in vitamins that have a moisturizing and skin-nourishing effect. This will help to nourish Yin and moisturize dryness, protect Qi and Yin, and moisturize the lungs and protect the skin. It is not advisable to eat fruits that are excessively cool and may harm the spleen and stomach, foods that are too hot in nature, or foods that are spicy and may cause Yin deficiency and dryness. It is also not advisable to eat foods that promote diuresis and dampness, which may harm Yin fluids, or foods that cause excessive sweating due to dispersing effects.
Common medicinal foods and porridge used in autumn include the following:
Medicinal Food 1: Five-Flavored Black Chicken Blood-Tonifying Soup
Ingredients: 1 black-bone chicken, 1 qian of Chinese Angelica, Prepared Rehmannia Root, White Peony Root, Anemarrhena Rhizome, and Donkey-hide Gelatin each, appropriate amount of ginger, green onion, salt, and monosodium glutamate.
Method: Wash and slice the Chinese Angelica, Prepared Rehmannia Root, White Peony Root, Anemarrhena Rhizome, and Donkey-hide Gelatin. Wrap them in a single layer of gauze. After slaughtering and cleaning the black-bone chicken, wrap the herbs in it, tie and seal the chicken, place it in a steamer, add 1500ml of water, and steam over high heat for 2 hours. Remove the herbs, add seasoning, and continue steaming for 10 minutes.
Usage: Eat the meat and drink the soup with meals.
Efficacy: Tonifies Qi and blood, strengthens the spleen and stomach, and nourishes the liver and kidneys. It can treat symptoms such as fatigue, lack of energy, weak voice, sallow complexion, palpitations, insomnia, dizziness, blurred vision, lumbago, weak legs, hot flashes, and night sweats caused by Qi and blood deficiency, insufficient liver and kidney function. This medicinal food is a mild tonic and is often consumed by women to regulate the menstrual cycle and delay the decline of sexual function.
Medicinal Food 2: Lo Han Guo Lung-Moisturizing Soup
Ingredients: 1 Lo Han Guo fruit, 15g each of Chinese Yam, Lily Bulb, and Solomon's Seal Rhizome, 9g each of Semen Oryzae Glutinosae, Red Dates, and Coix Seed, 300g pork ribs.
Method: First, boil the Chinese Yam and other Chinese herbs in water. Filter the decoction to remove the residue, add the pork ribs, boil on high heat, and then simmer for 30 minutes. Eat the meat and drink the soup.
Efficacy: Nourishes blood, calms the mind, stops coughing, and moisturizes the lungs. This medicinal food is mainly suitable for lung cancer patients with Yin deficiency and dry cough.
Medicinal Food 3: Polygonatum Odoratum and Pig Trotter Lactation-Inducing Soup
Ingredients: 1 pig trotter, 10g Polygonatum Odoratum, 3 stalks of green onion.
Method: Remove the nails from the pig trotter, wash and cut it into pieces. Wash the Polygonatum Odoratum and green onion together, place them in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer until cooked. Season and consume.
Efficacy: Tonifies blood and promotes lactation. It is suitable for postpartum women with insufficient lactation, characterized by reduced or insufficient milk secretion.
Note: Avoid eating raw, cold, and dry foods. This medicinal food is suitable for postpartum women with thin and clear milk.
Medicinal Food 4: Sesame and Black Bean Mud Soup with Loach
Ingredients: 300g loach, 50g black beans, 50g black sesame seeds.
Method: Wash the black beans and black sesame seeds. Blanch the loach in cold water, then wash and dry. Stir-fry the loach in a hot pan until slightly browned. Then put all the ingredients in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, and simmer over low heat until the black beans are cooked. Season and consume once a day.
Efficacy: Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens the spleen, nourishes blood, and promotes hair growth. It is suitable for hair loss, premature graying of hair, pale and weak complexion due to spleen deficiency, yang disorders, excessive thirst, constipation, dampness, sores, eczema, phlegm, and itching.
