Ginseng has the effects of nourishing qi and nourishing yin, clearing heat and generating fluid. Many people say that ginseng can tonify the kidney and strengthen yang. Can ginseng soaked in water really tonify the kidney? Does ginseng really have a kidney-tonifying effect?
Can Ginseng Soaked in Water Tonify the Kidney?
It has a certain effect.
The kidney governs water and stores the essence of the five viscera and six bowels. Kidney deficiency can be divided into kidney yin deficiency and kidney yang deficiency. Common symptoms of kidney yin deficiency include red face and restlessness, while kidney yang deficiency is characterized by aversion to cold, cold limbs, and pale complexion. Ginseng has the effect of nourishing qi and nourishing yin, and it has a certain effect on kidney yin deficiency. Common yin-nourishing herbs include dendrobium, ligustrum, and cornus.
Does Ginseng Really Have a Kidney-Tonifying Effect?
Limited efficacy of single herb medicine.
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the mutual root of yin and yang. To tonify the kidney, one must "seek yin within yang when tonifying yin, and seek yang within yin when tonifying yang." From this, it can be seen that the treatment of kidney tonification in traditional Chinese medicine is complex and cannot be solved by a single Chinese herb. Ginseng is a herb that nourishes qi and nourishes yin, mainly used for symptoms such as excessive yin fire, coughing up phlegm and blood, and deficiency heat and fatigue. It is recommended that patients with kidney deficiency use medication under the guidance of a doctor.
What Can Ginseng Be Paired With to Tonify the Kidney?
Ginseng and Goji Berry Tea
Ingredients:
3 grams of ginseng, 8 grams of goji berries.
Preparation:
1. Wash the ginseng and goji berries, and put them in a cup;
2. Pour in boiling water and cover for 10 minutes.
Efficacy: Tonify the kidney and nourish essence, nourish the liver and improve eyesight.
Ginseng and Epimedium Tea
Ingredients:
3 grams of ginseng, 5 grams of epimedium.
Preparation:
1. Put the ginseng and epimedium in a cup;
2. Pour in 200ml of boiling water and cover for 10 minutes.
Efficacy: Tonify the kidney and strengthen yang, nourish qi and nourish yin.
Who Should Not Eat Ginseng?
1. Those without deficiency
Ginseng is a herb that nourishes yin and nourishes qi. Long-term and excessive consumption by healthy adults can cause imbalance of the internal organs and yin and yang.
2. Those with spleen and stomach excess heat
People with vomiting or vomiting blood should not take ginseng, as it can worsen the condition.
3. Those with spleen and stomach cold-dampness
People with indigestion and loose stools should not take it because ginseng is cold in nature and can damage the yang of the spleen.
4. Those with restless mind
People with restlessness and insomnia caused by the imbalance between the heart and kidney, and yin deficiency and excessive fire, should not take ginseng, as it can worsen the condition.
5. Infants and young children
Ginseng is cold in nature and has the effects of nourishing yin and nourishing qi. Infants and young children have immature yang energy and should use it with caution, or under the guidance of a physician.
What Are Some Dietary Therapies for Tonifying the Kidney?
Tremella Fuciformis with Rock Sugar
Ingredients:
10 grams of tremella fuciformis, 1 egg, 60 grams of rock sugar, and appropriate amount of lard.
Preparation:
1. Soak the tremella fuciformis in water, remove the stem, and remove impurities;
2. Rinse clean, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, and then simmer over low heat until the tremella fuciformis is soft;
3. Add rock sugar and stir until dissolved;
4. Beat the egg white with a little water and stir it into the pot, then simmer over low heat until it boils;
5. Add a little lard before serving.
Ganoderma Lucidum and Soft-Shelled Turtle Soup
Ingredients:
200 grams of soft-shelled turtle meat, 100 grams of lean meat, 40 grams of ganoderma lucidum, 10 grams of cordyceps, 15 grams of Chinese yam, and 10 grams of codonopsis pilosula.
Preparation:
1. Scrape and wash the rough skin of the soft-shelled turtle, and blanch it in boiling water to remove the fishy smell;
2. Wash the lean meat, ganoderma lucidum, cordyceps, Chinese yam, and codonopsis pilosula, and put them in a stew pot together with the above ingredients;
3. Add an appropriate amount of cold water, cover the stew pot, and place it in a pot. Steam for 3 hours.
Cuscuta Seed and Lamb Kidney Porridge
Ingredients:
10 grams of cuscuta seed, 1 lamb kidney (remove the membrane, cut into small pieces), 100 grams of glutinous rice.
Preparation:
Wash the lamb kidney, remove the gamey smell, and boil it with cuscuta seed and glutinous rice to make porridge.
