Shu Di Huang and He Shou Wu are both common Chinese herbal medicines for nourishment, and they are also commonly used ingredients in medicinal diets. So how should we eat Shu Di Huang and He Shou Wu?
How to Eat Shu Di Huang and He Shou Wu
Shu Di Huang He Shou Wu Stewed Chicken Soup
Ingredients: 1 black-boned chicken, 30g Shu Di Huang, 50g prepared He Shou Wu, 20g Chinese dates, 10g wolfberries, salt to taste.
Directions:
1. Clean the black-boned chicken, remove the internal organs, and wash thoroughly.
2. Boil the black-boned chicken in boiling water for about 5 minutes, and rinse off the foam.
3. Put the black-boned chicken, Shu Di Huang, and prepared He Shou Wu into a soup pot.
4. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for about 2 hours.
5. Add Chinese dates, wolfberries, and salt, and simmer for another 20 minutes.
Effects: Nourishes the blood, nourishes Yin, and moisturizes dryness.
He Shou Wu Shu Di Huang Porridge
Ingredients: 15g Shu Di Huang, 10g prepared He Shou Wu, 100g glutinous rice, white sugar or rock sugar to taste.
1. Put Shu Di Huang and prepared He Shou Wu into a casserole and simmer for about 30 minutes.
2. Remove the herbal residue and collect the herbal juice.
3. Wash the glutinous rice and put it into the pot.
4. Pour in the herbal juice and cook the porridge.
5. When the porridge is cooked, add white sugar or rock sugar to taste.
Effects: Tonifies the liver and kidneys, nourishes essence and marrow.
Differences Between Shu Di Huang and He Shou Wu
Different Origins
Shu Di Huang: The raw material comes from the Asparagus family, and it is the rhizome of the plant - Rehmannia glutinosa, which is then processed by steaming.
He Shou Wu: He Shou Wu is divided into two types: raw He Shou Wu and prepared He Shou Wu. The one we often see is prepared He Shou Wu, which is processed from the dried rhizome of the Polygonaceae plant - Polygonum multiflorum.
Different Appearances
Shu Di Huang: Irregular block shape, varying in size, both inside and outside are shiny black, the surface is wrinkled and uneven. The cross-section is moist, with visible shiny oil-like blocks in the center, with a large viscosity and a soft and sticky texture.
He Shou Wu: Prepared He Shou Wu is irregularly wrinkled pieces, about 1cm thick, with a blackish-brown or brownish-black surface, uneven and hard texture, and a cornified cross-section, with a brownish-brown or black color.
Different Tastes
Shu Di Huang: Shu Di Huang has a slight smell and tastes sweet and greasy, with a slight bitterness.
He Shou Wu: He Shou Wu has a slight smell and tastes mostly bitter and astringent, with a slight sweetness.
Different Effects
Shu Di Huang: It has the effects of nourishing blood, nourishing Yin, and nourishing essence and marrow. It is commonly used to treat various symptoms of blood deficiency and liver and kidney Yin deficiency, such as blood deficiency with yellowing, irregular menstruation, excessive menstruation, sore and weak waist and knees, hot flashes and night sweats, impotence and premature ejaculation, etc.
He Shou Wu: Prepared He Shou Wu has the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, nourishing essence and blood, darkening hair, and strengthening the tendons and bones. It can be used to treat symptoms such as blood deficiency with yellowing, dizziness and tinnitus, premature graying of hair, and sore and weak waist and knees. Raw He Shou Wu has the effects of detoxifying and promoting healing, and moisturizing the intestines and facilitating bowel movements. It can be used to treat symptoms such as abscesses and swelling, and dryness and constipation of the intestines.
Different Nutritional Components
Shu Di Huang: It contains ingredients such as iridoids, catalpol, mannitol, and a small amount of iridoid glycosides.
He Shou Wu: It contains anthraquinone compounds, such as emodin, emodin-8-O-glucoside, emodin-methyl-ether, emodin acid, and emodin-8-O-glucoside enone.
Notes on Eating Shu Di Huang
1. Do Not Overuse
The usual medicinal dosage of Shu Di Huang is 10-30g. It should not be taken in excessive amounts. On the one hand, taking too much will not allow the body to fully absorb its medicinal effects. On the other hand, Shu Di Huang has a greasy nature, and taking too much may interfere with the digestive function of the spleen and stomach.
2. Do Not Take With Radishes or "Three Whites"
"Three Whites" refers to the white parts of scallions, leeks, and Chinese chives. Radishes have a qi-descending effect, and the "Three Whites" have a strong dispersing effect. Taking Shu Di Huang with them will reduce the nourishing effect of Shu Di Huang.
3. Avoid Using Iron Utensils for Cooking
According to "Yao Jian": "If iron utensils are used, it will cause kidney consumption." Therefore, when cooking Shu Di Huang, avoid using copper or iron utensils, as Shu Di Huang is a Chinese herbal medicine that may react with copper or iron, thereby reducing its effectiveness or producing substances that are harmful to the body.
4. Not Suitable for Qi Stagnation and Phlegm Excess
If there are local masses in the body, chest tightness, rib pain and distension, and slippery pulse, taking Shu Di Huang may worsen the phlegm and dampness in the body, as Shu Di Huang has a greasy nature and is not easily digested by the body.
5. Not Suitable for Weak Spleen and Stomach
Because of its sticky quality, Shu Di Huang may hinder digestion. If the spleen and stomach function is weak and cannot absorb and digest Shu Di Huang, taking it may aggravate symptoms of spleen deficiency, such as abdominal distension, poor appetite, and loose stools.
6. Not Suitable for Cold Patients
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that colds are caused by external pathogens and can cause dysfunction of the lung defense system. During a cold, it is not suitable for tonics. Shu Di Huang is a Chinese herbal medicine with strong nourishing effects. Taking it during a cold may cause stagnation of pathogenic factors in the body, aggravating discomfort or prolonging the course of the illness.
Notes on Eating He Shou Wu
1. Do Not Overdose
The usual medicinal dosage of He Shou Wu is 10-20g. The specific dosage should be consulted with a doctor if it is used for the treatment of a certain disease. It is not advisable to blindly take large amounts of He Shou Wu by oneself, as He Shou Wu contains anthraquinone compounds that may produce toxic side effects with long-term and large-scale consumption, such as diarrhea, intestinal rumbling, and nausea.
2. Beware of Allergies
Some people may have allergic reactions when taking He Shou Wu, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, numbness in the limbs, and skin rashes. If you are unsure whether you are allergic, you can take a small amount first and observe if there are any adverse reactions. If there are none, you can continue taking it.
3. Do Not Eat With Pork, Pig Blood, or Scaleless Fish
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that He Shou Wu is incompatible with pork, pig blood, and scaleless fish. Eating them together may reduce the effectiveness of He Shou Wu or cause a reaction between the components, producing substances that are harmful to the body. It is generally recommended not to eat pork, pig blood, or scaleless fish within 2 hours before or after taking He Shou Wu.
4. Do Not Eat With Radishes
Radishes are cold in nature and have a qi-descending effect. Eating He Shou Wu with radishes will reduce the effectiveness of He Shou Wu. Therefore, it is not advisable to eat radishes within 2 hours before or after taking He Shou Wu.
5. Not Suitable for Loose Stools
If there is thin or loose stools, it is not suitable to take He Shou Wu, as He Shou Wu has a strong nourishing effect. Taking it may worsen the original discomfort.
6. Not Suitable for Phlegm Excess
If there are symptoms such as limb fatigue, abdominal pain, swelling, and diarrhea caused by phlegm excess, it is not suitable to take He Shou Wu, as He Shou Wu has a greasy nature and taking it may worsen the phlegm and dampness in the body, aggravating discomfort.
