Recently, a friend returned from a trip to Yunnan and brought me some Tianma. I heard that Tianma has high medicinal value and can treat headaches, numbness in the limbs, etc. Do I need to steam Tianma before consuming it? How should Tianma be consumed correctly?
Do I need to steam Tianma?
It is recommended to steam Tianma first.
Tianma is a rhizome used in medicine. It has a hard and solid texture. It is best to steam it before slicing or grinding it into Tianma powder, as this will better enhance its medicinal effects. Generally, Tianma should be steamed for 8 to 10 minutes. Steaming it for too long may destroy its active ingredients.
Should dried Tianma be soaked in water?
Just wash it with water.
Soaking dried Tianma in water doesn't have much effect. If you intend to drink it in water, it is advisable to slice or pulverize Tianma and directly soak it in water, as it will facilitate the extraction of active ingredients. Simply wash dried Tianma with water to remove surface dust and bacteria, and then drain the water.
What are the benefits of consuming Tianma?
Calming the liver and extinguishing wind
The "Materia Medica" records that Tianma is used to treat stubborn cold, paralysis, confusion, excessive talking, frequent dizziness, and loss of willpower. Tianma has the effect of calming the liver, stopping spasms, dispelling wind, and promoting blood circulation. It is mainly used to treat headaches, dizziness, numbness in the limbs, infantile convulsions, epilepsy, tetanus, and other conditions. It is particularly effective in treating headaches and dizziness caused by excessive liver yang.
Protecting the heart
Tianma contains Tianmasu, Tianma polysaccharides, and other components that have the effect of protecting the heart muscle and cells, making it useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Sedating and relieving pain
Tianma contains multiple active ingredients that can reduce dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. It has sedative, anticonvulsant, and neuroprotective effects, making it suitable for treating trigeminal neuralgia, vascular neuralgia, and other conditions.
Assisting in lowering blood pressure
Tianma contains Tianmasu and its glycosides, vanillin, and Tianma polysaccharides, which can enhance immunity, anti-aging, and assist in lowering blood pressure. It also has the effects of anti-dizziness, anti-platelet aggregation, and anti-thrombosis, providing certain preventive effects against cardiovascular diseases.
Precautions when consuming Tianma
1. Do not consume blindly
Tianma has the effects of calming the liver, extinguishing wind, and stopping spasms. It is effective for symptoms such as dizziness, convulsions, and seizures. However, Tianma is not suitable for everyone. It can easily cause adverse reactions in people with yin deficiency or blood deficiency.
2. Do not consume it for a long time
Although Tianma has high medicinal value, it also has certain toxic side effects. Long-term consumption may cause discomfort. Traditional Chinese medicine books have recorded cases of rashes appearing all over the body after prolonged consumption of Tianma.
3. Observe for side effects
If symptoms such as dizziness, chest tightness, nausea, vomiting, or allergic reactions such as redness, swelling, and itching occur after consuming Tianma, it is necessary to stop consuming it immediately. If the condition is severe, it is advisable to seek medical attention.
How to consume Tianma correctly
Tianma and Chuanxiong stewed beef
Ingredients
1000g beef, 40g shallots, 30g ginger slices, 8g Tianma, 10g Chuanxiong, 25g red dates, 2 teaspoons salt, 3 tablespoons rice wine.
Instructions
1. Cut the beef into chunks, wash with clean water, blanch in boiling water for about 1 minute, then remove and rinse with cold water.
2. Take a clay pot, cut the shallots into sections, and put them in the pot together with the ginger slices.
3. Then add the beef chunks from step 1, rice wine, and all the medicinal ingredients, and fill the pot with water to 90% full. Bring to a boil.
4. Once it reaches a rolling boil, reduce the heat and cover the pot. Simmer for 80 minutes, then add salt and cook for another 10 minutes.
Tianma and red date stewed free-range chicken
Ingredients
Half a free-range chicken, 10g Tianma, 10 red dates, 20 wolfberries, 1 piece of ginger, 5 peppercorns.
Instructions
1. Clean the free-range chicken and cut it into pieces. Wash the Tianma, slice it, and wash the red dates and wolfberries. Slice the ginger and set aside.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil, blanch the chicken until it changes color, and then remove it.
3. Place the blanched chicken in a clay pot, pour in enough cold water, add the ginger slices and peppercorns.
4. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low heat. Add Tianma, red dates, and wolfberries. Cover and simmer for at least 2 hours. Add salt to taste.
