Sept-Cooks-Corner

Cook’s Corner: HealthPoint Chicken Soup for Winter Season Preventive Health

This HealthPoint version of the old standby, chicken soup, incorporates two traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, huang qi and shan zha (astragalus root and hawthorn berry, respectively). These herbs are very easy to incorporate into your cooking.

Huang qi supplements, warms, and raises the qi. It has a strong upward directional action. In larger doses it vasodilates (to lower blood pressure, for example). Conversely, it is said to elevate blood pressure in smaller doses. Huang qi drains heat and dampness and diminishes proteinuria to benefit the kidneys. It supplements qi to help improve endurance. And it can help regulate blood sugar and protect liver function. In addition to the recipe below, a large amount of huang qi is contained in the formula Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, an old formula developed around 1250 C.E. This formula is a good general immune system booster for kids heading back to school. It also helps students (and even adults!) to think more clearly.

Shan zha disperses food and transforms accumulations; relieves food stagnation while also reviving the digestive fire (Spleen qi) to improve appetite. It is particularly good for food retention and indigestion with pain and diarrhea and effectively relieves food stagnation due to meat or grease stagnation. Shan zha quickens and invigorates blood, dispels stasis, reduces clumps and hernial disorders; and helps reduce palpable masses. It has more recently been used in traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and elevated serum cholesterol. Those with very weak digestion absent food stagnation pattern or those with acid reflux should use this herb more cautiously.

This chicken soup recipe is a lightly-herbed soup that will strengthen the Wei (defensive) qi. You can put all ingredients into a crock-pot and just let it cook while you do other things. This dish can be made weekly during the cold-&-flu season. It can be eaten anytime. If cooked in a crock-pot it can be ready whenever you want it.

Ingredients

Whole pastured chicken, giblets included (with head and feet if you wish)
1 handful of huang qi (astragalus root)
1 handful of shan zha (hawthorn berries)
8 - 10 carrots, minced
1 onion, minced
2 - 4 varieties of mushrooms
½ cup of brown, red, or black rice
Splash of fish sauce

Directions

Throw all of the ingredients into a pot and cover with water; it’s that simple! (If preparing in a crock pot, cook on high for about 6 hours. If preparing in a large soup pot, bring to a boil, skim the scum, and then simmer for at least 4-6 hours.)
Remove any bones and huang qi; you can leave the shan zha in the soup.
Refrigerate what is not consumed immediately after cooking.
Huang qi and shan zha are available from HealthPoint