The Overlooked Kidney-Boosting Remedy: Affordable and Effective!
The Overlooked Kidney-Boosting Remedy: Affordable and Effective!
Ginseng, donkey-hide gelatin, and deer antler velvet are hailed as the top three tonics in traditional Chinese medicine, but they are exceedingly rare and come with hefty price tags. Today, experts introduce an affordable tonic with similar benefits to deer antler velvet: Chinese chive seeds!
As the name suggests, Chinese chive seeds are the seeds of Chinese chives. We are all familiar with Chinese chives, known for their aphrodisiac properties. Chinese chive seeds have a unique pungent aroma. In traditional Chinese medicine, these seeds are believed to stimulate appetite, nourish the kidneys, warm yang, and promote digestive health.
After proper preparation, Chinese chive seeds can enhance kidney function and boost essence. The preparation process usually involves two steps. The first step is soaking the seeds in wine or vinegar for a sufficient duration. The second step is frying, commonly referred to as "Yan Huang." Nowadays, some people soak the seeds in saltwater before frying them.
Chinese Chive Seeds
They are broadly oval or triangular in shape and slightly flattened. The surface appears black, with one side being raised, rough, and covered in fine, intricate, web-like wrinkles. The other side is slightly concave with less distinct wrinkles. The top end is blunt, and the base is slightly pointed, often with a tiny, raised point-like navel. The seed coat is thin, the embryo is white, curved, and the endosperm is pale gray. The seeds are hard, possess a unique aroma, and have a mildly pungent taste.
Recipe for Kidney Tonic with Wine-Processed Chinese Chive Seeds:
Ingredients: Chinese chive seeds, dodder seeds, goji berries, and raspberry seeds, each 50 grams. Grind them separately and place them in a cheesecloth bag. Put the bag in a jar and pour in one pound of low-alcohol white wine or yellow wine. Seal the jar and let it soak for seven days before consumption. Drink no more than twice a day, with each dose not exceeding 20 milliliters. If you prefer a sweet and sour flavor, you can add more goji berries and fewer dodder seeds. To enhance its aphrodisiac effect, you can increase the amount of Chinese chive seeds. This medicinal wine has a warming and kidney-nourishing effect, suitable for those experiencing soreness in the lower back and knees, sensitivity to cold, and chilly knee joints.
For those who don't drink alcohol, you can opt for vinegar-processed Chinese chive seeds. Take 100 grams of Chinese chive seeds and immerse them in vinegar. Bring them to a boil over medium heat, let them cool, and repeat this process multiple times. Remove the Chinese chive seeds, dry them, and then grind them into a powder. Mix the powder with honey to create honey pills for consumption. Vinegar-processed Chinese chive seeds have a stronger kidney-nourishing effect and also help soothe and constrict the liver.
In traditional Chinese medicine, vinegar is believed to scatter stasis, stop bleeding, relieve pain, and detoxify. As an essential condiment, vinegar can remove fishy smells, reduce spiciness, and enhance fragrance. Regular consumption of vinegar also has health benefits.
Stir-Fried Chinese Chives with Eggs and Shrimp
Ingredients: Chinese chives, eggs, and shrimp.
Method: Scramble the eggs into small pieces. Cut the Chinese chives into segments and stir-fry them with shrimp and eggs. Add salt to taste, and it's ready to serve.
The "Compendium of Materia Medica" once noted, "Eating chives excessively makes one confused and their vision dim; it is especially inadvisable after drinking." Modern medicine warns that people with hyperactivity of yang and heat-related conditions should avoid consuming chives. Chinese chives contain a significant amount of coarse fiber, which is not easily digested and absorbed. Therefore, it's essential not to consume excessive amounts at once, as it can lead to intestinal discomfort. It's best to limit consumption to 100 to 200 grams at a time, not exceeding 400 grams.
For many, Chinese chives are a double-edged sword—a delightful taste yet a concern for potential digestive discomfort. As Zhou Yong, a poet from the Southern Qi dynasty, once said, "Early spring chives and late autumn soybeans," which refers to the prime quality of chives in early spring, followed by late autumn and a lower quality in summer. They say, "Chives are fragrant in spring but stinky in summer."
Ginseng, donkey-hide gelatin, and deer antler velvet are hailed as the top three tonics in traditional Chinese medicine, but they are exceedingly rare and come with hefty price tags. Today, experts introduce an affordable tonic with similar benefits to deer antler velvet: Chinese chive seeds!
As the name suggests, Chinese chive seeds are the seeds of Chinese chives. We are all familiar with Chinese chives, known for their aphrodisiac properties. Chinese chive seeds have a unique pungent aroma. In traditional Chinese medicine, these seeds are believed to stimulate appetite, nourish the kidneys, warm yang, and promote digestive health.
After proper preparation, Chinese chive seeds can enhance kidney function and boost essence. The preparation process usually involves two steps. The first step is soaking the seeds in wine or vinegar for a sufficient duration. The second step is frying, commonly referred to as "Yan Huang." Nowadays, some people soak the seeds in saltwater before frying them.
Chinese Chive Seeds
They are broadly oval or triangular in shape and slightly flattened. The surface appears black, with one side being raised, rough, and covered in fine, intricate, web-like wrinkles. The other side is slightly concave with less distinct wrinkles. The top end is blunt, and the base is slightly pointed, often with a tiny, raised point-like navel. The seed coat is thin, the embryo is white, curved, and the endosperm is pale gray. The seeds are hard, possess a unique aroma, and have a mildly pungent taste.
Recipe for Kidney Tonic with Wine-Processed Chinese Chive Seeds:
Ingredients: Chinese chive seeds, dodder seeds, goji berries, and raspberry seeds, each 50 grams. Grind them separately and place them in a cheesecloth bag. Put the bag in a jar and pour in one pound of low-alcohol white wine or yellow wine. Seal the jar and let it soak for seven days before consumption. Drink no more than twice a day, with each dose not exceeding 20 milliliters. If you prefer a sweet and sour flavor, you can add more goji berries and fewer dodder seeds. To enhance its aphrodisiac effect, you can increase the amount of Chinese chive seeds. This medicinal wine has a warming and kidney-nourishing effect, suitable for those experiencing soreness in the lower back and knees, sensitivity to cold, and chilly knee joints.
For those who don't drink alcohol, you can opt for vinegar-processed Chinese chive seeds. Take 100 grams of Chinese chive seeds and immerse them in vinegar. Bring them to a boil over medium heat, let them cool, and repeat this process multiple times. Remove the Chinese chive seeds, dry them, and then grind them into a powder. Mix the powder with honey to create honey pills for consumption. Vinegar-processed Chinese chive seeds have a stronger kidney-nourishing effect and also help soothe and constrict the liver.
In traditional Chinese medicine, vinegar is believed to scatter stasis, stop bleeding, relieve pain, and detoxify. As an essential condiment, vinegar can remove fishy smells, reduce spiciness, and enhance fragrance. Regular consumption of vinegar also has health benefits.
Stir-Fried Chinese Chives with Eggs and Shrimp
Ingredients: Chinese chives, eggs, and shrimp.
Method: Scramble the eggs into small pieces. Cut the Chinese chives into segments and stir-fry them with shrimp and eggs. Add salt to taste, and it's ready to serve.
The "Compendium of Materia Medica" once noted, "Eating chives excessively makes one confused and their vision dim; it is especially inadvisable after drinking." Modern medicine warns that people with hyperactivity of yang and heat-related conditions should avoid consuming chives. Chinese chives contain a significant amount of coarse fiber, which is not easily digested and absorbed. Therefore, it's essential not to consume excessive amounts at once, as it can lead to intestinal discomfort. It's best to limit consumption to 100 to 200 grams at a time, not exceeding 400 grams.
For many, Chinese chives are a double-edged sword—a delightful taste yet a concern for potential digestive discomfort. As Zhou Yong, a poet from the Southern Qi dynasty, once said, "Early spring chives and late autumn soybeans," which refers to the prime quality of chives in early spring, followed by late autumn and a lower quality in summer. They say, "Chives are fragrant in spring but stinky in summer."