Food Recipes for Nourishing Kidney and Enriching Yin
In menopause, the typical signs of kidney yin deficiency are hot flashes and night sweats as well as mouth dryness, insomnia, irritability, weakness and a red tongue. TCM believes that it is due to a relative excess of yang that develops into a hyperactive state, the following recipes will help bring relief.
1. Wolfberry, chrysanthemum and shrimp soup
| Ingredients | Wolfberry (12g), chrysanthemum (10g), fresh shrimp (250g) |
| Method | Wash the wolfberry and chrysanthemum; shelled and deveined the shrimps, then marinate the shrimps with egg white and cornstarch. Add some vegetable oil in a pot and heat up, put in the shrimps and stir-fry and put aside. Boil 2 cups low-salt chicken broth, add in the wolfberry and chrysanthemum, boil for 10 minutes, add shrimps and boil for a further 3 minutes more. Sprinkle green onion and pepper and serve hot. |
| Benefits | The ingredients nourish the liver and kidney, promots essence storage. |
2. Cornus fruit, rehmannia and turtle soup
| Ingredients | Cornus fruit (10g), rehmannia root (10g), America ginseng (5g), Chinese soft-shelled turtle (one piece about 200g) |
| Method | Chop the turtle, remove the outer membrane and wash; blanch in boiling water and drain, then marinate with salt, sesame oil, soy sauce, and ginger. Wash the other ingredients and cut into pieces. Put the turtle meat in a pot with 2000ml of water, bring to a boil quickly, discard the floating foam, add in the herbal ingredients, and cook on a low heat for about 1-2 hours. Season to taste. Serve hot, drink the soup and eat the meat. |
| Benefits | Cornus fruit and rehmannia root nourish the kidneys and replenish yin; America ginseng nourishes yin and promotes fluid production; the turtle meat and its shell enriches yin and the blood as well as cools the body. |
3. Lily bulb stuffed duck
| Ingredients | Fresh lily bulb (300g), dried mushroom (120g), duck (about 1000g) |
| Method | Wash the duck, sprinkle inside out with salt, millet wine and ginger evenly; stuff the duck with lily bulb and mushroom and tie legs together. Steam under high heat until the meat is fully tender. Divide the amount in several meals. |
| Benefits | The ingredients work together to nourish the liver and kidneys, and to clear hot flashes signs. |
4. Bird nest and white fungus dessert
| Ingredients | Bird's nest (6g), white fungus (9g), rock sugar |
| Method | Soak the bird's nest and white fungus separately, rinse them fully. Put the ingredients in a double-steam container; add in 200 ml of water. Steam for 3 hours, add rock sugar to taste. Eat half amount into the evening and another half in the morning. |
| Benefits | The ingredients work together to nourish yin and promote the storage of essence. |
5. Lily bulb and lotus root drink
| Ingredients | Dried lily bulb powder (1000g), dried lotus root powder (500g). |
| Method | Add one tablespoon of lily bulb powder and one tablespoon of lotus root powder in half glass of cold water; add rock sugar to taste. Drink once daily. |
| Benefits | The ingredients work together to nourish yin and clear heat. |
6. Rehmannia and Solomon's seal rhizome porridge
| Ingredients | Rehmannia root (10g), Solomon's seal rhizome (10g), rice (30g) |
| Method | Boil the herbal ingredients in 1000ml of water first, then discard the herbs and add in the rice to cook as porridge. |
| Benefits | The ingredients nourish yin, cool the blood and replenish qi. |
7. Jellyfish salad
| Ingredients | Dried salted whole jellyfish (200g), sesame seed (30g) |
| Method | Soak the jellyfish for several hours, drain and then blanch with boiling water; slice it and put in freezer to cool down. Toast the sesame seed slightly; add to the bowl with the jellyfish, then vinegar, sesame oil, pepper and soy sauce and mix well. Sprinkle on green onion and serve cool. |
| Benefits | The dish nourishes the liver and checks the yang elements of the body, which help alleviate hot flashes or feverish sensations due to yin deficiency. |
8. Wolfberry root-bark and tofu soup
| Ingredients | Bean curd (250g), wolfberry root-bark (15g). |
| Method | Boil the wolfberry root-bark with 3 cups of low-salt chicken broth for 15 minutes, discard the herb, then add in bean curd, sesame oil and pepper to taste. Sprinkle on green onion and serve hot. |
| Benefits | Wolfberry root-bark can eliminate virtual fire created by a yin defiency; tofu is also cool in nature. The dish relieves feverish sensations or hot flashes. |
9. Cornstalk tea
Peel the hard coating of the cornstalk (2 pieces), and add the soft inner core to boiling water. Drinking this regularly helps alleviate sweating due to yin deficiency.
