Here are the top ten anti-aging traditional Chinese medicines, making you feel younger the more you eat them!
January 19, 2024
Whenever someone laments the wrinkles on their face. When physical strength cannot keep up and the body cannot bear it, there is always a saying that goes, "I am old, and time does not spare me." In order to fight against aging, some people choose to do beauty and eat health products, but do you know? Some traditional Chinese medicine can also resist aging and have many unexpected health benefits! What traditional Chinese medicines can resist aging?
These 10 traditional Chinese medicines help with anti-aging
1. Ginseng - Improving Brain Power
Ancient Chinese medicine believed that ginseng was the "king of all herbs" and could greatly nourish vital energy. According to the "Shennong Bencao Jing", ginseng can "nourish the five internal organs, soothe the mind, calm the soul, stop palpitations, eliminate evil energy, brighten the eyes, and enhance intelligence. After long-term consumption, it can lighten the body and prolong life."
Modern research has also found that ginseng can regulate the central nervous system, delay brain cell aging, improve mental and physical strength, and quickly eliminate fatigue.
Recommended ways to eat:
Wash the whole ginseng or slice it and put it into a container. Add water, soak for 30 minutes, cover it with a lid, and simmer over low heat for about 1 hour. Wait for the ginseng juice to warm up before drinking.
Effect:
Great tonifying effect, relieving fatigue, strong nourishing effect, and quick onset.
2. Goji berries - protecting the liver and anti-aging
Tonic Diet, health preserving soup, health wine... Lycium barbarum can always be seen in many health preserving foods. Goji berries are indeed very healthy. According to the "Shennong Materia Medica Classic", they "strengthen muscles and bones after long-term consumption, lighten the body and prevent aging, and are resistant to cold and heat." Moreover, they have a peaceful nature and can be used all year round.
Modern pharmacological research has confirmed that goji berries have a similar effect to ginseng, which can prevent arteriosclerosis, lower blood sugar, promote liver cell regeneration, and enhance physical fitness and delay aging.
Recommended ways to eat:
Soak goji berries in tea, chew 20-30 capsules in the morning and evening, or soak 30-40 capsules in boiling water.
Effect:
Nourishing liver and kidney, nourishing essence and improving eyesight.
3. Astragalus membranaceus - delaying cellular aging
The Shennong Materia Medica Classic lists Astragalus membranaceus as the highest grade, also known as Huangqi. Qi means long, which means that this medicine is the best among nourishing medicines. Astragalus membranaceus can replenish qi throughout the body and can be used to alleviate qi deficiency, fatigue, and insufficient middle qi.
Modern research has found that Astragalus membranaceus not only expands coronary arteries, improves myocardial blood supply, and enhances immune function, but also delays the process of cellular aging.
Recommended ways to eat:
Take about 30 grams of Astragalus membranaceus daily after decoction. Or 30 grams of Astragalus membranaceus, 15 grams of goji berries added, boiled in water and taken, the effect is better for people with weak qi and blood.
Effect:
Relieve qi deficiency, fatigue, and insufficient middle qi.
4. Ganoderma lucidum - clearing free radicals
The Shennong Materia Medica Classic believes that Ganoderma lucidum can "nourish liver qi, soothe essence and soul", "eat for a long time, lighten the body and not age, and prolong life as a divine being."
Modern medicine has proven that Ganoderma lucidum can enhance coronary blood flow, reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, and thus protect the heart; Can protect the liver and detoxify, promote liver cell regeneration, and regulate immunity; It can also relieve cough and asthma; It can prevent and treat hyperlipidemia, chronic bronchitis, neurosis, and brain dysfunction in middle-aged and elderly people.
Recommended ways to eat:
Lingzhi Clear Chicken Soup: Prepare 20g of Ganoderma lucidum, 20g of dried lily, 20g of dried lotus seeds, half a chicken, and 3 slices of ginger (serving for 2 people). Wash the above ingredients and put them together in a clay pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then turn off low heat and simmer for 1 hour. Drink the soup and eat the chicken.
Effect:
Tonify qi, invigorate the spleen, clear the heart and calm the mind.
5. Sanqi - Promoting blood circulation, stopping bleeding, and strengthening the heart
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In his book "Compendium of Materia Medica", Zhao Xuemin, a famous doctor in the Qing Dynasty, said: "Ginseng is the first to nourish qi, and Sanqi is the first to nourish blood. It has the same taste but equally effective." He called Sanqi "the most precious of traditional Chinese medicine.". The term "supplement" here refers to a broad sense of "nourishment". Sanqi nourishes blood, including three aspects: promoting blood circulation, supplementing blood, and stopping bleeding. It has no pressure to deal with a series of symptoms such as blood stasis, blood deficiency, and abnormal bleeding.
Modern pharmacological research has shown that Panax notoginseng has various effects, including anti thrombosis, anti cerebral ischemia, anti myocardial injury, anti arrhythmia, anti-inflammatory, improving learning and memory, and anti fatigue. It has good therapeutic effects in the immune system, blood system, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, nervous system, material metabolism, as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor aspects.
Recommended ways to eat:
Stewed Black Chicken with Sanqi and Qizi: Heat the wok over high heat, add water, black chicken, ginger slices, Sanqi, red dates, and goji berries, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 50 minutes to season and serve.
Effect: Promote blood circulation, dispel stasis, nourish blood and nourish blood.
6. Polygonum multiflorum - regulating cholesterol levels and antioxidant properties
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In the Song Dynasty's "Kaibao Bencao", it is said that "long-term use can grow muscles and bones, nourish essence, and prolong life.".
Polygonum multiflorum can promote the growth of nerve cells, have auxiliary therapeutic effects on neurasthenia and other neurological diseases, and can regulate cholesterol levels, lower blood sugar, improve the ability of liver cells to transform and metabolize cholesterol. It also has good antioxidant effects.
Recommended ways to eat:
Fat control and longevity tea: 10 restrained Polygonum multiflorum is boiled with water for 20 minutes. Take the decocted juice and simmer it with 10 grams of raw hawthorn, 3 grams of Hangzhou white chrysanthemum, and 2 grams of green tea to make tea.
Effect:
Control fat and promote blood circulation, tonify the kidneys and brighten the eyes.
7. Rhodiola - Anti fatigue and anti radiation
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The Thousand Golden Wings Formula states: "Jingtian is non-toxic, light in body and bright in eyes, and can be used for a long time to nourish the mind without aging."
Modern pharmacology and clinical research have found that Rhodiola has a nourishing effect similar to ginseng, which can resist hypoxia, cold, fatigue, radiation, viruses, inhibit cancer cell growth, improve work efficiency, and delay body aging.
Recommended ways to eat:
Peel and slice the radish, then steam it in a steamer for 5 minutes. Fry Rhodiola in water to extract juice, thicken and season. Place the radish on a plate and cover it with Rhodiola juice.
Effect:
Strengthening the spleen and tonifying qi, clearing the lungs and relieving cough, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.
8. Angelica sinensis - tonifying blood and promoting blood circulation
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia records that Angelica sinensis has a sweet and spicy taste, a warm nature, and belongs to the liver, heart, and spleen meridians. It has the functions of nourishing blood, promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, and moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements.
Commonly used in clinical practice for blood deficiency and yellowing, dizziness and palpitations, menstrual disorders, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, deficiency cold abdominal pain, rheumatic pain, falling and flaccid injuries, carbuncles and ulcers, intestinal dryness and constipation.
Our appearance largely depends on whether our body has sufficient qi and blood. If we have sufficient qi and blood, our complexion will be rosy and our spirits will be refreshed. Danggui has the function of nourishing blood and promoting blood circulation, and is particularly commonly used in gynecological diseases. It is known as the "sacred medicine of women's health", and can be used to nourish people with blood deficiency or blood stasis.
Recommended ways to eat:
Danggui chicken soup: Put the chicken together with Danggui and goji berries in a pot and add 1500 milliliters of water (about 6 bowls). Bring to a boil over low heat and simmer over low heat for about 1 hour; When the chicken is cooked until fully cooked, add ginger and salt to season, and drink soup and meat.
Effect: Chicken nourishes qi and blood; Angelica sinensis nourishes and nourishes blood; Goji berries nourish the liver and kidneys, and brighten the eyes.
9. Huangjing - Tonifying Deficiency and Adding Essence and Qi
Huangjing was regarded by ancient health and medicine practitioners as a product that prolongs life and is also known as "immortal surplus grain". It is not only a nourishing food, but also used as a substitute for meals on the stomach, and even has the saying of "becoming immortal after long-term consumption". Since ancient times, the story of Huangjing and famous doctors has been widely circulated and praised by medical experts such as Ge Hong and Li Shizhen.
Traditional Chinese medicine regards Huangjing as a dual tonifying medicine for qi and yin, which has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, nourishing the spleen and qi, and nourishing the kidneys and essence. Modern pharmacological research has also found that Huangjing has the effects of anti fatigue, improving the body's immune system, and delaying aging.
Recommended ways to eat:
Take 10g of Huangjing and 10g of Goji berries, and boil them in water to replace tea drinks.
Effect:
Tonify the liver and kidneys.
10. Ciwujia - tonifying qi and calming the mind, delaying aging
According to records, the medicinal properties of Ciwujia are sweet, spicy, slightly bitter, and warm. It has the effects of tonifying qi and calming the mind, tonifying the kidneys and strengthening the waist, and promoting blood circulation and unblocking the meridians. Commonly used for diseases such as spleen deficiency and weakness, kidney deficiency and weakness, insomnia and excessive dreaming, and rheumatic joint pain. Modern research has found that Ciwujia has various health and wellness effects, including brain strengthening, anti fatigue, antioxidant, anti-aging, improving immunity, increasing white blood cells, regulating endocrine disorders, and lowering blood sugar.
Recommended ways to eat:
10g of Acanthopanax senticosus and 6g of Schisandra chinensis. Brew with hot water, cover and let stand, let it sit for at least 15 minutes.
Effect:
Relieve mental fatigue, insomnia, and forgetfulness.
How many of these Chinese medicine misconceptions did you fall for?
Mionception 1: dried orange peel is equivalent to dried tangerine peel.
The orange that can be made into traditional Chinese medicine Chenpi is clearly stipulated in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Taking Guangchenpi as an example, it uses the peel of mature fruits grown in Xinhui, Guangdong and its cultivated varieties.
The process from orange peel to orange peel generally involves four steps: peeling, flipping, drying, and aging.
Peeling: Refers to using a small knife to cut open an orange and remove the peel.
● Peeling: refers to placing the peeled orange peel in a well ventilated area to dry during clear weather, allowing it to naturally lose moisture and soften before flipping the peel to turn the orange white outward.
Dry peel and aging: Dry peel refers to the natural drying or direct drying of peeled orange peel, which is placed in a container and then placed in a cool and dry place for natural aging. Only tangerine peel that has been aged for 3 years or more under natural conditions can achieve medicinal effects.
Misconception 2: Using fruit papaya instead of traditional Chinese medicine papaya.
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the traditional Chinese medicine papaya is derived from the dry and nearly mature fruit of the Rosaceae plant, Begonia grandiflorus. The fruit we eat daily, papaya, originally named "papaya", comes from the mature fruit of the papaya family and genus. These two types of papaya come from different sources and have vastly different traits, which cannot be replaced by each other.
Misconception 3: Use raw honey directly for homemade decoctions. During autumn, there is a particular emphasis on using honey when making autumn pear paste at home. When making traditional Chinese medicine ointments, honey needs to be pre refined and generally refined into "medium honey" (honey refining can be divided into "tender honey", "medium honey", or "old honey"). Honey refining can not only remove moisture and kill bacteria, but also prevent sand return.
To refine a pot of successful "medium honey", one needs to constantly practice. The temperature of honey is generally between 116 ℃ and 118 ℃, and a uniform light yellow bubble appears when the pot is full. At this time, when you twist the honey with your hands, you feel that it has stickiness, but when your fingers leave, there is no white silk, and you have reached a "medium honey" state.
