Chicken

Meat, including chicken, is acidic and should not be eaten in excess; in excess, it can easily contribute to/exacerbate Damp-Heat, Qi stagnation, etc., in the body.

Slow cooking (chicken and meats) in a soup or boiling vs. grilling, broiling, or frying is easier to digest and creates less Yang energy which can be overheating and congesting.

I recommend chicken fairly often to clients with digestive issues and/or fatigue. In terms of TCM, this could be a Spleen or Kidney deficiency. Symptoms may include, muscle weakness, bloat/distention after eating, loose stools, pale tongue, chills, sallow complexion, poor appetite, edema, infertility, etc.

Even for new moms that are deficient and have had Blood loss, I recommend as little as 2 oz of meat (i.e., beef, dark meat chicken & duck, beef/chicken liver, etc.) 3x per week; this is, of course in tandem with other Spleen and Blood nourishing foods and herbs. I also suggest hormone-free, free-range, organic chicken.

• 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲: Sweet

• 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: Warm

• 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀: Spleen & Stomach, Kidneys (Flaws)

• 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Upbearing

𝗧𝗖𝗠: Warms the Middle Burner, Nourishes the Spleen, Nourishes Qi, Blood, & Jing, Tonifies the Kidneys, Strengthens Tendons & Bones (Lu)

𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀: Protein, fat, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, magnesium

🐔Persistent illness, poor appetite - stewed chicken (add in astragalus and dang gui)

🐔Edema - stewed with red or adzuki beans

🐔Palpitations, dizziness, pale face, fatigue, muscle weakness, amenorrhea, weakness &/or lack of milk after childbirth (Qi & Blood deficiency) = boiled (simmer for a few hours) w/ dang gui & jujube dates

🐔Frequent urination, seminal emission, weak & painful knees, tinnitus (Kidney deficiency) = boiled with equal parts water & rice wine (Livingstone)

🐔Diabetes

🐔 Vaginal bleeding & discharge

🐔Rheumatism - boil 100 grams of pomegranate peel in water with chicken to make soup (Lu)

🐔Classic TCM soup for fatigue = prepare & cut the chicken into small pieces. Fry chicken in a pan, add a little vegetable oil & a few slices of ginger and continue to fry until cooked. Add 3 cups of water & ½ cup of rice wine & boil for 20 minutes. (Lu)

🐔Black boned chicken is considered the best energy tonic food (Lu)

🐔Chicken liver acts on the Liver & Kidneys = tonic = blurred vision, malnutrition in children, habitual miscarriage

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:

🐔 Eating fatty chicken soup may cause diarrhea in those with indigestion or weak digestion.

🐔 Nitrogen compounds in chicken become soluble in soup (creatine, creatinine, & purine) = avoid with gout, gouty arthritis, and high uric acid (avoid drinking soup, eat only the chicken).

🐔 Avoid at the beginning of a cold.

Ashwagandha - Withania somnifera - Smells Like a Horse

• Also known as Winter Cherry - Indian Ginseng - Ajagandha - Kanaje

• Bitter, warm, dry, sweet

• TCM: Tonifies Yang, calms the Shen, calms the Liver, augments Essence, transforms Phlegm, and stops coughing

• Belongs to the nightshade family - those with allergies or sensitivity to nightshades should not take it

• Considered to be Rasayana = tonic for longevity and vitality/vigor

• A calming adaptogen that regulates thyroid (stimulates the thyroid), testes, and adrenal glands, normalizes hormones and physiological functions

• nourishing, building =  relieves weakness and nervous exhaustion, emaciation, malnutrition, chronic fatigue

• promotes healthy sleep cycles, insomnia

• Grounding herb that regulates metabolic processes and stabilizes mood. Test have shown that extracts produce GABA-like activity = produces a calming effect, which makes sense as it is widely used for anxiety

• Often paired with Shatavari (Ashwagandha = Yang tonic - Shatavari = Yin tonic synergistic together)

• Used as an aphrodisiac, to build sexual energy and improve sperm count  (mixed with ghee and honey), infertility

• Rich in iron and used for anemia (mix powder w/ blackstrap molasses)

• Back pain, joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis

• Type II diabetes

• Takes about a month to build up in our system - so its effects won’t likely be noticed right away

Per David Winston-

• It has significant benefits for hyperimmune and hypoimmune function. 

• Used in India as part of protocols for cancer (suppresses tumors and prevents depletion of white blood cells

Per KP Khalsa - 

• chronic heart and vascular disorders, where it is often combined with the famous Terminalia arjuna (arjuna bark)

Per Michael and Lesley Tierra - 

• The leaves are used for hemorrhoids, wounds tumors, sores, rashes, and fever

Per Larken Bunce -  

• Ashwagandha can be uncomfortable for people that aren’t feeling safe or feel too uncomfortable to relax. Of course, we don’t want to force them or contribute to uncomfortable feelings. For these people, she suggests adding in other herbs like damiana or mugwort that have an uplift. 

• Pitta types  = cranky get grumpy on ashwagandha - should give it to them right before bed vs. during the day.

10 Things About American Ginseng →

Ginseng is widely used because people want more energy, stamina, and mental clarity. Often found as an ingredient in an energy shot or soft drink. There are five types of Ginsengs. They share similar properties, however, they aren’t all of the same plant species. Today I am focusing on American Ginseng, and 10 Things to Know about it.

• It is an adaptogen and tonic herb entering the Kidney, Heart, and Lung channels

• From a Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine perspective it Nourishes Yin, Tonifies Qi, Clears Deficient Heat, and Clears Lung Fire. 

• American Ginseng is less stimulating than Panax Ginseng and cool whereas Panax Ginseng is slightly warm.

• CNS (Central Nervous System) suppressant making it useful for insomnia, ADD, and tinnitus.

• It generates fluids aiding in dry mouth, thirst, dry Lungs, hoarse throat, and dry cough with blood. 

• Useful for respiratory conditions wheezing, asthma, and allergies.

• Benefits the digestive system making it helpful for atonic indigestion, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and digestive weakness.

• Helpful in cases of menopause for night sweats, and hot flashes.

• Balances hormones and protects the adrenals. Stress and fatigue, weak adrenals, dark circles under the eyes, catch colds easily.  

• Helps control metabolic syndrome and Type II Diabetes.

• One bonus and unexpected use - jetlag!

Remember, not every herb works for everybody.  Let me know if I can help you determine if American Ginseng might be right for you.

Energy/Taste: slightly bitter, sweet, slightly cool (Tierra) / cold (Bensky) | Channels and Organs affected: Lung, Kidney, Heart | Dosage: 3-6g

References: Chen & Chen,(2012) Chinese Medical Herbology & Pharmacology; Bensky, Clavey, Stoger w/Gamble,(2015) Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica; Michael and Lesley Tierra,(2017) East-West Herb Course Materia Medica; David Winston,(2007) Adaptogens, Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief