What does everyone reach for when they're feeling low? Soup! Well, maybe you answered mashed potatoes or grilled cheese or chocolate cake, so let's ask another question. What should everyone reach for when they're feeling low? SOUP! I really try not to "should" anyone, but when your immune system is challenged or you've had an exceptionally draining week there really is no comparison between grilled cheese and soup. By all means, have grilled cheese with your soup, but have the soup. Specifically, have this soup, or something like it. The only downside of this soup is that it is full of things you might not recognize, but will grow to love. Here's the ingredient list: Astragalus, Reishi, Tumeric, Job's Tears barley, Goji Berries, Black sesame seeds, Lily bulb, Longan fruit, Lotus Seed and Tremella fungus. So here's the test--if you recognized all of those ingredients, you should be very comfortable with making and eating this. If you recognized more than half, you'll be just fine getting to know the rest. If you recognized less than a third, its time to put on your adventure hat and explore herbal medicine through soup, and maybe have a grilled cheese on hand just in case it's too-ahem-different for you. Most of the ingredients are pretty bland, so you'll want to spice it up with veggies you know and love anyway and a great broth. How about potatoes, carrots, celery and your protein of choice? So, maybe you're asking why you should bother with this mix to begin with, seeing as how you'll be adding normal soup ingredients anyway. Good question! Here goes:
Astragalus: Huang Qi in pinyin (anglicized Chinese), astragalus has demonstrated numerous times in controlled studies its ability to increase the number of white blood cells and other immune modulating chemicals (like interleukins) in the body. Take a look at this study's abstract studying the effects of TaiJi alone or TaiJi plus astragalus soup in elderly women! So there's no more perfect herb to add to your soup than this one to increase the number of immune boosting cells in your body when you think you're susceptible to a cold or flu. Unfortunately, even though this is great to boil in your soup mix, it's a bit too woody to chew, so we recommend taking it out before eating.
Reishi: So you've heard how good mushrooms are for you, right? Reishi, or Ling Zhi in pinyin is like the king of all immune modulating mushrooms, and has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. Take a look at this in depth review of this amazing herb!
Tumeric: aka Jiang Huang--The only thing you need to convince you to eat Tumeric, the spice often found in Indian curries is that it is also known as Curcumin: "Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, anti fungal, and anticancer activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronic illnesses." Quoted from here. Enough said!
So, these three herbs are our powerhouses of our soup mix. I mean, these things alone will probably convince you that you need to eat this soup immediately, no matter how it tastes. These three things are also difficult to chew, so please take them out of your soup before you eat it. The rest of these herbs are completely edible once they are cooked, so let's go on!
Goji Berries and Longan fruit:These two super fruits, also known as Gou Qi Zi and Long Yan Rou help balance out the often bitter undertones of medicinal herbs with their sweetness, and also lend their blood building properties to the soup. Blood building, in Chinese medicine means both adding vitamins and minerals to your body as well as increasing your digestive capabilities so that you get more from all the food you eat. Goji berries are also known to increase eye health and Longan fruit is also used to relax the nerves.
Black Sesame seeds: Just like regular sesame seeds but a different color, these little guys, call them Hei Zhi Ma in Chinese, are packed with magnesium, calcium and vitamin B1 (thiamin). They are used in herbal formulas to darken and strengthen hair and to reinforce your kidney qi. They are also delicious.
Lotus Seed: Lian Zi benefits the spleen and kidneys, astringing loose stools and providing protein as well as protein-repairing agents called L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase. Here is a lovely article expounding on their benefits from the Institute of Traditional Medicine here in Portland.
Lily Bulb: So, sometime in the summer, depending on how the weather goes, you might have in your garden or see in your neighbors those giant lilys with the big bright petals and the very fragrant pollen. This bulb of that big beautiful flower, called Bai He, is used for nourishing your lungs. In small amounts it can treat or prevent colds and flus from damaging your lung tissue, and in larger amounts it is used for chronic asthma and bronchitis.
Job's tears: A form of barley, Yi Yi Ren or Job's tears are used to leach dampness out of your body (think phlegm and mucous). They are also a mind digestive stimulant. It is very similar to pearl barley, though a little larger.
Tremella fungus: Ok, many people probably look at the word "fungus" and cringe a little. So, let's call it by its lovelier name Silver Ear mushroom or Bai Mu Er. But, really, it's one of the nicest, mildest herbs in this soup. In other recipes it is sweetened and made into a custard like dessert. It is used as a qi and immune tonic, and is especially useful for repairing lungs damaged by an upper respiratory infection, or preventing one. It contains a fair amount of Vitamin D, more than most foods (Vitamin D is the one your body synthesizes when you get enough sun). It is often also touted as an "ancient beauty secret" for your skin. Oh my gosh, will the benefits of this soup never end?!
So by now I bet you're convinced you need this in your life! It's a little more spendy than regular soup, so I bet you're asking when is the best time to take it. Take it when you are feeling run down by stress, when you are recovering from a cold, flu, or chronic illness, or take it between seasons to prevent illness in the following season. You can use the contents of the jar to make one to several batches, depending on how dense you like your soup and how severe your illness is. Come by the shop to pick up a jar, or visit our online store and we'll send it out to you!
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