Nourishing Your Liver and Spleen A Comprehensive Chinese Medicine Diet Guide for Balanced Health

In the realm of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the liver and spleen are considered two of the most crucial organs for overall health. The liver is responsible for filtering blood and storing energy, while the spleen is in charge of transforming food into energy and maintaining blood sugar levels. When these organs are not functioning optimally, it can lead to a range of health issues. To help you maintain a healthy liver and spleen, we have compiled a comprehensive diet guide featuring an array of Chinese medicine recipes.

1. Liver-Spleen Nourishing Soup

Ingredients:

- 1 chicken breast, boneless and skinless

- 50g of goji berries

- 30g of Chinese dates (dried)

- 10g of astragalus root

- 10g of codonopsis root

- 1 liter of water

Instructions:

- Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces.

- In a pot, bring the water to a boil and add the chicken, goji berries, Chinese dates, astragalus root, and codonopsis root.

- Simmer the mixture for about 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender and the flavors have melded together.

- Strain the soup and serve warm.

This soup is rich in nutrients and helps to nourish both the liver and spleen, improving energy levels and boosting the immune system.

2. Spleen-Soothing Stewed Pork with Chinese Herbs

Ingredients:

- 300g of lean pork, cut into thin slices

- 10g of atractylodes (baizhu)

- 10g of codonopsis (dangshen)

- 10g of fresh ginger, sliced

- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce

- 1 tablespoon of cooking wine

- Salt to taste

Instructions:

- In a pot, bring water to a boil and blanch the pork slices for 1 minute, then drain.

- In a separate pot, combine the atractylodes, codonopsis, ginger, soy sauce, cooking wine, and salt.

- Add the pork slices to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil.

- Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the pork is tender.

- Serve warm.

This stewed pork dish helps to soothe the spleen, improve digestion, and enhance appetite.

3. Liver-Protecting Braised Duck with Astragalus

Ingredients:

- 1 whole duck, cleaned and quartered

- 10g of astragalus root

- 5g of scutellaria baicalensis (huangqin)

- 10g of fresh ginger, sliced

- 1 tablespoon of cooking wine

- Salt to taste

Instructions:

- In a large pot, bring water to a boil and blanch the duck quarters for about 5 minutes, then drain.

- In a separate pot, combine the astragalus root, scutellaria baicalensis, ginger, cooking wine, and salt.

- Add the duck quarters to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil.

- Reduce heat and simmer for about 1.5 hours, or until the duck is tender.

- Serve warm.

This dish helps to protect the liver, boost immunity, and alleviate fatigue.

4. Spleen-Building Rice Porridge with Black Sesame

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of white rice

- 1/2 cup of black sesame seeds

- 5g of atractylodes (baizhu)

- 10g of codonopsis (dangshen)

- 10g of fresh ginger, sliced

- 1 liter of water

Instructions:

- Rinse the white rice and black sesame seeds thoroughly.

- In a pot, bring the water to a boil and add the rice, black sesame seeds, atractylodes, codonopsis, and ginger.

- Simmer the mixture for about 30 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the flavors have melded together.

- Serve warm.

This rice porridge is rich in nutrients and helps to build the spleen, improve digestion, and increase energy levels.

Incorporating these liver-spleen nourishing recipes into your diet can help maintain a healthy balance of these vital organs. Remember to consult with a TCM practitioner or a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.