First, Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that one should nourish Yang in spring and summer, and nourish Yin in autumn and winter. Goji berries enter the liver and kidney meridians, and have the effects of nourishing Yin and blood, tonifying the liver and kidneys, and benefiting essence and improving eyesight. Secondly, in autumn and winter, the skin becomes dry, and goji berries have beautifying, skin-moisturizing, and anti-aging effects. Finally, as the weather turns cool, eating more warming goji berries can boost your body's Yang energy and resist the cold.
It should be noted that while goji berries are nourishing, they also have a warming effect on the body. Therefore, people with internal damp-heat and phlegm-damp obstruction, who exhibit symptoms like high blood pressure, a irritable and quick-tempered personality, a flushed face from eating a lot of meat, or those with a cold, fever, inflammation, or diarrhea, should best avoid them, as it may worsen their condition.
Chicken and Chinese Yam Soup
Ingredients: One free-range chicken, one Chinese yam, a small handful of goji berries, scallions and ginger, cooking wine, salt
Instructions:
1. After slaughtering the chicken, clean the cavity thoroughly, chop it into small pieces. Wash the scallions and ginger, slice the ginger, and tie the scallions into knots.
2. Place the chopped chicken pieces in a pot, add enough cold water, and bring to a boil.
3. Skim off the foam.
4. Add one tablespoon of cooking wine.
5. Add the ginger slices and scallion knots.
6. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes. (Because I'm using a cast iron pot, it saves time compared to a regular pot. If using a clay pot or another type of pot, you'll need to extend the simmering time).
7. Peel the Chinese yam and cut it into small pieces, add to the pot, cover, and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.
8. Rinse the goji berries with clean water, add them to the pot with the lid off, cover again, and simmer for another 10 minutes. Uncover, add salt to taste, and it's ready.