Dates are warm in nature and sweet in taste, rich in protein, fat, calcium, sugar, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and abundant vitamins. Additionally, they contain carotene and other nutrients, making them very nutritious.
I. Dates have the effects of tonifying the spleen, nourishing blood, and calming the spirit.
Take a decoction of dates with water after dinner; or cook them with lily bulb into a congee. Drinking the soup and eating the dates before bed can help you fall asleep faster. Use 1000 grams of fresh dates, wash them, remove the pits, and mash the flesh. Add an appropriate amount of water and simmer over low heat. Filter the juice, mix it with 500 grams of honey, and heat until well-blended to make a date paste. Store it in a bottle for later use. Take 15 ml each time, twice a day. A continuous course can help prevent and treat insomnia.
II. To preserve youth, remove freckles, and beautify the body.
10 dates, 15 grams of black fungus, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar. Wash the dates, soak them in clean water for about 2 hours, then remove and pit them. Soak the black fungus in water until it expands, then clean it. Place the dates and black fungus in a steaming bowl, add an appropriate amount of water and rock sugar, and steam for about 1 hour. Take once after breakfast and once after dinner daily. This can help nourish deficiency and enrich the blood. It is suitable for those with a pale complexion due to blood deficiency, palpitations, and anemia. For healthy individuals, it serves a health-preserving effect of nourishing the blood and strengthening the body. Regular consumption can preserve youth, remove freckles, beautify the body, and help treat facial dark spots and emaciation. Note: Those with damp-phlegm and food stagnation should not eat too much.
III. Functions to enrich the blood, regulate menstruation, invigorate blood to relieve pain, and moisten the intestines to relieve constipation.
15 grams of Angelica sinensis, 50 grams of dates, 20 grams of white sugar, and 50 grams of japonica rice. First, soak the Angelica sinensis in warm water for a moment, then add 200 grams of water to decoct it down to 100 grams of concentrated juice. Remove the dregs and keep the juice. Cook the japonica rice, dates, and white sugar with an appropriate amount of water in the juice until the congee is ready. Take it warm in the morning and evening daily for 10 days as one course of treatment. This congee has the functions of enriching the blood, regulating menstruation, invigorating blood to relieve pain, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. It is suitable for conditions like qi and blood deficiency, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, blood-deficiency headaches, dizziness, and constipation.
IV. Effects to moisten the lungs, strengthen the spleen, relieve cough, nourish the five organs, and treat deficiency and damage.
50 grams of dates, 100 grams of black fungus, and an appropriate amount of white sugar. Clean the fungus, remove impurities, and cut into small pieces. Pit the dates and put them in a pot with an appropriate amount of water. Cook until the dates and fungus are tender, then add white sugar to taste and serve. According to herbal records, dates have the effects of moistening the lungs, strengthening the spleen, relieving cough, nourishing the five organs, and treating deficiency and damage. When paired with the nourishing and strengthening black fungus, its tonifying, nourishing, blood-invigorating, and skin-beautifying effects are enhanced. Regular consumption can make the complexion rosy and restore a youthful appearance. This soup is especially beneficial for women.
V. To make the complexion fair and tender, the skin smooth, and reduce wrinkles.
500 grams of ginger, 250 grams of dates, 100 grams of salt, 150 grams of licorice root, 25 grams of cloves, and 25 grams of agarwood. Pound them all into a coarse powder, mix well, and set aside. Take 15-25 grams each time, decoct in the morning or steep in water as a tea substitute, several times a day. This tea has the effects of tonifying the spleen, nourishing the blood, strengthening the stomach, calming the spirit, and relieving depression. Long-term use makes the complexion fair and tender, the skin smooth, and reduces wrinkles.
VI. Health preservation and disease prevention.
50 grams of dates, 100 grams of japonica rice, and 15 grams of chrysanthemum. Put them in a pot with an appropriate amount of water. Cook until thick, then add an appropriate amount of brown sugar to taste. This remedy has the effects of strengthening the spleen and enriching the blood, and clearing the liver to brighten the eyes. Long-term consumption can make the facial complexion rosy and serve a health-preserving and disease-preventing role.
VII. To nourish and soften the skin, making it bright, fair, and smooth.
20 grams of dates, 20 grams of Job's tears, 15 grams of ginkgo nuts (shelled and peeled), and 10 grams of longan pulp. Put them in a pot and cook for 40 minutes. Then add 6 shelled, cooked quail eggs and cook for another half an hour. Add an appropriate amount of brown or rock sugar to taste. This soup has the effects of nourishing the heart, clearing damp-toxins, and strengthening the spleen and stomach. Regular consumption can help reduce the occurrence of acne, pimples, and flat warts, making the skin nourished, smooth, bright, and fair.
In addition, dates also have anti-allergic, anti-cancer, hypotension-lowering, and liver-protecting effects.