Chinese yam is sweet in taste, neutral in nature, and non-toxic, and it is associated with the spleen, lung, and kidney meridians. According to the ancient medical book "Compendium of Materia Medica," Chinese yam has tonic effects such as replenishing qi in the middle jiao, strengthening muscles, and invigorating the spleen. Many people love to eat Chinese yam in their daily lives. Women who often consume it can nourish yin, supplement the kidneys, and delay aging. Besides these benefits, what other advantages does Chinese yam have? Let's find out together!
I. Benefits of Eating Chinese Yam
1. Boosting Immunity
Chinese yam contains various vitamins that can help regulate abnormal human lipid metabolism and quickly eliminate waste produced in the body. It can also enhance immunity and prevent diseases. Chinese yam is also rich in various minerals, such as trace elements like iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and calcium, which can supplement iron, calcium, and zinc.
2. Beauty and Skin Care
Chinese yam contains a variety of substances, such as free amino acids, polyphenol oxidase, vitamin C, iodine, and 16 types of amino acids. Amino acids can repair damaged cells and factors, so it has excellent beauty benefits.
3. Lowering Blood Pressure
Many well-known traditional Chinese medicines, such as Liuwei Dihuang Wan, Bawei Dihuang Wan, and Guishao Dihuang Wan, all include Chinese yam as an ingredient. Chinese yam can not only be used to treat kidney deficiency but also for conditions like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, neurasthenia, and lower back pain.
Donggui Chinese Yam and Lamb Soup
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4. Anti-Tumor Effects
The tuber of Chinese yam contains a lot of sugar, which has a stimulating and regulatory effect on the human immune system. Therefore, it is a good health product for regulating immunity. Chinese yam polysaccharide can counteract the cellular immune suppression caused by cyclophosphamide, partially or fully restoring the suppressed cellular immune function. Chinese yam can also promote the phagocytic action of white blood cells. For example, Guishao Dihuang Wan can treat ear pain, tinnitus, and spontaneous sweating due to yin deficiency. Zhibai Dihuang Wan can treat ankylosing spondylitis and gynecological issues like fetal leakage, genital itching, and amenorrhea due to hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency. Liuwei Dihuang Wan can treat chronic nephritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, neurasthenia, and other conditions.
5. Anti-Aging
Scientific research has shown that Chinese yam can reduce the activity of enzymes that accelerate the aging of the body. Bawei Dihuang Wan, which contains Chinese yam, is mainly used to treat persistent postpartum sweating. Baoyuan Qingjiang Tang and Baoyuan Hanjiang Tang can be used to treat hematemesis and epistaxis. Hanlin Tang and Gaolin Tang can be used to treat strangury. Chinese yam can also treat tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and women's diseases, all of which are beneficial for prolonging life.
6. Treating Skin Diseases
Chinese yam contains allantoin, which has anesthetic and analgesic effects. It can promote epidermal growth, reduce inflammation, and inhibit bacteria, and is often used to treat chapped hands and feet, ichthyosis, and various keratinizing skin diseases.
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II. Methods to Tonify the Kidneys with Chinese Yam
(A) Rose Chinese Yam Porridge
Ingredients: 200g Chinese yam, 100g coix seed, 5g rose petals, 20g red dates, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Method:
1. First, wash and peel the Chinese yam, then cut it into small pieces. Wash the other ingredients and set them aside.
2. Heat water in a pot, add the coix seeds, and simmer over low heat after the water boils. After 30 minutes, add the Chinese yam, red dates, and rose petals, and continue to simmer over low heat until the ingredients are soft. Then, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar, and the rose Chinese yam porridge is ready.
(B) Chinese Yam and Goji Berry Soup
Ingredients: 30g Chinese yam, 20g goji berries, 100g lamb, 15g cowherb seed.
Method:
1. Wash and cut the lamb. Then, put all the ingredients into a pot.
2. Add an appropriate amount of water and stew for about 1 hour. Then, add seasonings to taste.
Crispy Chinese Yam
(C) Braised Chicken with Chinese Yam
Ingredients: 1 free-range chicken, 5 Chinese yams, a handful of goji berries, appropriate amounts of salt, green onion, ginger, cooking wine, and water.
Method:
1. For the chicken and Chinese yam soup, peel the Chinese yam and immediately soak it in water to prevent oxidation. Wash the free-range chicken, drain, and cut into large pieces.
2. Place the chicken in a cold pot, bring to a boil over high heat, add some cooking wine, and continue to boil for 2 minutes. Skim off the foam. Remove the chicken and rinse with warm water to remove any foam and impurities from the surface.
3. Put the washed chicken pieces into a clay pot, add enough hot water at once, and bring to a boil over high heat. Skim off any remaining foam, add green onions and ginger, then reduce the heat and simmer slowly for about 40 minutes.
4. Add the Chinese yam cut into large pieces and continue to simmer over low heat. Simmer until the Chinese yam is soft. Season with salt, and in the last 5 minutes, add the washed goji berries.
(D) Chinese Yam and Lamb Soup
Ingredients: 500g lamb, 1 carrot, 1 Chinese yam, green onion, salt, pepper, Sichuan peppercorns, cooking wine, ginger slices.
Method:
1. Cut the lamb into small pieces, the carrot into large chunks, and the peeled Chinese yam into large chunks.
2. Place the lamb in a cold pot of water, blanch, and then remove.
3. In another clay pot, add boiling water, then add the blanched lamb, green onions, ginger slices, cooking wine, and Sichuan peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 hour.
4. Add the Chinese yam, carrot, and an appropriate amount of salt, and continue to simmer for 20 minutes. Finally, sprinkle with a little pepper.
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