Common Medicinal Herbs for Soups
Yuzhu: Nourishes Yang, moistens dryness, promotes fluid production, and clears heat.
Chuanbei: Moistens the heart and lungs, clears heat-phlegm.
Baihe: Tonifies the liver and lungs, clears heat, and benefits the spleen. (Soak in clear water for 1 hour)
Zhizhu: Clears the lungs, tonifies the spleen, moistens dryness, and transforms phlegm. (Soak in clear water for 10 minutes, cut into 4cm pieces, cook for no more than 30 minutes)
Xiacao grass: Clears liver heat, lowers blood pressure. (Cook for no more than 2 hours)
Shengdi: Cools the blood, detoxifies, promotes urination.
Luohanguo: Moistens the lungs and intestines.
Old Amaranth stalks: Detoxifies, clears heat, nourishes blood to stop bleeding, and promotes urination. (Available at Chinese herbal shops, wash and cut into short pieces)
Baiguo: Tonifies lung Qi. (Remove the shell, blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes, remove, peel, and remove the core)
Qianshi: Tonifies the kidneys to secure essence, strengthens the spleen to stop diarrhea.
Wuhuaguo: Moistens the lungs, clears the throat, strengthens the stomach, and cleanses the intestines. (Slice before use)
Zhuzhe: Moistens dryness, harmonizes the stomach, clears heat and detoxifies, and can remove gamey flavors from meats like snake.
Tulingling: Clears heat, removes dampness, detoxifies, and promotes urination.
Danggui: Tonifies and invigorates blood, regulates menstrination, and alleviates pain.
Tianma: Expels wind, and calms convulsions.
Dongchongxiacao: Tonifies deficiency, replenishes Qi essence, and transforms phlegm.
Molihua: Refreshes the mind, clears deficiency heat, and dispels cold accumulation.
Xueha: Nourishes the kidneys, tonifies the lungs, and strengthens the spleen. (Soak in clear water for 5 hours, blanch in water with scallion and ginger for 5 minutes, then transfer to a steaming pot and cook for 1.5 hours)