In traditional Chinese medicine in mainland China, motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum are undoubtedly two bright pearls, they play an important role in many traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, and at the same time, they are also the best products for people's daily dietary therapy and health care. Today, let me unveil the mystery of these two "treasures of nature" and see how they can be a golden match to protect our health.
Motherwort, also known as Kuncao, has a bitter and pungent taste, a slight coldness, and returns to the heart, liver, and bladder meridians. It is planted all over the mainland, and its vitality is vigorous, which can be described as "anywhere". Motherwort has the effects of blood circulation and blood stasis, menstrual regulation and pain relief, water dilution and swelling. For female friends, it is an "intimate little padded jacket" for menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum conditioning. Ganoderma lucidum, known as "fairy grass", has a sweet taste, flat nature, and returns to the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidney meridians. It has the effects of tonifying qi and soothing the nerves, relieving cough and asthma, nourishing and strengthening. For modern people with low immunity, fatigue, insomnia, etc., it is a "must-have for health". In the long history of Chinese medicine, motherwort and reishi have extraordinary stories and profound cultural heritage.
Motherwort, also known as Kuncao, is known as "Friend of Women" because of its regulatory effect on women's menstrual cycles. In ancient times, motherwort was often used for postpartum conditioning and to treat women's diseases. According to the "Compendium of Materia Medica", Sun Simiao, a famous medical scientist in the Tang Dynasty, once used motherwort to treat women's leakage symptoms in the "Preparation for Emergency". In addition, there is a popular story about a woman in ancient times who was dying due to a difficult birth, and it happened that a passing herbalist boiled water for her to do, and finally saved her life. Since then, motherwort has been widely used in the folk for postpartum recovery and the treatment of gynecological diseases.
Ganoderma lucidum, also known as fairy grass, has been endowed with many mythological colors since ancient times because of its miraculous effects and difficulty in obtaining. According to the "Shennong's Materia Medica", Ganoderma lucidum is a medicine taken by the gods, which can prolong life and treat all diseases. In many ancient literary works, Ganoderma lucidum is often a treasure of immortals, capable of making people immortal. It is not until modern times that research on Ganoderma lucidum has revealed some of its biological activities, such as enhancing immunity, anti-aging, anti-fatigue, etc., which provide a scientific basis for the miraculous effects of Ganoderma lucidum.
These historical allusions not only add mystery to motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum, but also reflect their important position in the health care of the Chinese nation. To this day, these traditional medicines still play an important role in modern medicine, becoming a bridge between the past and the present, and witnessing the unremitting pursuit of health and longevity.
So, how do motherwort and reishi work together?
1. Serve well with each other
In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum can be described as a "natural pair". Eating the two together can not only improve the nutritional value, but also play a better health care role. For example, you can make chicken soup with motherwort and reishi, which has multiple effects such as regulating menstruation and relieving pain, nourishing and strengthening, and improving immunity.
2. Medicinal diet application
Motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum can also be used in various medicinal diets, such as motherwort Ganoderma lucidum stewed fish soup, suitable for postpartum weakness, menstrual irregularities and other symptoms, motherwort Ganoderma lucidum stewed pigeon, suitable for low immunity, fatigue and other symptoms.
1. Motherwort research data:
According to a 2013 study in the Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, motherwort decoction had a significant anti-inflammatory effect on mice, significantly inhibiting xylene-induced ear swelling in mice and formaldehyde-induced foot swelling in mice. In addition, motherwort also has anticoagulant effect and has a significant inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. [1]
In 2016, a study in the journal Modern Chinese Medicine pointed out that the aqueous extract of motherwort could significantly reduce the uterine fibroid index of rats with uterine fibroids, and at the same time significantly regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in uterine fibroid tissues, speculating that it may exert anti-tumor effects by regulating the apoptosis pathway. [2]
2. Ganoderma lucidum research data:
A 2011 study in the China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information found that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides could significantly improve the immune function of mice, enhance the response of mice to ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation, and increase the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ in the serum of mice. [3]
In 2015, a study in the journal "Chinese Edible Fungi" showed that the aqueous extract of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting body had a significant anti-fatigue effect on mice, which could significantly prolong the swimming time of mice, reduce the lactate content in the serum of mice, and increase the glycogen content in the serum of mice. [4]
3. Dietary health care
In addition to medicinal diet, motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum can also be made into a variety of dietary therapeutic products, such as motherwort Ganoderma lucidum tea, which has the functions of regulating menstruation and relieving pain, calming the nerves and helping sleep, and improving immunity;
So, who is suitable to consume motherwort and reishi?
1. Female friends: especially women with irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum weakness, can consume motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum in moderation to help regulate the body.
2. People with low immunity and fatigue: Ganoderma lucidum has a good nourishing and strengthening effect, and with motherwort, it can improve immunity and relieve fatigue.
3. People with insomnia: Ganoderma lucidum soothes the nerves and helps sleep, combined with motherwort, which helps to improve insomnia symptoms.
4. People who are weak and dizzy: moderate consumption of motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum can regulate the body and improve symptoms.
Finally, let's take a look at how motherwort and reishi are eaten:
1. Motherwort reishi stewed in chicken soup
Ingredients: 500 grams of chicken, 50 grams of motherwort, 10 grams of Ganoderma lucidum, salt to taste.
Method: Wash the chicken, cut into pieces, wash the motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum, put it in a stew pot, add an appropriate amount of water, simmer for 1 hour, add salt to taste.
2. Motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum stewed fish soup
Ingredients: 1 fish, 30 grams of motherwort, 5 grams of Ganoderma lucidum, appropriate amount of salt.
Method: Clean the fish, slice it, wash the motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum, put it in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, simmer for 30 minutes, add salt to taste.
3. Motherwort Ganoderma lucidum tea
Ingredients: 10 grams of motherwort, 5 grams of Ganoderma lucidum, appropriate amount of water.
Method: Wash motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum, put them in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, decoction for 20 minutes, remove the slag and extract the juice, and drink instead of tea.
4. Motherwort reishi stewed pork
Ingredients: 500 grams of pork, 30 grams of motherwort, 10 grams of Ganoderma lucidum, appropriate amount of salt.
Method: Wash the pork, cut into pieces, wash the motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum, put them in a stew pot, add an appropriate amount of water, simmer for 1.5 hours, add salt to taste.
Through the above introduction, I believe you have a deeper understanding of motherwort and Ganoderma lucidum. They are the treasures of traditional Chinese medicine in mainland China, and they are also good food therapy products in our daily life. Moderate consumption can help us regulate the body, improve immunity, and achieve the purpose of health preservation. However, it should be noted that although the diet is good, it should not be excessive, especially for pregnant women, lactating women, and people with special diseases, and should be consumed under the guidance of a doctor. Let's use the treasures of nature to protect our health!