"Eat this . . . it is good for you" said Grandmama.

It has been a month now since Jakob's birth.  This last recipe will conclude the discussion of food and recipes for new mothers during the confinement period which last for 100 days or at least 2 months.

The key ingredient today is placenta.  Yes . . . it is placenta.  I can just imagine some of you might be turning way from the screen or just about dry reaching or gagging.  Some reader might have just redecorated the wall with their projectile vomit by this time.  I am trying hard now not to laugh, but  the 'visual' keep playing inside my head.

Try to put aside that image and focus on the facts and logic behind this ingredient.  The composition of placenta is complex.  It contains amino acids, protein, vitamins, minerals such as iron, enzymes and hormones.  Ingestion of placenta is not a new practice.  It has been used and still in practice by some cultures across the globe.

Dried placenta is a herb used in Chinese Herbal Medicine as a Yang-Tonic.  Originally human placenta is used but now replaced with cattle and/or pig placentas.

The placenta for this recipe is of animal, NOT from the new mother's.  However it is almost impossible to get hold onto any placenta, unless you might know some farmers might just be able to save you one.

Cook the placenta as you would with a chook or any given red meat.

1 fresh placenta - washed and cleaned.  Cut to pieces then blanched in hot water.

2 thumb size brown skin ginger - peeled and julienne.

30g Astragalus (Huang Qi)

10g Chinese Wolfberries (Gou Qi Zi)

10 pieces Chinese red dates

5g dried Mandarin Peel (Chen Pi)

2 L water

Tamari or salt to taste

Method:

1. Placed all ingredients in a pot then bring to boil.  Lowered heat to simmer for 2 hours.
2. Season with tamari or salt.  Serve hot with rice.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Placenta - Tonifies the Kidney Essence, Tonifies Blood and Raise Yang.
2. Huang Qi - Tonifies Qi and raise Yang, Tonifies Defensive (Wei) Qi, promote wound healing and reduces oedema.
3. Chinese Red Dates - Nourish Blood and sooth the mind, Tones Middle Burner Qi.
4. Gou Qi Zi -  Tonifies the Kidneys and benefits the Essence, nourish the Liver and brighten the eyes, moisten the Lungs.
5. Chen Pi - Regulate Qi of Spleen and Stomach by removing qi stasis causing qi to rebel upwards in the Middle Burner.

Precautions and Contraindications:

1. This recipe is Warm in nature and very beneficial to weak new mother after child birth or new mother has weak constitution.

IMPORTANT:  This recipe uses of herbs at higher dose.

You must consult your local TCM practitioner if you wish to try to make this medicinal soup for yourself.  Fail to do so may result in harm to your well being.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.
 

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

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