Delicious Ways to Use Suoyang (Lock Yang)
Suoyang, known for its numerous health benefits, is an ancient herbal remedy often used in traditional Chinese medicine. This article explores various cooking methods that effectively incorporate suoyang into your diet, promoting wellness and vitality.
Porridge Recipes with Suoyang
Sweet Suoyang Porridge
To prepare Sweet Suoyang Porridge, start by washing the suoyang thoroughly. Place it in a clay pot, add water, and simmer to extract a concentrated essence. After straining out the solids, wash glutinous rice and combine it with an appropriate amount of water in the same pot. Cook over low heat, and when the porridge is nearly ready, mix in the suoyang essence and some sugar for sweetness. This porridge is known for its warming properties and is ideal for addressing symptoms like renal yang deficiency, cold sensitivity, and weakness in the legs.
Nutritive Suoyang Porridge
For Nutritive Suoyang Porridge, soak black beans until soft, remove the cores from lotus seeds, and crush walnut pieces. Wrap the suoyang in a cloth and cook it along with black beans, lotus seeds, and walnuts in a pot until the mixture is tender. Season to taste, whether sweet or savory. This porridge strengthens the kidneys and aids digestion, making it suitable for those suffering from digestive discomfort, cold limbs, or constipation, particularly in elder adults.
Teas and Liquors Featuring Suoyang
Golden Suoyang Medicinal Wine
To create Golden Suoyang Medicinal Wine, slice the suoyang and soak 30 to 50 grams of it in 250 ml of liquor. You may optionally add ingredients like ginseng, goji berries, bamboo leaf, and achyranthes. Let the mixture steep for two weeks before consuming. This wine is believed to invigorate the spleen, enhance the kidneys, and improve circulation, making it an effective remedy for conditions such as kidney weakness and fatigue, as well as rheumatic joint pain.
Suoyang Brown Sugar Drink
For a comforting and warming beverage, simmer the suoyang in water and strain the mixture. Adding an appropriate amount of brown sugar creates Suoyang Brown Sugar Drink, which benefits kidney warmth and aids in digestive health.
Hearty Soups with Suoyang
Suoyang Lamb Soup
In making the Suoyang Lamb Soup, lightly blanch lamb chunks and slice shiitake mushrooms. Combine the lamb, sliced ginger, shiitake mushrooms, and suoyang in a pot, ensuring that water covers all the ingredients. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes before reducing to a low simmer for one hour. Season with salt and rice wine before serving. This soup is perfect for addressing a range of kidney yang deficiencies.
Vitality Boost Soup
Prepare Vitality Boost Soup by making a decoction from suoyang and goji berries. Alternatively, you can place them directly into a pot with lamb, chicken, or duck to cook together. Once cooked, season with salt, MSG, green onions, and minced ginger, and bring to a boil. This soup is excellent for warming and nourishing the body, especially beneficial for those facing symptoms such as nocturnal emissions, erectile dysfunction, or reduced sperm count.
Incorporating suoyang into your diet can promote numerous health benefits. By experimenting with these delicious recipes, you can enjoy not only the flavors but also the wellness that comes from this remarkable herb.