Herbs for the Heart - Huang Qi （黄芪）

Huang Qi is sweet and warm in nature. It tonifies the Qi in the internal organs (ie lungs). It treats oedema and promotes the growth of new tissues.

Frying Huang Qi with rice helps strengthen the Qi. Honey-fried Huang Qi tonifies the Qi in the internal organs and eases anxiety. Huang Qi strengthens the immune system and the Heart, lowers the blood pressure and protects the liver.

Pigeon Soup with Bei Qi(北芪补气汤）

Ingredients:
12g of Bei Qi (北芪）
38g of Dang Shen （党参）
3 red dates （红枣）
Pigeon Meat （老鸽）
12g of Qi Zi （杞子）

Instructions:
1. Gut the pigeon, put it into boiling water for a minute, rinse and drain it of the water.
2. Remove the shell of red dates and wash the ingredients.
3. Place all the ingredients into a pot. Add water and bring it to boil. Cook over high heat for 10 minutes. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 2 hours. Season with salt and serve.

Benefits:
It cures Qi-anthesia of the internal organs, blood-anthesia, fatigue and cold-sweating.


Other Cooking Practices:
1. For those with depletion of Qi in the internal organs, diarrhoea, rectal prolapse and gastroptosis: add ginseng. Chai Hu（柴胡） and Sheng Ma （升麻）.

2. For those with deficiency of vital energy and anemia, yellow complexion and fatigue: add Dang Gui （当归）, ginseng （人参） and fried Di Huang （熟地）.

3. For those who sweat voluntarily and those who catch flu easily: add Bai Zhu （白术） and Fang Feng （防风）to the recipe.

4. For those with deficiency of vital energy and loss of body fluid, heat-accumulation and sever thirst: add raw Di Huang (生地）, Huai Shan (淮山）, Mai Dong （麦冬）, Tian Hua Fen （天花粉）.

Warning:
It's suitable for people with Yin-asthenia. But those who have exuberant Yang should not drink this soup.