Herbs for the Spleen (Dang Shen 党参）

Dang Shen has the properties of qi tonic, central stimulant, radioprotective, antistress, immunomodulating, and hypotensive, its recent and modern uses include high blood pressure, chronic anemia, and leukemia. Codonopsis is more commonly and traditionally used for general weakness, tiredness, lack of appetitie, chronic diarrhea, asthma, cough, palpitations, shortness of breath, thirst, fever, and diabetes.

Duck Stuffed with Eight Treasures(党参八宝鸭）

Ingredients:
8g of Dang Shen
12g of Tian Dong
12g of Mai Dong
12g of lily bulbs
8g of lotus seeds
8g of fox nuts
15g of Job's tears
glutinous rice
1 duck

Instructions:
1. Gut, scald and rinse duck. Soak glutinous rice in water until soft. Drain.
2. Wash all the other ingredients and soak until soft. Dice finely.
3. Stuff glutinous rice and the ingredients from step 2 inside the duck. Seal the opening with thread.
4. Put the duck into a stewing pot. Add boiling water. Stew over low heat for 3 hours. Season with salt and serve.

Benefits:
Considered as the poor man's ginseng, codonopsis is also known as dangshen. It is frequently used as a ginseng substitute to treat many of the same conditions as ginseng. Its documented use dates back only about three hundred years, but it has since become a highly valued qi tonic of status equal to that of some ancient ones (such as astragalus, ginseng, and jujube). It is frequently used in combination with other herbs or in soup mixes to treat conditions due to Spleen and blood deficiencies as well as damaged qi. It is often used in "energy" formulas for its central stimulant effect as well as in formulas for boosting one's immune system.