DIY Herbal Remedy for an energy boost - Aunt Ann's Ginseng Soup, a family recipe

​Kristen Chew, a multi disciplinary healer here at DeHart Studios, has graciously shared one of her families secrets!
​
This recipe for Ginseng Soup was passed down from my Aunt Ann, and was recently shared with me at her celebration of life luncheon. While not technically my aunt, but my cousin’s po-po (paternal grandmother), Aunt Ann was just like a grandmother to me, as she and my Uncle Mert lived only a short walk from our house growing up. At the luncheon, I was talking with my cousin, an attorney who recently relocated from LA to Arizona. She had just taken the Arizona Bar Exam only 2 days after Aunt Ann's passing, and was anxiously awaiting her results. She mentioned that when she took the California State Bar years ago, po-po had given her a recipe for Ginseng “soup" (really more of a sweet tea) and advised her to drink it instead of coffee to help give her the energy and stamina to study for long hours, yet still sleep well at night, and to help relieve some of her anxiety around studying. Like a good grandchild, she listened, made the soup, and indeed she did pass the California Bar! While studying for the Arizona Bar this year, she decided that again, she had to make po-po’s special ginseng soup. (And in case you are wondering, yes, she did pass once again!)


The recipe includes some common Chinese herbs, including ginseng (ren shen), red dates (hong zao), black dates (da zao), and codonopsis root (dang shen) which is more commonly known as poor man's ginseng. Below is the original recipe as written.

Ginseng Soup

40 red dates
14 black dates
5 codonopsis pilosulae
4 ginseng root
​

• Wash dates
• Soak ginseng and codonopsis root in hot water over
• night and clean off any dirt
• Slice ginseng and codonopsis root
• Put 4 qt water. Bring to boil. Simmer for 3 hours.

* Note that this recipe makes a large amount, and only 1/4 or 1/2 the recipe is enough to last a few days or even up to a week. I also recommend cutting open both the red and black dates before cooking in order to extract the full therapeutic benefits from the fruit. Store the cooked soup in the refrigerator to keep it fresh as long as possible. 
Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry, CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., 2004.

Having just gotten married this past June to my wonderful husband, I have found that the year long process of planning my dream wedding had left me more stressed out and run down than I had realized, and getting back to feeling like me again was taking longer than anticipated. Just a few weeks ago, I decided to try Aunt Ann’s Ginseng Soup recipe. After all, if it could help my cousin to pass the bar twice, it could certainly help me to recover and regain my energy again. …and in fact, I am drinking the soup at this very moment, and feeling optimistic that I am well on my way to returning to normalcy.


Therapeutic Benefits, Cautions and Contraindications

Hong Zao (red dates) / Da Zao (black dates)

• Red and black dates have the same general therapeutic effects. However, red dates are stronger at tonifying Qi, and black dates are stronger at nourishing Blood and calming the spirit.
• 
Therapeutic Benefits:    
• Treats Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency characterized by fatigue, lack of appetite, loose stools and shortness of breath.
• Treats Blood deficiency characterized by pale appearance, pale nails, dizziness, blurry vision, scanty menstruation and amenorrhea.
• Calms the Spirit to treat irritability, insomnia and emotional instability.
• Cautions/Contraindications:     
• May create dampness, phlegm and heat. Contraindicated in cases of excess dampness, excess heat and hot phlegm. Excessive use is not recommended due to the high sugar content.

Dang Shen (codonopsis pilosulae, "poor man's ginseng")

• Therapeutic Benefits:    
• Treats Spleen Qi deficiency characterized by fatigue, lack of appetite, weak extremities, loose stool, and prolapse of the uterus, stomach or rectum.
• Treats Lung Qi deficiency characterized by chronic cough, wheezing and shortness of breath, all worse with exertion.
• Cautions/Contraindications:         
• Use with caution in cases of excessive heat.

Ren Shen (ginseng root)

• Therapeutic Benefits:        
• Strengthens the body and restores vitality.
• Tonifies Source (Yuan) Qi, which may be depleted after excessive loss of blood or body fluids.
• Treats Spleen Qi deficiency characterized by fatigue, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, loose stool, and stomach or rectal prolapse.
• Treats Lung Qi deficiency characterized by shortness of breath, dyspnea, asthma and spontaneous sweating.
• Generates body fluids and alleviates thirst due to Qi and Yin deficiency.
• Benefits Heart Qi to calm the spirit and improve mental function. Used for insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, anxiety and forgetfulness.  
• Cautions/Contraindications:     
• Contraindicated in cases of bleeding due to heat in the blood, red eyes and dizziness due to Liver Yang rising, wheezing and cough due to Lung Heat or Phlegm accumulation, constipation, parasites, internal heat conditions. Avoid high doses of caffeine or other stimulants.

---

Kristen Chew is available for acupuncture, bodywork and herbal consultations on Thursday evenings, Fridays and Sunday mornings

Schedule a session