Soups
Codonopsis, Polygonatum and Red Date Soup
Traditionally tonifies qi and blood, supports those with low blood pressure
Why people make this soup
People with low blood pressure often run low on qi and blood too — dizzy, short of breath, tired and weak, with palpitations, poor sleep, vivid dreams, restlessness or forgetfulness. In traditional food therapy, the everyday move is to build up qi and blood with gentle tonic herbs. This soup of codonopsis, Solomon’s seal and red dates is a warm, supportive bowl traditionally taken for exactly that picture — low energy, dizziness, sweating easily, palpitations and broken sleep.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Adults who feel run-down with low blood pressure, dizziness, shortness of breath or palpitations; also suited to those with nervous exhaustion of the qi-and-blood-deficient type
- If you feel dry-mouthed or heaty after drinking it, swap codonopsis for American ginseng (xi yang shen) and add some Solomon’s seal
- For menstruation, swap codonopsis for American ginseng or tai zi shen so it isn’t too warming
- If you have an unresolved cold, mouth ulcers or a fever, hold off on this tonic and see a doctor for serious or persistent symptoms
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Codonopsis (dang shen): a gentle qi tonic, traditionally used to support energy.
- Solomon’s seal (huang jing): traditionally nourishes and is regarded as good for the liver and kidneys.
- Honey-fried licorice (zhi gan cao): harmonises the formula and is traditionally tonifying.
- Red dates (hong zao): traditionally nourish the blood and round out the flavour.
Ingredients (3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Codonopsis (dang shen) | ~37 g | Thin-sliced pieces release flavour more easily |
| Solomon’s seal (huang jing) | ~37 g | Sea-jade-bamboo (hai yu zhu) is a kind of huang jing |
| Honey-fried licorice (zhi gan cao) | ~11 g | Plain licorice can substitute |
| Red dates | 10 | Washed |
Method
- Rinse all ingredients.
- Simmer in 5 bowls of water for about 1 hour until reduced to 3 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup also suits nervous exhaustion of the qi-and-blood-deficient type. You can take one batch a day, with a course running about half a month. If huang jing is hard to find abroad, hai yu zhu (a relative) works, or just leave it out; plain licorice can stand in for the honey-fried kind. For better sleep, adding 3 qian each of schisandra (wu wei zi) and sour jujube seed (suan zao ren) is associated with calming and helping rest.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Mrs Chan): My daughter has low blood pressure and favism (G6PD deficiency). Can she drink this soup? Bro Niu: Yes — this soup is fine for people with favism and low blood pressure.
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Q (Mrs Chan): Can the codonopsis be swapped for American ginseng, and is the soup okay during menstruation? Bro Niu: Switch the codonopsis to American ginseng or tai zi shen and it won’t be so heaty — that version can be taken during menstruation.
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Q (Yee): I have low blood pressure but this soup made me very dry-mouthed and heaty. What can I cook instead? Bro Niu: Use American ginseng in place of codonopsis, and adding 3 qian of Solomon’s seal (yu zhu) is even better.
Published October 16, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
