Nourilo

Home-Style Dishes

He Shou Wu, Goji and Four-Herb Chicken Stew

traditionally used to nourish liver blood, support healthy hair and complexion

By · Registered Nutritionist & TCM Practitioner

Prep
20 min
Cook
3 hr
Total
3 hr 20 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Skin & Natural BeautyLiver WellnessEnergy & VitalityBlood NourishmentEveryday Balance
He Shou Wu, Goji and Four-Herb Chicken Stew

Why people make this stew

Some signs that tend to appear earlier than expected — a dull complexion, premature grey strands, hair that lacks body, a general flatness of energy, or joints that feel less comfortable than they should — can point, in the framework of traditional Chinese food therapy, to what practitioners call liver blood deficiency. The classic four-herb formula, si wu tang, has been used for centuries in this context: dong quai to move and nourish blood, white peony to gently soften and regulate, sichuan lovage to promote circulation, and rehmannia to provide deep nourishment. In this stew, that classic base is enhanced with he shou wu (the herb most closely associated in Chinese tradition with hair darkening and kidney-liver support) and goji berries. The result is a rich, double-boiled stew with a distinctive herbal aroma and a flavour that is more pleasant than you might expect from such a medicinal-looking ingredient list.

Members only

Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips

One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,303 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.

  • Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,303 recipes
  • Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
  • One-time payment via PayPal · no subscription, no renewals

Checking your access…

Frequently asked questions

What is this stew traditionally used for?

This stew is traditionally used to nourish liver blood and support healthy hair and complexion. It combines the classic four-herb formula si wu tang with he shou wu and goji berries, and is traditionally used by people experiencing premature greying, hair thinning, fatigue, dull complexion, and signs of early ageing commonly associated with liver blood deficiency in Chinese food therapy.

What role does he shou wu play in this recipe?

He shou wu is the herb most closely associated in Chinese tradition with hair darkening and kidney-liver support. In this stew, it enhances the classic si wu tang base alongside goji berries to add deeper nourishment.

Is this stew suitable if I tend to heat up easily or develop breakouts after rich tonic soups?

The recipe suggests that if you tend to heat up easily or develop breakouts after taking rich tonic soups, you should start with half the herb quantities and see how your body responds before increasing.

Are there any ingredients women with uterine fibroids should adjust?

Women with uterine fibroids are advised to remove dong quai from the recipe and add a few pieces of longan instead, as dong quai has a blood-moving action that is best avoided with fibroids. The soup remains nourishing with this substitution.

How much does this recipe make, and how long does it take?

The stew yields approximately 0.9 to 1.2 litres of broth. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare and 3 hours to double-boil, or 2 hours if simmered in a regular pot with 2.4 litres of water.

You might also like

Related recipes

More home-style dishes →

Comments

Loading comments…