Chinese Yam, Wolfberry, Longan and Velvet Antler Stew

Why people make this dish

As people age, the body’s warming energy tends to decline — the heart may not pump with the same vigour, and circulation to the extremities can falter. Cold hands and feet that never quite warm up, persistent aching in the lower back, and a general lack of physical vitality are all common complaints. Traditional Chinese food therapy addresses this pattern — called yang deficiency — with warming, tonifying ingredients. Velvet antler (lu rong) is one of the most prized of these, but it is genuinely potent: unlike a simple warming soup, it can cause “internal heat” (shang huo) in some people. Nourilo suggests pairing it with gentler, balancing herbs like Chinese yam, wolfberries, longan, and honey dates rather than with stimulating herbs like ginseng, precisely to make it accessible and well-tolerated. The result is a nourishing broth that supports vitality without being too forceful.