Winter Soups for Women to Relieve Stress and Boost Qi and Blood

In the winter, as temperatures drop, various health issues may arise. Therefore, it's essential to pay attention to winter wellness. Many women experience high levels of stress during this season, so how can they boost their Qi and blood? Let's explore some nourishing soups tailored for women in the winter.

Relieve Stress-Related Headaches – Tianma and Pigeon Soup

Ingredients: Pigeon, Tianma (Gastrodia elata), wolfberries, Jinhua ham, lean pork.

Seasonings: Fine salt, ginger slices, whole and ground pepper.

Instructions: Clean the pigeon and place it in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Remove and rinse with water, then drain. Wash the wolfberries, red dates, and ginger. Remove the red date pits and slice the ginger into two pieces. In a pot, add clear water, bring to a boil, then add the ingredients mentioned above. Bring it to a boil again, then simmer over low heat for 3-4 hours.

Tianma is particularly effective for relieving headaches, dizziness, and numbness in limbs, while pigeon meat is rich in nutrients and has a tender texture, making it a favorite among women who experience overwork.

Regulate Menstruation and Boost Blood – Red Date and Black Chicken Soup

Ingredients: Wolfberries, red dates, ginger, black chicken.

Instructions:

Wash the black chicken and blanch it in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove and rinse with water, then drain.

Wash the wolfberries, red dates, and ginger. Remove the pits from the red dates and scrape the skin off the ginger, then cut it into two slices.

In a pot, add water, bring it to a boil, then add the ingredients mentioned above. Bring it to a boil again, then simmer over medium heat for 2-3 hours.

Red dates have been a traditional blood-nourishing food, while black chicken can invigorate Qi and nourish Yin, making it especially suitable for women. It has a certain therapeutic effect on irregular menstruation, and regular consumption can also promote skin beauty.

Clear Heat and Enhance Beauty – Lotus Seed and Lily Soup

Ingredients: Half a pound of lean meat, one or two lotus seeds, five dried lily bulbs, four honey dates, half a slice of ginger.

Instructions: Most lotus seeds and lily bulbs come in dried form. Wash all the ingredients, then place them in a pot along with lean meat. Add six bowls of water and simmer for 3-4 hours until the lotus seeds become tender and the lily bulbs release their flavor.

Lotus seeds are well-known for their nourishing properties, calming the spirit, and reducing blood pressure. Lily bulbs can invigorate the middle burner, replenish Qi, warm the lungs, and stop coughing. When prepared together with lean meat, these ingredients create a flavorful soup that nourishes Qi, strengthens the lungs, promotes beauty, and calms the spirit, all while being quite delicious.

By combining these ingredients, you can have a soup that not only helps regulate Qi and blood but also calms the spirit and lowers blood pressure. It can also assist in treating coughs and phlegm, making it suitable for the respiratory issues commonly seen in winter.

Now that you've learned how to make these winter soups for women to relieve stress and boost Qi and blood, you can easily prepare them at home. Understanding the complementary effects of different foods allows you to harness their nourishing power, promoting a healthier body.