Dietary therapy for clearing liver heat, reducing lipids, and tonifying deficiency: In-depth analysis and application guide of Chicken Bone Grass, Lingzhi, and Jujube Soup

Fat metabolism comprises two parts: fat synthesis and fat breakdown. The former refers to the function of synthesizing fat, while the latter refers to the function of breaking down fat. If the body's fat synthesis metabolism is excessively active, it will be easy to gain weight and difficult to lose it. Since the conversion of calories mainly occurs in the liver, if the liver function is in a state of hyperactivity, which is called "liver heat" in traditional Chinese medicine, such individuals will rapidly convert their calorie intake into fat even if they do not consume more calories than normal due to the liver's superior synthesis capacity.

Therefore, in preventing and treating obesity caused by liver heat, in addition to controlling diet, it is more important to focus on clearing liver fire and calming liver qi. By regulating the body through dietary therapy and soups, excessive fat synthesis activity in the liver can be reduced, which can not only help with weight loss but also effectively prevent various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases caused by high blood lipids and high cholesterol. Traditional Chinese medicine dietary therapy emphasizes a combination of "clearing and nourishing," meaning that while clearing liver heat, appropriate nourishment can help the body more steadily navigate the weight loss period.

Obesity due to liver heat and corresponding decoction formula:

(2) Chicken Bone Grass, Lingzhi, and Jujube Soup. Serves: 4. Ingredients: 3 taels of chicken bone grass, 5 mace of lingzhi, 15 jujubes, 1 piece of lean pork. Preparation: Simmer in 14 bowls of water for 3 hours. Benefits: Nourishes and strengthens the body, clears the liver and invigorates the spleen.

Chicken bone herb has many aliases, such as "Yellow Food Grass," "Yellow Head Grass," "Yellow Boy Strong," "Big Yellow Grass," "Red Hen Grass," "Stone Gate Drink," and "Chicken Toe." It is a commonly used herb. However, its appearance does not resemble chicken bones at all. It is commonly used in soups or herbal teas. It has a sweet and bland taste and is neutral in nature. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting diuresis, and relieving pain. It is commonly used for acute and chronic hepatitis, jaundice, gallstones, cirrhosis, stomach pain, and rheumatic bone pain. It is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for clearing the liver. Chicken bone herb requires a long decoction time, generally 3-4 hours, to extract its flavor.

Reishi mushroom is a renowned tonic in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been highly valued since ancient times and is shrouded in mystery. It has many other names, such as Danzhi, Ruicao, Chizhi, Xue Lingzhi, Sanxiu, Fuxun, and Wannianxun. Today, reishi has become a globally recognized health food. Many people both in China and abroad study reishi. A wide variety of reishi products are available on the market. Its widespread popularity and use are due to its remarkable therapeutic effects.

Reishi mushroom has a sweet, bland, and slightly bitter taste. Its functions include nourishing the five internal organs, strengthening the body, calming the mind, consolidating the foundation, promoting longevity, and removing dampness and toxins. It can be used to treat palpitations, insomnia, loss of appetite, weakness and cough, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, neurasthenia, diabetes, peptic ulcers, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Studies indicate that reishi mushroom can enhance the body's immune function, has a good liver-protecting effect, and even has anti-cancer effects. Due to its multifaceted regulatory effects, reishi mushroom is an ideal tonic for people whose long-term obesity has led to a decline in bodily functions.

While jujubes (both red and black) have nourishing, strengthening, calming, spleen-strengthening, stomach-benefiting, kidney-tonifying, and liver-benefiting effects, and long-term consumption can even promote longevity, black dates can be a bit greasy and sometimes even slightly sour, making soups less flavorful. For a more delicious soup, use jujubes (both red and black). These are a type of black date, but they are not sticky at all. They have a clear aroma and a sweet taste. Using jujubes in soups will make the soup much more flavorful and enhance its medicinal properties. Therefore, jujubes are several times more expensive than regular black dates. Jujubes not only provide natural sweetness but also help to moderate the cold nature of chicken bone grass (a type of herb) and protect the stomach's energy.

This soup not only clears away accumulated heat and dampness in the liver, but also enhances overall vitality through the nourishing effects of Ganoderma lucidum and jujubes. For those with liver heat who find it difficult to lose weight even when starving themselves, and who often experience a bitter taste in their mouth, dry throat, irritability, and anger, long-term consumption can not only lead to changes in body shape but also a significant improvement in mental state.