4 Energy-Boosting Traditional Chinese Medicine Superfoods

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), maintaining a balance between the body, mind, and energy is paramount. Hence, numerous TCM superfoods have been utilised for their abilities to invigorate the body and elevate energy levels.

Read on to learn more about the superfoods that can nourish the body, support overall health, and provide a quick burst of energy. 

Cordyceps Sinensis

Qi refers to the vital energy that flows through the body—when it is balanced, your overall health and well-being are in good condition, and you’re more likely to feel energised and focused. However, your qi levels naturally decrease over time. Therefore, you tend to feel fatigued more quickly as you age, causing everyday activities like chores and walking up the stairs to become challenging.

If you feel your energy and stamina levels dropping, try Cordyceps Sinensis, a superfood that has long been used in TCM.

Some benefits of Cordyceps Sinensis include improving physical endurance and improving brain function. Additionally, it nourishes the kidneys’ qi and thus helps to regulate the rhythm of your breathing. For this reason, Cordyceps Sinensis is typically used to improve one’s respiratory health and is considered effective in helping you recover from lung infections.

It is also said to improve reproductive health, with strong kidney qi boosting men’s reproductive performance and women’s fertility.

Cordyceps Sinensis can be consumed in various forms, depending on personal preferences. It is commonly taken as powder, capsules, and tincture. You may also brew it into tea or cook it in porridge. 

Bird’s Nest

The benefits of bird’s nest are numerous. This health food, made from male swiftlets’ saliva, is known for its ability to boost the immune system, improve metabolism, and reduce blood pressure. 

Bird’s nest is often used to moisturise the lungs and stomach when they lack yin, clearing phlegm and relieving dry cough.

In modern society, bird’s nest is also recognised for its role in maintaining youthful beauty. It contains antioxidants that combat signs of ageing, lightening skin pigmentation and reducing wrinkles. Hence, it is commonly used as an anti-ageing beauty supplement.

Bird’s nest is commonly taken as a beauty supplement to combat signs of ageing.

Bird’s nest typically comes in bottles, which can conveniently and quickly be consumed. It can also be taken in the form of bird’s nest soup.

It is recommended to take it early in the day because it provides an energy boost that will carry you through the day.

American Ginseng

American ginseng has many benefits, such as providing an instant burst of energy and being a yin enhancer that nourishes the lungs and replenishes fluids in the body.

In TCM, yin hydrates and revitalises the body. Therefore, nourishing the lung’s yin is crucial to clear the lung’s heat and can be used to relieve chronic cough, dry throat, and hemoptysis, which are typically caused by yin deficiency.

Notably, American ginseng is not interchangeable with Asian ginseng. While the former is cooling and thus a yin enhancer, the latter has a warming and stimulating effect.

American ginseng can be consumed in various ways: it can be brewed into herbal soups or tea and can also be taken in powder or capsule form. 

Goji Berries

Goji berries help nourish the liver and kidneys, which are crucial for maintaining the body’s qi. They also contain antioxidants, which reduce free radicals that attack the body’s cells and accelerate the ageing process.

You can eat goji berries raw, cooked, or dried.

Conclusion

Numerous TCM superfoods like Cordyceps Sinensis and bird’s nest help improve your health and boost energy levels. However, only eating these health foods does more harm than good. It is crucial to eat them in moderation to maintain a balance in your body and achieve optimal health.