Herbal Broth for Fall Immune Support, by Jade (JO) Oswald, R.TCMP.
“My body is not a temple, it’s a thermos for soup”
Fall is the perfect time to begin incorporating more nourishing broths into the mix to bolster our immune system and protect ourselves against seasonal illnesses. Medicinal herbs can be combined with bones or chicken feet and seasonal vegetables to make for a nutrient-rich broth with added protein and collagen. For a plant-based broth medicinal mushrooms and seaweeds can be added for nutrition and flavour.
This general recipe below can be modified to incorporate ingredients on hand and herbs that are specific to your needs. It is also a great use to get the most out of your veggie scraps!
If you have specific health concerns or on medication you may want to check with a TCM practitioner if you’re going with a TCM Herbal broth or a Medical Herbalist if you plan to brew a Western Herbal broth.
TCM Herbal broth
For your chicken feet or marrow bones, we recommend our neighbours next door, Halal Urban Fresh Meats & Grocery for locally sourced meat bones from the Cowichan area!
Fairway across the street carries dried shiitake and red dates. Our lovely neighbours over at Spring Wellness (2604 Quadra St.) also carry a high quality selection of raw TCM herbs for all your broth making needs!
Western Herbal broth
For your one stop medicinal broth shop you can access lots of farm direct and responsibly sourced herbs at Green Muse Herbs, then go pop next door to Halal Urban Fresh Meats & Grocery for your chicken feet or marrow bones locally sourced from the Cowichan area!
Equipment:
Instructions:
- Combine bones/chicken feet/kombu, water, & vegetables (vegetables listed above or just some scraps that you have on hand) in a large stock pot or slow cooker. 6-8 quart pot or larger should do!
- Bring to a boil. Skim off any scum that rises to the top.
- Let simmer for 6-24 hours – the longer it simmers the more nutrients are extracted. Checking the broth to make sure the water does not get too low.
- During the last hour of cooking add in herbs.
- Allow broth to cool, strain through a colander and discard soup materials. Makes wonderful compost!
- Once cool, store in the fridge for up to 5 days or portion it out for the freezer!
TCM Herbal Energetics
Astragalus (Huang qi) – sweet, warm, goes to Lungs+Spleen – raises yang qi of the Spleen, tonifies qi+blood, tonifies Wei qi, generates fluids and supports tissue healing.
Codonopsis (Dang shen) – sweet, neutral, goes to Lungs+Spleen, tonifies qi+blood, digestion (Middle Jiao), supports immunity
Goji berry (Gou qi zi) – sweet, neutral, goes to Liver+Lung+Kidney, nourishes Jing, yin, brightens the eyes
Fresh ginger root (Sheng jiang) – pungent, warm, goes to Lungs+Spleen+Stomach, regulates qi circulation in the middle, warms Lungs + stops cough, warms Stomach + stops vomiting, induces sweating + releases the exterior
Jujube dates (Da zao) – sweet, warm, goes to the Stomach+Spleen, tonifies Stomach+Spleen, nourishes qi+blood, calms the spirit
Western Herbal Energetics
Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) – warming/drying, sweet, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) – protective to the liver, supports immune function, antiviral + antibacterial, tonic for the heart + nervous system
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) – warming/sweet/sour, antioxidant, tonic for the circulatory system, protective to the heart, promotes digestion
Lovage (Levisticum officinale) – warming/drying, aromatic, tonic for the digestive + respiratory system
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – warming/drying, antimicrobial, tonic for the digestive + respiratory system
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – warming/drying/stimulating, antimicrobial, promotes circulation, protects the liver, tonic for the heart + nervous system, aromatic digestive herb
Sage (Salvia officinalis) – antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, promotes bile flow + pancreatic function, promotes digestion
