What is deer antler used for? How to eat it?
Deer antler is a precious Chinese medicinal material. It has many functions such as protecting our cardiovascular health, nourishing kidneys and yang, strengthening muscles and bones, etc. However, many people don’t know how to eat velvet antler. Here is an introduction to velvet antler. Some ways to eat it.
Deer antler is the young horn of sika deer or stag that has not yet ossified. It has the effects of nourishing qi and blood, eliminating fatigue, prolonging life and resisting aging. It is especially effective for people with kidney deficiency and those with weak Qi, blood and semen. It is said that deer antler contains 25 kinds of amino acids, multiple vitamins, etc., which can improve human immunity and promote hematopoietic function. However, Chinese medicine believes that velvet antler is a hot tonic and is suitable for people with weak and cold constitutions (shown as symptoms of chills, cold hands and feet, cold and painful epigastrium, etc.).
Suitable people for deer antlers
1. People who are afraid of cold. People who are afraid of the cold often suffer from yang deficiency, and deer velvet antler is just the right warm tonic.
2. Middle-aged women. Deer antler can treat gynecological diseases such as cold uterus, metrorrhagia, vaginal discharge, postpartum anemia, cold uterus and infertility.
3. Those with declining sexual function. Deer antler can restore and promote energy and sexual function, and is mainly used to treat kidney yang deficiency, back pain, spermatorrhea, frequent urination and other diseases.
4. Middle-aged and elderly people. For middle-aged men over 40 years old and elderly people with poor physical fitness, eating deer antlers can replenish qi and blood, strengthen the heart and restore pulse, resolve stasis, build muscles, and strengthen muscles and bones.
5. Overtired young and middle-aged people. Deer antler has the functions of replenishing essence and replenishing marrow, strengthening the brain and calming the nerves, and enhancing human immunity. Suitable for those with insufficient blood and essence, dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia, forgetfulness, sweating, and anemia.
6. Those with ulcers. Deer antler has excellent myogenic and anti-inflammatory effects.
How to eat deer antler for the best effect?
1. Soak deer antler in wine
Medicinal wine is a major tradition in China. The medicine is soaked in liquor to extract the essence of the medicine. Penetrating into the wine, the wine helps to promote qi, and the medicinal effect is quickly exerted and spreads throughout the body. Deer antler can also be added to wine. Add velvet antler slices to liquor above 50 degrees and soak for a period of time before drinking. You can also add other medicinal materials to soak together as needed. The China Eats Online Recipe Directory says that raw slices of velvet antler should be used for soaking in wine, as this medicinal wine will be more effective.
2. Grind deer antler into powder
If you don’t have time to brew wine or make soup, there is another way to solve everyone’s troubles. That is to grind deer antler into fine powder, and take the antler powder with wine or salted water before going to bed at night. It is both convenient and very effective.
3. Cooking with velvet antler
Diet therapy is a great way to maintain health and fitness, and tonics like velvet antler are a great ingredient. In the south, velvet antler and other medicinal materials are added to chicken, duck, goose or pork, simmered over slow fire, and the soup is drunk, which also has a strong nourishing effect. China Chi.com Catering Network said that not only can it be used to make soup, but velvet antler can also be crushed into powder and added to other dishes.
4. Decoction of medicine
Medicinal porridge with health care and therapeutic properties has been popular in my country for a long time. As early as the pre-Qin period, there are records of using medicinal porridge to treat diseases. Under the guidance of the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, it is an ideal dietary therapy method to use velvet antler and ginseng as the main ingredients, combined with other nourishing drugs, and rice cereals, then add appropriate seasonings, cook them together into porridge, and take them as supplements.
5. Swallow the powder
Deer antler is dried directly and processed into powder, or you can buy ready-made velvet antler powder at the drug store and put it into a prepared hollow capsule. Store in an airtight container in a cool and ventilated place. Take 1 to 2 tablets each time with boiled water. You can also put the powder directly in your mouth and drink it with other liquid medicine, porridge or warm water.
How to eat velvet antler in various places
1. In the south of the Yangtze River and the southeastern coastal areas, take 25-30g of velvet slices and mix them with chicken (duck, goose, pigeon, and lean pork) Stew , dates or other condiments in an electric cooker or casserole for 3 to 5 hours before eating. If not used up, save it for later use.
2. In the south of the Yangtze River and the southeastern coastal areas, take 5g of antler slices (mixed with the upper, middle and lower sections), 1 red date, 1 slice of ginger, and a little rice wine into a useful cup, and add half cup of water, cover tightly and place in a pot over water to simmer.
After the water in the pot boils, simmer it for 2 to 3 hours and then use it (first-time eaters should stop eating if they have reactions such as dry mouth, red eyes, accelerated heartbeat, etc. This is a deficiency rather than a supplement. For those without symptoms, eat it every other day Eat once a day, and gradually increase the dosage to 10g; patients with high blood pressure and heart disease should follow the doctor's advice when taking it).
3. In the Northeast, people like to soak 10g of velvet antler, 10g of ginseng, 15g of wolfberry, 10g of Schisandra chinensis and other Chinese herbal medicines into 500ml of liquor with a temperature above 50°, and take it; or powder it for consumption; or powder it. The powder is mixed with other Chinese herbal medicines and taken into capsules; or sliced into pieces and chewed. (If young people without yang deficiency take this product, it may cause side effects such as body heat, nose bleeding, dry mouth, and cleft lips. Young friends need to take it according to their own needs. Use with caution).
4. In Taiwan, wash and slice fresh antler mushrooms, soak them in 500ml of liquor above 50°C, and after soaking for two weeks, take 10 to 25ml of it daily, three times a day with alcohol.
Recommended deer antler soup: Deer antler soup with Huaishan bamboo and shredded chicken
Recipe: 4 grams of velvet antler, 40 grams of Chinese yam, and 120 grams of bamboo shredded chicken.
Efficacy: Warming the kidneys and strengthening yang, increasing appetite, suitable for both men and women.
Applicable: This soup has the functions of warming and strengthening kidney yang, astringing and stopping bandages. Deer antler is an important medicine for nourishing kidney yang, nourishing kidney yang, and replenishing essence and blood. It is commonly used to treat insufficient kidney yang, deficiency of essence and blood, sore waist and cold limbs, excessive vaginal discharge, cold uterus, infertility, and long and clear urine. Deer antler is a good systemic tonic, which can improve the body's ability, improve sleep and loss of appetite, and is very suitable for those with physical weakness and mental fatigue.
Preparation: Wash the velvet antlers and yam; peel the bamboo shredded chicken, wash and cut into pieces, boil in boiling water for 5 minutes, take out the cold water. Put the ingredients into a stew pot, add an appropriate amount of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 2 to 3 hours, and serve while the soup is hot.
However, I would like to remind everyone that it is not suitable to take velvet antler if you have dry stools, often bitter mouth, or have body heat. People with high blood pressure and diabetes are also not suitable to take velvet antler.