Chicken bone broth has been consumed for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a healing food believed to improve health and longevity. I've included one of our favourite recipes to make your own in this post.
The main underlying principle that TCM and more specifically Chinese Dietary Therapy, believes is that food has dynamic properties, a thermal nature and therefore, actions on the qi. Ancient wisdom looks at food as medicinal. As Hippocrates said "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food".
Bone broth is seen as warm, nourishing and tonifying - excellent for patients who are weak, tired and convalescing.
Here are some benefits of chicken bone broth according to TCM:
Supports Digestion:
Bone broth can be particularly beneficial for those with weakened digestive systems. Chicken broth is believed to stimulate digestive juices and promote healthy bowel movements, therefore relieving constipation1. Glycine, an amino acid found in bone broth, has also been shown to help regulate stomach acid secretion and reduce inflammation in the gut2.
Tonifies Qi (Vital Energy):
Qi is believed to be the vital energy that flows through all living beings in TCM. Chicken bone broth is believed to have tonifying properties that support the body's Qi. As a Qi tonic, it is particularly useful for those who are depleted, run down or recovering from an illness3.
Promotes Skin and Joint Health:
Furthermore, bone broth is thought to nourish the body's connective tissues, for example, promoting healthy skin, hair, and nails. Chicken bone broth is also rich in collagen, a protein that is essential for the health of such things as joints, bones, tendons, and cartilage45. By consuming bone broth regularly, one can improve joint mobility while reducing pain and inflammation.
Builds Blood and Yin:
Similarly, chicken bone broth is believed to promote the production of blood and yin fluids in the body. Blood is considered an essential substance for good health. It nourishes the organs and tissues, while yin fluids keep the body hydrated and lubricated with moisture. By consuming chicken bone broth, it is believed that one can support the production of blood and yin fluids36.
Boosts Immunity:
In addition, Chicken bone broth is believed to promote healthy immunity in TCM. The warming properties of the broth for instance, can help expel cold and damp energy from the body. Additionally, chicken bone broth has been shown to contain properties that support healthy immune function, such as glycine and proline7.
In short, these potential benefits of bone broth have been passed down for centuries among TCM practitioners and other cultures, and can be used as a part of your healthy dietary plan. I'll share with you a simple recipe to follow to make your own at home.
Chicken Bone Broth for a stockpot
Ingredients:
1 Organic Chicken
2cm knob ginger chopped, 2 cloves garlic 2 carrots, 4 celery sticks chopped
1 red onion (optional)
6 cups water
Parsley, Chilli (optional)
Pepper & salt to season
Lemon juice
Method:
- Brown the onion, carrots, and celery in a pan until onion is soft.
- Place Organic chicken whole into a stockpot. Cover with the Water & throw in ginger, garlic, celery, carrots & onion.
- Bring to the boil and low the heat to a simmer for 1hr.
- It’s ready when you pick up a leg that the meat pulls away from the bone.
- Please make sure the meat is cooked properly.
- De-bone & de-skin the chicken. Put the meat back into the soup.
- Season with Salt, pepper, a small handful of parsley and Chilli if desired, for more of a punch.
- Just before serving squeeze fresh lemon juice into the pot. Serve with sourdough bread.
Sources:
- Wang, X. (2012). Dietary therapy for constipation and related symptoms. Gastroenterology Research and Practice, 2012, 1-7. doi: 10.1155/2012/136951 ↩
- König, D., Oesser, S., Scharla, S., Zdzieblik, D., & Gollhofer, A. (2018). Specific collagen peptides improve bone mineral density and bone markers in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled study. Nutrients, 10(1), 97. doi: 10.3390/nu10010097 ↩
- Pitchford, P. (2002). Healing with whole foods: Asian traditions and modern nutrition. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. ↩ ↩2
- Asserin, J., Lati, E., Shioya, T., & Prawitt, J. (2015). The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 14(4), 291-301. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12174 ↩
- Saberi, H., & Moradi, S. (2016). Collagen: a potential candidate for wound therapy. Journal of Wound Care, 25(5), 277-282. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2016.25.5.277 ↩
- Lu, M. C., & Yao, Y. M. (2014). The Yin and Yang actions of foods. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 4(3), 127-131. doi: 10.4103/2225-4110.136485 ↩
- Li, P., Piao, J., Tian, Y., Liang, H., & Kang, Y. (2021). Anti-inflammatory mechanism of chicken collagen peptides in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Journal of Food Biochemistry, 45(2), e13567. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.13567 ↩
