Contracting COVID-19 Accelerates Organ Aging, 3 Medicinal Soups Nourish the Heart, Kidneys, and Brain

The pandemic wreaked havoc during the last three years, and many feel that their health has deteriorated since recovering from COVID-19. Common complaints include frequent cough, greater susceptibility to colds, loose stools, getting tired easily, memory loss, and sleep disorders.

Studies have found that infection with COVID-19 can accelerate the aging of organs such as the heart, kidneys, and brain. In view of this, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner recommends three therapeutic soups to nourish the organs and improve long COVID symptoms. These TCM-inspired soups are designed to nourish the brain and improve intelligence, invigorate the spleen and kidneys, nourish the heart, and calm the nerves.

Ziyad Al-Aly, the director of the Clinical Epidemiology Center at Washington University in St. Louis and his research team, found that infection with COVID-19 can cause cardiovascular, renal, and nervous system dysfunction. By analyzing data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs database, they found that people infected with COVID-19 have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease within one year; kidney function declines faster; and the nervous system and cognitive function are retarded.

“You can start thinking about getting COVID as almost as an accelerant to aging. The viral infection accelerates the aging process in people,” said Al-Aly.

For symptoms experienced after COVID-19 infection, using Chinese medicine can help promote recovery. A study conducted by the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong and a number of universities found that COVID patients who used Chinese medicine during recovery were able to effectively treat long COVID symptoms. The 150 participants treated for three to six months with individualized Chinese medicine treatments experienced clinical improvement in lung functions and achieved a balanced body constitution. The study concluded that treatment with TCM “may be a key to further promote rehabilitation and resolution of residual symptoms.”

Hong Kong registered TCM practitioner, Yu Man-fung, shared with The Epoch Times three medicinal soup recipes that nourish the internal organs, and therefore, are suitable for those who have recovered from COVID-19 to help strengthen their physique and improve sequelae. Each of the medicated recipes is simple to make and can be served to all members of the family. Obtain the following ingredients and prepare accordingly.

1. Soup for Brain Nourishment and Intelligence

* Ingredients (2 servings):

• Cordyceps flower 3 qian (0.53 ounce)
• Gastrodia elata 2 qian (0.35 ounce)
• Walnut 5 qian (0.9 ounce)
• Longan arillus 3 qian (0.53 ounce)
• Fungus 2 qian (0.35 ounce)
• Wolfberry 3 qian ( 0.53 ounce)
• Pork brain or lean meat 150g (5.3 ounce)

Preparation:
i) Wash and blanch pig brain or lean meat; refrigerate for later use.
ii) Soak the herbs for 1-2 hours; wash and set aside.
iii) Boil all the above in water for about an hour; season with salt and serve immediately.

2. Soup for Nourishing Spleen and Kidneys

*Ingredients (2 servings):

• Chinese yam 5 qian (0.9 ounce)
• Black bean 3 qian (0.53 ounce)
• Gordon euryale seed 3 qian (0.53 ounce)
• Taxillus chinensis 3 qian (0.53 ounce)
• Eucommia ulmoides 4 qian (0.7 ounce)
• Polygonum multiflorum 3 qian (0.53 ounce)
• Beef bone marrow or lean meat 150g (5.3 ounce)

Preparation:
i) Wash and blanch beef bone marrow or lean meat; refrigerate for later use.
ii) Soak the herbs for 1-2 hours, wash; set aside.
iii) Boil all the above in water for about an hour; season with salt and serve immediately.

3. General Nourishing and Soothing Soup

*Ingredients (2 servings):

• Tuckahoe with pine 4 qian (0.7 ounce)
• Ophiopogon japonicus 4 qian (0.7 ounce)
• South dates 5 qian (0.9 ounce)
• Lotus seed 5 qian (0.9 ounce)
• Polygala 3 qian (0.53 ounce)
• Longan arillus 3 qian (0.53 ounce)
• Platycladi semen 2 qian (0.35 ounce)
• Angelica sinensis radix 2 qian (0.35 ounce)
• Salvia miltiorrhiza 3 qian (0.53 ounce)
• Pork heart or lean meat 150g (5.3 ounce)

Preparation:
i) Wash pork heart or lean meat and blanch in water; refrigerate for later use.
ii) Soak the herbs for 1-2 hours; wash and set aside.
iii) Boil all the above in water for about an hour; season with salt and serve immediately.

*Some of the herbs mentioned in this article may be unfamiliar, but they are generally available in Asian supermarkets.

Note: Because everyone has different health issues, it is recommended to consult your doctor or a TCM expert.