Foods 'n' Herbs

Giving birth and being a new mother is the most exhausting experience for most women. Immediately following the trauma and pain of delivery, the new responsibility of taking care of the baby leaves little time for the mother to rest and recover. During this time, the woman's body is going through enormous changes. It is the time when the body is most weak and can easily get sick. Good diet and nutrition is needed most to help the body recover and cope with the many new changes. The body is like a sponge at this time and absorbs whatever nutrients it can get.

There could be many complications after giving birth if the new mother is not taking care of herself. Post partum hemorrhage, post partum depression and fatigue are just a few common problems. Going on diet too soon to lose weight could increase the chance of having complications and weaken the body constitution which could result in serious health problems in later years.

In Chinese food therapy, the new mother should be on a nutritional diet within the first month after giving birth. Cold drinks and cold foods are restricted because they weaken the digestive system and cause stomach pain. It is important that the mother not catch a cold or get sick during this time because the immune system is the weakest. Any sickness would become chronic in nature and would be very difficult to cure. But this is also the time to correct any chronic problems such as allergies, because the body is absorbing nutrition especially well now.

Black Wood-ear and Chicken Soup 

Scanty and pro-longed postpartum discharge, dizziness, painful during urinating, abdominal pain.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS:

Tonify blood and benefit stomach, stop metrorrhagia, clear blockage and promote normal flow of discharge, relieve pain in abdomen.

2 SERVINGS:

1. Soak wood-ear for 30 minutes until soft, rinse and cut into thin strips.
2. Wash chicken, remove skin and fat and cut into pieces.
3. Put chicken in boiling water for a couple of minutes, remove and drain.
4. Put all ingredients in a pot with adequate water (about 5 cups) and cook for half an hour. Add rice wine and cook until about 3 cups of soup left. Season with salt to serve and eat all ingredients with soup.

USAGE:

Eat with meal once a day for 5 days as one course. If necessary, repeat one more course for complete recovery.