It is said in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we receive qi from our parents and from what we put into our bodies. We take the breath from air into our lungs and food into our stomach and spleen and together they make Qi and blood.
By using bone broth you will nourish the kidneys, support our vital essence (qi), and build blood.
TCM views, blood as an essential fluid. This means that without blood, your body will not be able to perform its usual functions. When blood is used throughout the day, it has to be replenished. Stress, exercise, work, and studying are just a few ways that your body uses blood. Bone Marrow is where the body makes both red and white blood cells. By using bones filled with rich marrow, we are able to extract this property and infuse it into our own cells. By drinking nutritious bone broth, you are giving your body what it needs to heal itself.
According to TCM theory, bone marrow is produced from Kidney Jing. So, basically drinking a cup of bone broth daily is like drinking a cup of Kidney Jing.
The main functions of the kidneys include: storing essence, controlling reproduction along with growth and development, producing marrow, controlling the bones, and manufacturing blood. Because of these main functions, it is easy to understand why drinking bone broth would help to nourish the kidneys. A deficient kidney could lead to impotence and infertility, weak knees and lower back pain, tinnitus, poor memory, and fatigue. By strengthening the kidneys, bone broth supports skin, nails, joints, connective tissue, as well as the immune system. It contains concentrations of stem cells which have the ability to become red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, white blood cells are crucial for the immune system, and platelets are clotting factors.
Bone broths will give your body a much-needed boost.
Using bone broths will increase the production of qi and blood. Specific types of food such as dates, goji berries, dark leafy greens, and oysters replenish blood. Others such as sweet potato, peanuts, glutinous rice, and prawns restore qi.
Then there are some foods such as bone broth, that will nourish both qi and blood. Bone broth is both nutritious and delicious. Bone broth is made by simmering the bones (from beef, chicken, pork, or lamb) for an extended period of time in order for the gelatin and collagen in the bone marrow to break down and infuse into the broth.
There are five secrets to making good bone broth:
1. Use the highest quality organic bones you can find. Bones from grass-fed animals is best.
2. Add a good splash of apple cider vinegar to the water to draw the minerals out of the bones into the broth.
3. Roast and brown the bones in the oven before adding them to the stock. This gives you a richer flavour.
4. Cook at the lowest temperature for 24 to 48 hours to draw out the gelatin and minerals from the broth.
5. Be in the moment when you’re making it—and see the process as a therapy in and of itself.
Bone broth truly is a superfood and daily consumption is highly beneficial for the body.
If you can’t make your own, we recommend Meadow and Marrow broth concentrates to make an instant cup (available in the clinic).
