Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

Ingredient Name: Zhi mu, Wind weed rhizome, windweed rhizome, anemarrhenae asphodeloidis, anemarrhena rhizome

Traditional Chinese Name: 知母肉 (Zhī mǔ ròu) or 知母 (Zhī mǔ)

• Commonly known Chinese medicine
  
• The extracted and dried fibrous roots of a perennial herb called Anemarrhena
• The roots are slightly brownish yellow to brown in color and often string (or hairy)
• It is slightly bitter to taste and classified as cold (or cooling)

How do I prepare it?

• Rinse well in warm water

Where can I buy this?

Available in Chinese herbalist or specialty stores
Sometimes available in HK wet marts

What is the cost?

• Relatively affordable

Any benefits?

• This herb targets the lung, stomach and kidneys
• Helps are removing internal heat (or heatiness)
• Excellent for relieving symptoms of coughs, dry coughs and constipation
• Often used in medicine combination for people with asthma or shortness of breath
• Aids in sleep and relaxing tension

Any precautions?

• As it is a cooling ingredient, pregnant women in their first trimester should take caution as cooling ingredients cause contractions

Any additional information?

• Store in a cool, dry place
• Can store up to 3 months in a sealed container

Resources

• http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Anemarrhena+asphodeloides