Celia is a wonderful artist who lives in London with her Israeli husband. She grew up in Hong Kong where her father works as a Doctor in Chinese Medicine. After my first pregnancy and before I had overcome my thyroid problems, we all met in New York and went out for tea. I didn’t look very well and told her the pregancy had exhausted me. “Oh, you should try red dates and drink lots of chicken soup,” she said knowingly. I was kind of fascinated, and went off to research her recommendations. It didn’t take long to realize a whole treasure chest of Chinese wisdom around the subjects of pregnancy and postpartum.

It turns out the “red date,” also known as the Jujube date has been used since ancient times as a nutrient tonic, a blood cleanser, and as an important adjunctive herb to other tonics, especially in combination with Ginseng and Tang Kuei. Jujube is the Chinese equivalent of blackcurrent juice and is not a true date. It is universally believed in the Orient to build strength and extend life and is slightly sedative and laxative helping to remove obstructions of energy flow. The juice of the jujube is one of the wonderful and delicious specialties of Chinese tonic herbalism and is used as a base for other herbal extracts.

Red date tea is often the first drink you might receive after delivery in China and from one story I just read, it may be the only drink you are given during your confinement period. You can drink as much as you like as it will help to revitalize your general health. Red dates and the other herbs mentioned below can be purchased at any Chinese herbal shop and I am also looking for an online source. You may also want to just buy the ready made tea: http://www.sinicave.com/pd_rrd.cfm

On a side note, I actually think I am allergic to the red date…. I am going to try it again now but I think it makes me come out in a skin rash on my face. If that is the case, I guess I won’t be drinking too much after childbirth.

Red Dates Tea Tthis recipe was published in Ng Siong Mui’s book, “The Chinese Pregnancy and Confinement Cookbook.”)

8 red dates, stoned
50g (2oz) black beans, pan fried without oil
10g (0.3oz) dried longan flesh
20g (0.7oz) Codonopsis pilosula (Franch) Nann (tong sum)
4 slices of old ginger

1. Bring 1.25 litres (7.5 cups) of water to boil. Add all the ingredients and keep boiling for 15 minutes.
2. Reduce heat and simmer for 1.5 hours until it is reduced to approximately 800 ml (4 cups)
3. Sieve the tea and keep the tea in a flask. Discard cooked ingredients. It may be drunk as often as you wish.

Here is another red date tea recipe I found from www.holisticmasters.com:

Herbal Indications:
Red date tea is a mild tonic for the circulation and Qi system; anemic; indigestion; loss of appetite; short of breath; insomnia due to nervousness; lack of strength and energy; diarrhea; depressive moods.

Contraindications:
Allergic reactions to the red date.

Others:
Usually the seed is removed from the red date because it causes dryness of mouth. It is a very common ingredient in vegetarian cooking.

Common Dosage:
10 grams

Ingredients:
10 seedless Red dates, 30g Dangshen (comes from the same family as Sage and is used for blood stagnation and regulating periods).

Preparations:
Simmer the ingredients in 500 - 800ml water for 45 - 60 minutes. Filter. Use as a fluid supplement.

Others:
This recipe is helpful for depression , especially before childbirth; promotes energy; general weakness with anemic symptoms; frequent palpitation and shortness of breath; menopause symptoms.

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December 12th, 2006 | Permalink