Below is our instructional video about Chinese herb infused bone broth, but I wanted to go ahead and write out the benefits of bone broth with you here. This blog post will include all the information about Chinese herb infused bone broth from previous 3 Point Thursdays.
Bone broth is made by slow-simmering roasted animal bones and connective tissues—rich in vital nutrients—in water to create a broth. The broth has many health benefits because the vitamins and nutrients in animal bones and connective tissues infuse into the broth.
Bone broth can:
- Benefit the digestive system
- Fight inflammation
- Improve joint health
- Assist with weight loss
- Improve sleep and brain function
- Support immune function
Homemade Bone Broth for Chinese Herbs
Bone broth is a delightful, nutrient-dense meal/drink containing iron, vitamins A and K, fatty acids, selenium, zinc, manganese calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and collagen. Combined with raw herbs, bone broth provides a great deal of health benefits for those wanting better overall health, increased vitality, better digestion, and those that need to recover from illness. Most importantly, bone broth can be enjoyed by vegetarians and vegans too!
I am well known for my cooking, baking, and crockpot recipes—just ask the staff at the clinic. I prefer to make my own bone broth when I am cooking soup because it provides a vital, nutrient-packed foundation to any soup. There are many recipes online, but I prefer a fairly easy recipe.
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds chicken or turkey (I prefer chicken or turkey backs, but left-over chicken bones from a roasted chicken or turkey can be used.)
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 4 cups roughly chopped carrots, onions, and celery together
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Filtered water
Slow Cooker Instructions
- If using raw bones, preheat oven to 425°F. Layout bones in one layer on a large baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- In the basin of a slow cooker, place the bones, apple cider vinegar, carrots, onions, celery, bay leaves, pepper, and salt.
- Fill pot with filtered water until it covers the bones by about an inch. Let mixture rest for 30 minutes.
- Cover with the lid slightly ajar and cook on low for 24 hours.
- Strain broth through a fine mesh sieve, and transfer to jars for storing in the fridge or freezer.
- Once chilled, the broth should be jiggly and have a layer of fat on top. Scrape off the fat and use it for other purposes, if desired.
This recipe is one of my go-to for making bone broth, and it has instructions for stovetop and instapot!
Raw Herbs and Bone Broth
There are four types of Chinese herb packages we carry in the clinic that can be infused into bone broth. These prepackaged raw herbs are easy to prepare and even easier to drink.
Immuni-Qi contains herbs to enhance overall health, support a healthy blood supply, and support digestion. Traditionally, these herbs are added to soups to increase vitality, recover from illness, and support overall health.
Ener-Qi contains herbs to enhance overall health, build resilience to stress, strengthen one’s overall constitution and nourish and invigorate the body. These herbs have been traditionally used to increase strength, energy, and vitality.
Revive the Gut contains herbs to promote proper digestion. In fact, these herbs supercharge the nutrition of your bone broth.
Nourish the Mama contains herbs for recovery after childbirth. These herbs boost all the necessary body systems after the exhausting work of labor. All of these herbs are traditionally used as food therapy and they have the added benefit of providing the necessary nutrients for the creation of breast milk!
*As with all the products we offer at Transformational Acupuncture, you should consult with a professional before taking any Chinese herb.
About the Author
As a practitioner and healer in Washington, DC for more than a decade, I take a patient-centered approach to care through acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicines, and mind-body coaching, with a specialty in full-spectrum reproductive health care.
