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Shengjin Huawi Yin

生津和胃饮
(Fluid-Generating & Stomach-Harmonizing Beverage)

 

Shengjin Huawi Yin (生津和胃饮) does not refer to one specific formula.
Instead, it is a general category of beverages that promote body fluid production (生津) and harmonize and strengthen the stomach (和胃).

 

Common beverages with shengjin–huawi actions include those made from jujube, Chinese yam (shan yao), papaya, and other ingredients that support digestion.
 

Mild teas suitable for people with weak stomachs—such as white tea, black tea, and aged pu-erh tea—also fall under this category, provided they are brewed lightly.

 

Beverages Suitable for “Shengjin Huawi” (Generating Fluids & Harmonizing the Stomach)

Digestive-strengthening ingredients

• Jujube, Chinese yam (山药), papaya
  These can be prepared as beverages, soups, or decoctions and help fortify the stomach.

 

Mild teas

• White tea, black tea, aged pu-erh tea
  Their fermentation process makes them warmer, gentler, and easier on the stomach.
  However, they should not be brewed too strong.

 

TCM Therapeutic Effects

• Generates body fluids, harmonizes the stomach, clears heat, and relieves cough.
• Suitable for Lung–Stomach Yin deficiency type diabetes.

 

Ingredients

• Chinese pear (鸭梨, ya li) – 4 pieces
• Lotus root (藕) – 1 root
• Lotus peduncle (荷梗) – 1 section
• Orange pith (橘络) – 5 g
• Licorice (甘草) – 3 g
• Fresh ginger (生姜) – 10 g
• Lotus embryo (莲心) – 10 pieces
• Scrophularia root (玄参) – 5 g

 

Preparation Method

1. Peel the ginger, lotus root, and pears. Crush them to extract the juice.
2. Chop the lotus peduncle; slice Scrophularia.
   Place them in a pot with orange pith, lotus embryo, and licorice. Add water and decoct.
3. Strain out the herb residues and mix the decoction with the previously extracted fresh juice.
4. Drink several times throughout the day in divided doses.

 

Notes

• Chinese pears (ya li) contain a high amount of sugar.
  When drinking this formula, reduce carbohydrate intake from other meals.

 

Precautions When Drinking

Excess stomach acid

• Milk or soy milk may help neutralize acidity.

Insufficient stomach acid

• Concentrated broth, chicken soup, or slightly sour fruit juices may help stimulate gastric secretion.

Cold stomach constitution

• Warm beverages such as ginger tea are suitable.
  Not appropriate for those with stomach heat.

Tea strength

• People with weak digestion should avoid strong tea.
  Brew lightly with fewer tea leaves.

 

Lotus Root (藕, 莲藕)

Lotus root is the rhizome of the lotus plant.
It is rich in nutrients and used both as food and medicine.
When eaten raw, it clears heat and cools the blood; when cooked, it strengthens the spleen and stomach.

 

Nutritional Value & Benefits

1. Dietary fiber

Promotes intestinal movement; prevents constipation.

2. Vitamin C

Very high content; strong antioxidant; enhances immunity.

3. Minerals

• Extremely high potassium—higher than banana or celery
  → Helps prevent hypertension
• Also contains iron, magnesium, phosphorus, etc.

4. Mucopolysaccharides

Found in the fine threads inside lotus root;
Enhance immunity and boost vitality.

 

Medicinal Properties

Raw lotus root

• Nature: cold
• Functions:
  • Clears heat and cools the blood
  • Generates fluids and quenches thirst
  • Nourishes Yin and reduces internal heat

Cooked lotus root

• Nature: warm
• Functions:
  • Strengthens the spleen & stomach
  • Enriches blood, beautifies the skin
  • Stops diarrhea and improves digestion

 

Culinary Uses

1. Stir-fried lotus root slices

• Soak slices in diluted vinegar to prevent browning
• Stir-fry for ~5 minutes until translucent

2. Lotus root salad

• Blanch for 3 minutes and mix with seasonings

3. Lotus root soup (莲藕排骨汤)

• Cook with pork ribs, peanuts, carrots
• Strengthens digestion and boosts appetite

 

Precautions

1. Carbohydrate control
   Lotus root contains 10–20% starch.
   People with diabetes or dieting should reduce other carb intake.
2. Food combinations
   Avoid eating with high-tannin foods (persimmons, strong tea) → may impair digestion.
3. Suitable for
   Those with weak digestion, children, elderly, recovery patients.
4. Use caution for
   People with cold-type indigestion, cold menstrual pain, pregnancy.

 

Lotus Peduncle (荷梗, Lotus Stalk)

A commonly used TCM herb from the lotus plant.
Nature: neutral; Taste: bitter
Channels entered: Liver, Spleen, Stomach

 

Major Functions

1. Clears heat and relieves summer-heat

Alleviates:

• Dizziness from heat
• Thirst
• Chest oppression

2. Regulates Qi and transforms dampness

Improves:

• Chest tightness
• Abdominal bloating
  Especially useful for summer-dampness disorders.

3. Promotes urination & resolves dampness

Helps with:

• Edema
• Diarrhea, dysentery
• Difficult urination
• Excess vaginal discharge

4. Harmonizes stomach & calms fetus

Used for:

• Morning sickness
• Restless fetus during pregnancy

 

Forms of Use

• Decoction
• Tea
• Combined with lotus leaf, watermelon rind, etc.

 

Precautions

• Use under professional guidance
• Avoid in individuals with Spleen–Stomach deficiency cold
• Avoid during menstruation

 

Orange Pith (橘络, Inner Citrus Fiber)

The white fibrous layer beneath the peel of citrus fruits.
An important medicinal-food herb.

 

Major Functions

1. Unblocks collaterals & resolves phlegm

Useful for:

• Excess phlegm
• Productive cough
• Chest oppression
• Sticky, difficult-to-expectoate sputum
• Hypochondriac distention

2. Regulates Qi & activates blood

Relieves:

• Chest tightness
• Qi stagnation
• Promotes circulation

3. Aids digestion & descends rebellious Qi

Helps:

• Dyspepsia
• Belching
• Hiccups

4. Relieves thirst & alcohol toxicity

Recorded in classical texts such as Bencao Chongyuan and Rihuazi Bencao.

 

Nutritional Value

• Dietary fiber
• Flavonoids (hesperidin, naringin) → antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering
• Vitamin C

 

Precautions

• Safe for most people
• Avoid excessive intake in:
  • Pregnancy
  • Lactation
  • Cold-type constitution
• Avoid steeping with tea
  (interferes with digestion and alters therapeutic action)

 

Licorice (甘草, Glycyrrhiza spp.)

Licorice root is a sweet-tasting herb widely used in TCM.

 

Major Functions

• Detoxifies and harmonizes other herbs
• Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial
• Protects stomach lining and suppresses acid
• Relaxes muscles and relieves pain
• Enhances immunity and has antiviral effects

 

Precautions

Excessive or long-term use may cause:

• Sodium retention
• High blood pressure
• Low potassium
  Therefore avoid in hypertension or kidney disease.

 

Lotus Embryo (莲心, Embryo of Lotus Seed)

The green embryo inside lotus seeds; very bitter but medicinally valuable.

 

Major Medicinal Actions

• Clears Heart fire and calms the spirit
• Treats insomnia, vexation, thirst
• Harmonizes Heart–Kidney axis (for insomnia, nocturnal emission)
• Astringes essence and stops bleeding
• Helps lower blood pressure

 

Cultural Symbolism

• Purity and integrity (“untainted by mud”)
• Symbol of affection (莲 / 怜 homophone)
• Blessing for fertility (莲子 / 连子 homophone)

 

Precautions

• Very cold in nature → avoid long-term or excessive use
• Not suitable for those with cold constitution or weak digestion

 

Scrophularia Root (玄参, Xuanshen)

A major yin-nourishing and heat-clearing herb.

 

Major Functions

• Clears heat and cools blood
• Relieves toxicity and drains fire
• Nourishes Yin and generates fluids
• Softens hardness and disperses nodules (e.g., scrofula)

Channels: Lung, Stomach, Kidney
Taste: sweet, bitter, salty
Nature: slightly cold

 

Modern Pharmacology

Contains iridoids, phenylpropanoid glycosides, phenolic acids with:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Hepatoprotective
• Neuroprotective effects

 

Precautions

• Avoid in Spleen deficiency with loose stools
• Incompatible with Veratrum (藜芦)
• Typical decoction dose: 0.5–2.4 g per use

 

Summary

Shengjin Huawi Yin beverages help:

• Generate fluids
• Harmonize the stomach
• Clear heat
• Support digestion and Yin

The included ingredients—pear, lotus root, lotus peduncle, orange pith, licorice, lotus embryo, and Scrophularia—each offer specific digestive, fluid-nourishing, and heat-clearing benefits according to traditional Chinese medicine.