The aphrodisiac and kidney-tonifying effects of epimedium, wolfberry, and soft-shelled turtle
**Epimedium enhances male sexual function.**
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Legend has it that during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the physician Tao Hongjing went out to collect herbs and happened to meet an old man named Yang Xin who told others that his sheep, after eating a strange herb, had become extremely aroused, constantly driving ewes to mate, sometimes ten times a day. One ram even defeated 24 opponents in a single day, demonstrating its remarkable prowess. Tao Hongjing approached Yang Xin and spoke with him, learning that the strange herb grew in forest thickets, with green leaves resembling apricot leaves, and each stem had several stalks, reaching a height of one or two feet. Tao Hongjing secretly thought: this might be an undiscovered kidney-tonifying medicine. Later, after repeated verification, it was indeed confirmed that this wild herb had a strong kidney-tonifying and aphrodisiac effect. He later included this herb in the pharmacopoeia and named it "Epimedium".
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Epimedium can promote hormone secretion, increase male libido, and has the effect of aphrodisiac and enhancing sexual function. The *Kaibao Materia Medica* records that Epimedium is "pungent, cold, and non-toxic. It strengthens tendons and bones, eliminates scrofula and carbuncles, and removes worms from sores on the lower body. Long-term use by men can help them conceive." The *Compendium of Materia Medica* discusses Epimedium, stating that it is "as effective as other names like Xianlingpi, Qianliangjin, Fangzhang, and Gangqian." Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Epimedium is pungent, sweet, and warm in nature, entering the liver and kidney meridians. It can be used as a tonic and strengthening medicine. It has the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, strengthening tendons and bones, boosting yang and essence, tonifying the kidneys and strengthening yang, stimulating sexual function, dispelling wind, cold, and dampness, lowering blood pressure, and antiviral properties. Indications: Impotence, seminal emission, frequent urination, cold pain in the lower back and knees, weakness in the lower back and knees, muscle spasms, hemiplegia, neurasthenia, amnesia, rheumatic pain, hypertension, etc. It can also be used to treat amnesia.
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Modern pathological research suggests that the main effects of Epimedium include: enhancing sexual function, anti-aging, bidirectional regulation of the body's immune system, regulation of the cardiovascular system, and relieving cough, phlegm, and asthma.
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**Epimedium is warm in nature and pungent in taste. It can tonify the kidney yang and replenish the kidney essence, making it a commonly used drug in clinical practice for treating kidney yang deficiency. Based on clinical experience, although it is relatively mild, it is not suitable for those with colds, fever, dry mouth and tongue, dry and itchy skin, or hard stools.**
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**Two Immortals Porridge** warms the kidney yang, replenishes bone essence, and clears kidney fire. It is suitable for those with kidney yang deficiency leading to impotence, premature ejaculation, lower back pain, and cold knees. However, it is not suitable for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire.
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Take 9 grams of Epimedium, 4 grams of Curculigo orchioides, 100 grams of japonica rice, and 20 grams of rock sugar. Boil the Epimedium and Curculigo orchioides in water, filtering twice. Combine the two decoctions and place them in a pot. Add the japonica rice and water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the rice is tender. Add the rock sugar and cook for a few minutes.
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Epimedium and yam noodles nourish the kidneys and blood, enhance memory, and calm the mind.
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Take an appropriate amount of dried noodles, 10 grams of epimedium, 20 grams of yam, 20 grams of longan pulp, and appropriate amounts of cooking wine and soy sauce. Wash the epimedium, decoct it to extract the juice, add water, yam, and longan pulp to the decoction, and simmer for 20 minutes. Then add the noodles, and once the noodles are cooked, add cooking wine and soy sauce. Take once daily for one week.
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**Goji berry and soft-shelled turtle soup: nourishes the liver, tonifies the kidneys, and replenishes qi.**
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Since ancient times, soft-shelled turtles have been a popular and nutritious food. The Compendium of Materia Medica records that "soft-shelled turtles are neutral in nature and cold in taste; they nourish the liver and kidneys, and replenish qi and deficiency." Traditional Chinese medicine believes that soft-shelled turtles can nourish yin and kidneys, clear heat and cool the blood, and invigorate qi and strengthen the stomach. They have good preventive and therapeutic effects on conditions such as bone-steaming fever, uterine prolapse, dysentery, and rectal prolapse. They also have anti-cancer effects. The shell and blood of the soft-shelled turtle have significant medicinal value. The shell can disperse lumps and eliminate masses, nourish yin and strengthen yang, and has significant effects on bone-steaming fever and amenorrhea; its blood can be used as a good remedy for nourishing yin and reducing fever.
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Soft-shelled turtles can "replenish fatigue, strengthen yang energy, and greatly replenish yin deficiency." In addition, eating soft-shelled turtles also has certain auxiliary therapeutic effects on various diseases such as tuberculosis, anemia, and physical weakness.
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It is important to note that people with weak spleen and stomach, poor digestion, or diarrhea should avoid eating turtle meat. Additionally, when consuming turtle, one should not eat amaranth, mint, eggs, duck eggs, or rabbit meat at the same time. Young turtles are poisonous and should not be eaten; severe poisoning can be fatal.
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Here we recommend turtle meat with wolfberries. This dish has the effects of nourishing yin and calming yang, replenishing deficiency and strengthening the body, and invigorating the spirit and nourishing essence.
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The specific steps for making this dish are:
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First, prepare the ingredients: 1 turtle and 60 grams of goji berries. Then, put the turtle into an earthenware pot, add the goji berries and water, simmer over low heat until cooked, and then add appropriate seasonings.
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This dish should not be consumed too frequently. It should not be eaten more than three times a week, to avoid excessive supplementation that could be harmful. In short, regardless of the type of supplement, it should be taken in moderation according to one's own physical condition to avoid counterproductive results.