A Preliminary Exploration of Aquatic Products with Antihypertensive Traditional Chinese Medicine: Deep Nourishment and Conditioning from Hericium erinaceus and Sea Cucumber to Eucommia ulmoides

Oyster mushrooms – a versatile ingredient for cooking. Daily recommended serving size: 80g. Calories (100g): 24 kcal. Sodium content (100g): 3.8 mg. Other names: Pleurotus ostreatus, oyster mushroom, black peony mushroom. Properties and channels: Neutral in nature, sweet in taste, enters the liver and stomach channels. Blood sugar lowering secrets: Contains amino acids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium. Blood sugar lowering benefits: Oyster mushrooms contain all eight essential amino acids and are high in vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium, which can promote insulin secretion and regulate blood sugar, making them an ideal food for diabetics. Efficacy analysis: ◎ The selenium contained in oyster mushrooms can effectively inhibit the growth of tumor cells, possessing certain anti-cancer effects. ◎ Oyster mushrooms can reduce the body's absorption of cholesterol, which is beneficial for preventing diabetic complications such as hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. Dietary therapy reminder: Oyster mushrooms are especially suitable for patients with gallstones, chronic gastritis, hepatitis, digestive system diseases, and cardiovascular system diseases. Pairing Principles: Eating these two together can promote the absorption of plant protein and improve human immunity: Oyster mushrooms + tofu: Eating these together can delay vascular aging and lower blood pressure; Oyster mushrooms + broccoli: Eating these together can aid digestion, resolve phlegm, clear the mind, and lower blood pressure; Oyster mushrooms + shiitake mushrooms: Lower blood sugar. Recommended Nutritional Recipes: Fresh Mushroom Millet Porridge Ingredients: 200g millet, 100g rice, 100g oyster mushrooms, a little scallion. Seasoning: a little salt. Instructions: ① Rinse the millet and rice separately and soak in cold water for 30 minutes; wash the oyster mushrooms, blanch them in boiling water, drain, and shred them finely; wash the scallion and chop it. ② Pour cold water into a pot, add the millet and rice, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for a while before adding the shredded oyster mushrooms. ③ Finally, add salt to taste, stir well, and sprinkle with chopped scallions. Stir-fried Oyster Mushrooms with Shredded Pork Ingredients: 300g oyster mushrooms, 80g pork, appropriate amounts of chopped scallions, minced ginger, and sliced ​​garlic. Seasonings: A little cornstarch, water starch, pepper, salt, light soy sauce, and chicken bouillon; appropriate amounts of white sugar, dark soy sauce, and cooking wine. Instructions: ① Wash the oyster mushrooms, tear them into small pieces, and drain. Wash the pork, slice it, and season with cornstarch, pepper, salt, some light soy sauce, and cooking wine. ② Heat oil in a wok, add the pork slices and stir-fry until separated, then remove and drain. ③ Leave some oil in the wok, add chopped green onions, ginger, and garlic slices and stir-fry until fragrant. Add the remaining cooking wine, then add the pork slices and stir-fry until they change color. Add the oyster mushroom pieces, then season with salt, light soy sauce, chicken bouillon, white sugar, and dark soy sauce. Thicken with cornstarch slurry, then remove from heat and serve.

Hericium erinaceus (monkey head mushroom) – “Seafood Bird’s Nest” Daily Recommended Intake: 20g Calories (100g): 21 kcal Sodium Content (100g): 175.2 mg Other Names: Hericium erinaceus, Monkey Head Mushroom Properties and Channels: Neutral in nature, sweet in taste, enters the spleen, kidney, and stomach channels Blood Sugar Lowering Secrets Blood Sugar Lowering Elements: Vitamin B1, unsaturated fatty acids. Blood Sugar Lowering Rationale: Hericium erinaceus is rich in vitamin B1, an essential substance for sugar metabolism, which is beneficial for improving diabetes symptoms and preventing various complications. Efficacy Analysis: Hericium erinaceus contains unsaturated fatty acids, which can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, regulate blood lipids, and are beneficial for patients with diabetes complicated by hyperlipidemia. Dietary Therapy Reminder: Suitable for people with low immunity and those with high mental activity levels. Suitable for infants and the elderly. Caution should be exercised for those allergic to fungi. Pairing Principles: Lion's Mane Mushroom + Pork Ribs: This combination has the effect of quenching thirst and is suitable for diabetics. Lion's Mane Mushroom + Corn: This combination can nourish qi and blood, suitable for those with qi and blood deficiency. Lion's Mane Mushroom + Chicken: This combination lowers blood sugar. Nutritional Recipe Recommendation: Lion's Mane Mushroom and Chicken Soup Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, 100g lion's mane mushroom, appropriate amounts of apple, pear, and papaya, a few slices of ginger and scallions. Seasonings: Appropriate amounts of salt and chicken essence. Instructions: ① Remove the feathers and internal organs from the whole chicken, wash it, and cut it into pieces; wash the lion's mane mushroom and tear it into pieces; wash the apple and pear and cut them into pieces. ② Place a pot on the stove, pour in an appropriate amount of water, add the chicken pieces, bring to a boil over high heat to remove blood, wash and remove, set aside. ③ Place the chicken pieces, lion's mane mushroom slices, ginger slices, and scallions into a stew pot, pour in an appropriate amount of water, and stew until the chicken is almost cooked. Then add the pear pieces, apple pieces, and papaya pieces, stew for another half hour until fully cooked, and finally add salt and chicken essence to taste. Papaya and Mushroom Pork Rib Soup Ingredients: 300g pork ribs, 150g green papaya, 200g monkey head mushroom, 2 slices of ginger, a few goji berries, 2 cordyceps. Seasonings: 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, 2 tbsp fermented glutinous rice, 1000ml pork bone broth. Instructions: ① Wash the pork ribs, cut into pieces, blanch in boiling water to remove blood, drain and rinse. ② Peel and seed the green papaya, wash and cut into pieces; remove the stems from the monkey head mushroom, soak and wash; wash the cordyceps and goji berries, set aside. ③ Pour the pork bone broth into a stew pot, add the pork rib pieces, green papaya pieces, monkey head mushroom, ginger slices, cordyceps, and goji berries, transfer to a steamer and stew for 1 hour. Before turning off the heat, add salt, sugar, and fermented glutinous rice and stir well.

Sea cucumber – one of the "Eight Treasures" of seafood. Daily recommended intake: 30 grams. Calories (100 grams): 78 kcal. Sodium content (100 grams): 502.9 mg. Other names: sea cucumber, sea mouse. Properties and meridians: Neutral in nature, salty in taste, enters the heart and kidney meridians. Blood sugar lowering secrets: Elements containing magnesium, sea cucumber saponins, potassium, vanadium, vitamin E, and calcium. Blood sugar lowering effect: Sea cucumber saponins can activate pancreatic islet cell activity and stimulate insulin secretion, helping diabetic patients lower blood sugar. Efficacy analysis: ◎ Sea cucumber is rich in collagen, which can moisturize the skin and lighten blemishes, making it a rare beauty product. ◎ The potassium and vanadium in sea cucumber play an important role in regulating insulin secretion and can prevent diabetes. Dietary reminders: Young children should eat less sea cucumber; those with spleen deficiency and excessive phlegm should avoid sea cucumber; patients with arthritis should avoid eating too much sea cucumber and other seafood. Pairing Principles: Combining these two ingredients can nourish and strengthen the body: Sea cucumber + oyster mushroom: This combination has significant effects on tonifying the kidneys, replenishing essence, nourishing yin, and moisturizing dryness; Sea cucumber + goji berries: Both are warming and nourishing ingredients, and eating them together can replenish blood and nourish the body; Sea cucumber + mutton: This combination can lower blood sugar. Recommended Nutritional Recipe: Sea Cucumber and Tremella Soup Ingredients: 200g rehydrated sea cucumber, 20g tremella, appropriate amounts of goji berries, ginger, and scallions. Seasonings: appropriate amounts of salt, MSG, and cooking wine. Instructions: ① Soak the sea cucumber in water until fully rehydrated; wash the tremella and soak until translucent; slice the ginger and cut the scallions into sections. ② Bring water to a boil in a pot, add the ginger slices and sea cucumber, cook briefly, remove, and drain. ③ Place the sea cucumber, goji berries, tremella, scallions, and cooking wine in an earthenware pot, add water, and simmer over medium heat for about 2 hours. Add salt and MSG to taste. Duck and Sea Cucumber Stew Ingredients: 200g duck meat chunks, 100g each of sea cucumber chunks and lettuce leaves, 50g sliced ​​shiitake mushrooms, appropriate amounts of ginger slices and ham slices. Seasonings: appropriate amounts of oyster sauce, salt, cooking wine, cornstarch, sesame oil, and pepper. Instructions: ① Arrange lettuce leaves around the edge of an earthenware pot. ② Heat oil in a wok, add a few slices of ginger and sauté until fragrant. Pour in cooking wine, add water and bring to a boil. Add a little salt, add sea cucumber and simmer briefly, then remove. Clean the wok, heat oil, and stir-fry the duck meat chunks until the moisture evaporates. ③ Heat oil in the wok again, add ginger slices, oyster sauce, and duck meat chunks and sauté until fragrant. Add sea cucumber chunks, sliced ​​shiitake mushrooms, ham slices, and the remaining seasonings. Simmer over medium heat for a short time, thicken with cornstarch slurry, and pour into the center of the lettuce leaves.

Salmon – A “Treasure of the Water” Daily Recommended Intake: 30g Calories (100g): 139 kcal Sodium Content (100g): 63.3 mg Other Names: Salmon, Salmon Properties and Channels: Warm in nature, sweet in taste, enters the kidney and lung channels Blood Sugar Lowering Secrets Blood Sugar Lowering Elements: Unsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, phosphorus. Blood Sugar Lowering Rationale: Salmon is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which can effectively lower blood lipids and cholesterol. Regular consumption by diabetic patients can prevent complications such as hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. Efficacy Analysis: ◎ The vitamins in salmon have the effects of tonifying the kidneys and strengthening essence, warming the lungs and relieving asthma, and moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements. ◎ Salmon can prevent osteoporosis, strengthen bones, nourish the skin, improve rheumatoid arthritis, and promote blood circulation, aid fertility, and prevent arteriosclerosis. Dietary Therapy Reminder: When cooking salmon, avoid overcooking to prevent nutrient loss; cook until 80% done. Combination Principles: Combining these two ingredients can effectively supplement vitamins: Salmon + Onion; Combining these two ingredients can promote calcium absorption; Combining these two ingredients can significantly enhance anti-aging effects; Combining these two ingredients with spinach can lower blood sugar. Recommended Nutritional Recipes: Salmon Cup Ingredients: 150g salmon fillet, 1 tomato, 1 red bell pepper, appropriate amounts of shredded lettuce and chopped green onions. Seasonings: Appropriate amounts of pepper, tomato sauce, and olive oil. Instructions: ① Cut the salmon fillet into small cubes, place in a large bowl, add all seasonings, mix well, and marinate for 10 minutes. ② Wash the tomato and red bell pepper, and cut them into cubes. ③ Place the salmon cubes and various diced vegetables into a cocktail cup, add shredded lettuce and chopped green onions. Tips: Salmon is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which can effectively increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower blood lipids and cholesterol. Tomato Salmon Ingredients: 1 tomato, 300g salmon fillet, half an onion, a little chopped green onion. Seasonings: A. 1 teaspoon black pepper powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper; B. 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon each of MSG and rosemary powder. Instructions: ① Remove the stems from the tomatoes, wash them, cut a cross on each to open, blanch them in boiling water, remove and peel off the skin, then dice them. ② Peel and wash the onion, dice it, mix it with the diced tomatoes and seasonings B, and marinate for 20 minutes. ③ Wash the salmon, slice it, coat it with seasonings A, and pan-fry it in hot oil until the salmon hardens and changes color. Remove and let cool, then add the diced onion and tomatoes, mix well, and sprinkle with chopped scallion whites.

Chapter Four: Traditional Chinese Medicine Helps Lower the "Three Highs" Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the channels through which Qi and blood circulate are called meridians, and the specific pores on the body surface where Qi is transported are called acupoints. Stimulating these meridians and acupoints through methods such as massage, scraping (gua sha), and cupping can regulate various systems throughout the body. This is a natural method of health preservation and disease prevention, simple, intuitive, and easy to operate. Meridian and acupoint therapy can also play a role in treating the "three highs," producing good results and making it very suitable for home use by patients with these conditions.

Eucommia ulmoides, a suitable Chinese herbal medicine for hypertension-it warms and tonifies the liver and kidneys, strengthens muscles and bones, and lowers blood pressure effectively: Eucommia ulmoides can dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and reduce cholesterol absorption. The decoction of stir-fried Eucommia ulmoides is the best. Symptomatic treatment: Clinically, Eucommia ulmoides is often used to treat hypertension caused by liver and kidney deficiency, which is generally accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, and weakness in the lower back and knees. The following are some combinations: ◎ Hypertension caused by liver and kidney deficiency: Combined with Psoralea corylifolia, walnut kernels, etc. Recommended medicinal diet recipe – Polygonum multiflorum meat soup. Other names: Beizhong, Yusipi, Houduzhong, Zhiduzhong. Properties and channels: Warm in nature, sweet in taste, enters the liver and kidney channels. Dosage and administration: 10-15 grams daily, decocted in water. Ingredients: A. 200g lean pork, 100g tofu; 50g pea sprouts; B. 50g prepared Polygonum multiflorum, 15g each of cinnamon twig, black beans, and Eucommia ulmoides, 10g Ligusticum chuanxiong, 5g each of Astragalus membranaceus, Lycium barbarum, and Psoralea corylifolia, 2 slices of Angelica sinensis, 5 slices of licorice root, 1000ml chicken broth. Seasonings: 1 teaspoon each of white sugar and salt, 50ml fermented glutinous rice. Instructions: ① Wash the lean pork, cut into pieces, and blanch in boiling water to remove blood; wash ingredients B, put them in a cotton bag and tie it tightly, set aside. ② Place lean pork chunks and the herb packet in a pot, add broth, and steam until cooked. Add tofu, bean sprouts, and seasonings, cook until well combined, and then serve.