Winter Tonifying Paste for Longevity
In southern China, people traditionally start preparing tonifying pastes before the Winter Solstice (effectively beginning from Start of Winter). Consuming these pastes until just before Spring Equinox—about three months—greatly supports physical strength and aligns with the principle of “In winter three months, this is called closure and storage.”
How to make the paste?
For example, an elderly person with general deficiency in qi, blood, yin, and yang, plus mild cerebral atrophy (manifesting as memory decline, hypertension, coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis), yet still able to live independently. A doctor might prescribe the "He Shou Wu Longevity Pill" to make a medicinal paste:
Ingredients: Polygonum multiflorum 20g, Rehmannia glutinosa 30g, Morus mulberry 30g, Ligustrum lucidum 15g, Eclipta prostrata 15g, Sesamum indicum 30g, Cynomorium songaricum 20g, Achyranthes bidentata 15g, Mori folium 15g, Lonicera japonica 10g, Clerodendrum trichotomum 30g, Psoralea corylifolia 15g, Rubus idaeus 10g.
Preparation: Select high-quality herbal slices, soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour, decoct three times like herbal medicine. Filter and press to extract juice, concentrate into paste. The consistency should be such that it does not spread on non-absorbent paper. Final concentration: mix 1 part clear decoction with 1/4 part refined rock sugar or honey (after refining). Typically, 10 pounds of clear decoction mixed with 2.5 pounds of rock sugar or honey.
Usage: Take 1 tablespoon (about 15 ml) twice daily, after meals.
Storage: Store in a covered ceramic jar, washed and dried with low heat. Pour in paste, do not seal immediately to prevent condensation droplets. Let cool slightly, cover with gauze overnight, then seal properly. For long-term storage, container must be sealed tightly and kept in a dry, cool, shaded, ventilated area with temperature and humidity control.