Leek Soup

Leek Soup

　　Leeks, also known as "jiu," "qiyangcao" (erection grass), or "changshengcao" (longevity grass), are referred to by modern people as the "vegetable Viagra." Among them, the wild leeks from Jiuxianping are particularly precious.

　　　　The *Compendium of Materia Medica* records that leeks can nourish the liver and kidneys, warm the waist and knees, enhance virility, and consolidate essence. They have certain effects on nocturnal emission, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, lumbar sprain, dysmenorrhea, and enuresis.

　　　　The "Jiuxianping" Original Leek Soup is made from wild leeks grown at Guizhou’s highest peak, Jiuxianping (elevation 2,906 meters), which are green, pollution-free, and rich in natural organic selenium. Using a special extraction process, it fully separates and effectively retains beneficial components such as chlorophyll from the wild leeks.

　　Detailed Introduction:

　　　　Alternative names for the ingredient: virility grass, yang-invigorating grass, longevity grass, erection grass

　　　　Leeks are the leaves of the plant *Allium tuberosum*, a perennial herbaceous vegetable of the lily family.

　　　　Originally from East Asia, they have a long cultivation history and wide distribution in China, especially those from the northeast, which are considered to be of higher quality.

　　　　Leeks can be divided into three types based on use: leaf, flower, and both leaf-and-flower varieties. Leaf leeks have wider, softer leaves with fewer flowering stalks and are mainly consumed for their foliage. Flower leeks have shorter, tougher leaves with more flowering stalks and are harvested primarily for their flower stems. Leaf-and-flower types offer good qualities in both and make up the majority of those cultivated in China.

　　　　Based on leaf shape, they can also be categorized into broad-leaved and fine-leaved leeks. Broad-leaved leeks, which are cold-resistant (also called "koujiu"), are more commonly cultivated in northern regions. Their leaves are wide, soft, light green in color, with little fiber, and are of superior quality, though slightly less aromatic than fine-leaved leeks. Fine-leaved leeks are heat-resistant and mostly grown in southern areas. Their leaves are narrow and long, dark green in color, with more fiber and a richer aroma.

　　　　Leeks grown in greenhouses away from light are also called "yellow leeks" (jiuhuang). Their roots are round and white, their leaves pale yellow with a slight earthy taste, soft and tender, but not as fragrant as regular leeks.

　　　　In the north, leeks are a staple for making dumplings during the New Year. Their vibrant green color and strong flavor greatly enhance both meat and vegetable dishes.

　　　　Nutritional Analysis

　　　　1. Nourishes Kidney and Warms Yang:

　　　　Leeks are warm in nature and pungent in flavor. They help invigorate kidney function and promote yang energy, making them suitable for treating conditions such as erectile dysfunction, nocturnal emission, and premature ejaculation.

　　　　2. Benefits Liver and Strengthens Stomach:

　　　　Leeks contain volatile essential oils and sulfur compounds that give off a unique pungent aroma, helping to soothe liver qi, stimulate appetite, and improve digestion.

　　　　3. Regulates Qi and Activates Blood:

　　　　The spicy aroma of leeks helps disperse blood stasis, activate circulation, and move qi to relieve stagnation, making them suitable for injuries, nausea, enteritis, vomiting blood, and chest pain.

　　　　4. Moistens Intestines and Promotes Bowel Movements:

　　　　Leeks are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, which can enhance gastrointestinal motility, treat constipation, and help prevent colon cancer.

　　　　Suitable Groups

　　　　Generally suitable for most people.

　　　　1. Recommended for those with constipation, postpartum women with insufficient breast milk, and those with cold constitution.

　　　　2. Overconsumption may cause internal heat and is hard to digest. People with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat, eye diseases, or weak gastrointestinal systems should avoid excessive intake.

　　　　Cooking Tips

　　　　1. Leeks can be stir-fried, mixed, used as an ingredient, or as a filling.

　　　　2. Eating them during the Spring Festival benefits the liver. Leeks picked early in spring are of the best quality, followed by those in late autumn, with summer leeks being the least desirable. There’s a saying: “Spring leeks are fragrant, summer leeks are foul.”

　　　　3. Cooked leeks from the previous night should not be eaten again.

　　　　4. Pairing leeks with shrimp provides high-quality protein, while the coarse fiber in leeks can promote gastrointestinal motility and help maintain regular bowel movements.

　　　　5. For therapeutic purposes, if using fresh leek juice, its pungent and spicy taste may be hard to swallow. Mix 20–30 grams of leek juice with one cup of milk and add sugar for flavor to make it drinkable. However, those with excessive stomach heat should avoid eating too much.

　　　　Therapeutic Effects

　　　　Leek roots are pungent in flavor and warm in nature; they enter the liver, stomach, and kidney meridians.

　　　　They have the effects of warming the middle energizer, stimulating appetite, promoting qi and blood circulation, nourishing kidney yang, and dispersing blood stasis.

　　　　Leek leaves are sweet, pungent, and salty in flavor, and warm in nature, entering the liver, stomach, and kidney meridians. They warm the middle energizer, regulate qi, disperse blood stasis, and detoxify.

　　　　Leek seeds are pungent, salty, and warm in nature, entering the liver and kidney meridians. They nourish the liver and kidneys, warm the waist and knees, strengthen yang, and consolidate essence.

　　　　The whole leek can nourish kidney and benefit stomach, replenish lung qi, disperse blood stasis and move stagnation, calm the five organs, regulate qi and blood, restrain sweating and consolidation, and relieve hiccups.

　　　　It is used to treat conditions such as impotence, premature ejaculation, seminal emission, frequent urination, cold pain in the abdomen, deficiency heat in the stomach, diarrhea, white turbidity, amenorrhea, leukorrhea, waist and knee pain, and postpartum hemorrhage.

　　　　Notes

　　　　It is said that the Buddha Sakyamuni established a precept forbidding all monks and nuns from eating leeks, garlic, and other pungent vegetables because a nun's behavior of asking a farmer for leeks was considered improper.