Duck gizzard and liver

Duck gizzard and liver

　　Introduction: The duck gizzard is the stomach of a duck. It is flat and round in shape, with tightly packed, chewy meat that has a long-lasting flavor and no greasy aftertaste. It is a cherished delicacy loved by people of all ages.

　　 　　Efficacy: The primary nutritional components of duck gizzard are carbohydrates, protein, fat, niacin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and selenium. Duck gizzard is relatively rich in iron, making it suitable for women to consume in moderation. Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that duck gizzard has a sweet, salty, and neutral nature, with benefits for the stomach.

　　 　　Suitable for: Generally suitable for everyone. Especially beneficial for those with anemia. People experiencing upper abdominal bloating or indigestion may consume more duck gizzard.

　　 　　Particularly for those with stomach conditions, eating duck gizzard can aid digestion and improve gastrointestinal function.

　　 　　Not suitable for: Pregnant women should avoid eating it.

　　 　　Benefits of eating duck gizzard in autumn:

　　 　　Expert tip: Eating duck gizzard in autumn can nourish the stomach and strengthen the spleen.

　　 　　The fast-paced modern lifestyle and high work pressure have led to more and more people joining the ranks of those with stomach problems. Most people may think their stomach only has minor issues or is even healthy, and thus pay little attention. In reality, many unhealthy dietary habits and incorrect attitudes toward illness can worsen stomach conditions.

　　 　　Stomach pain is a common clinical symptom of stomach disorders. Traditional Chinese Medicine often uses this term as a disease name, which corresponds to modern medical conditions such as acute and chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric neurosis. All can cause upper abdominal pain, accompanied by feelings of fullness and distension, and sometimes even radiating distending pain, acid reflux, or heartburn—often related to emotions such as anger, anxiety, or depression. TCM refers to this as disharmony between the liver and stomach or liver qi invading the stomach.

　　 　　Traditional Chinese Medicine has long recognized the negative impact of emotional distress on stomach conditions, with extensive discussions on this topic. The “Huangdi Neijing · Suwen” states, “When the wood element is depressed, people suffer from stomach pain as if being struck in the center of the chest.” Here, “wood depression” refers to liver depression, illustrating how digestive issues and stomach discomfort stem from emotional suppression. The Yuan Dynasty physician Zhu Danxi further developed and refined the theory of the liver governing free flow, pointing out that psychological and emotional factors are major triggers of stomach diseases. He summarized a series of ancient mind-body medical diagnostic approaches for treating stomach pain, such as “liver depression and qi stagnation,” “liver qi rebelling horizontally,” and “liver qi invading the stomach,” and proposed the treatment method of “nourishing liver and protecting stomach.”

　　 　　Modern medical research confirms that stomach pain associated with social and psychological factors can occur when intense emotional fluctuations, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, sympathetic nerve excitation, and increased catecholamine release lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction, blood vessel constriction, and stomach discomfort. Patients with stomach pain often exhibit typical personality traits prone to anxiety, stress, suppressed anger, and unexpressed frustration, all of which can exacerbate stomach disorders.

　　 Traditional Chinese Medicine often explains stomach pain episodes as resulting from worry, anger, and suppressed emotions, which affect the stomach’s ability to descend and disperse. I remember a story from my student days when I assisted the late renowned TCM master Zhou Zhicheng. When discussing treating stomach disorders from the perspective of the liver, the teacher gave an apt analogy: “Imagine you're already very hungry, but because you did something wrong, your mother scolded you. Naturally, you feel upset, and instantly experience a bloated stomach and loss of appetite.” This is how liver qi invading the stomach develops. “The six bowels function best when they are open and descending.” When liver qi rebels, it obstructs the stomach’s natural downward flow. As a result, stomach qi becomes stagnant. Mild cases may cause stomach bloating, while severe ones lead to stomach pain. Rebellious stomach qi may cause belching with sour odor, nausea, vomiting, and hiccups. Qi stagnation transforming into fire leads to acid reflux and heartburn. Over time, qi stagnation and blood stasis damage the stomach lining, possibly even leading to gastric bleeding.

　　 　　For dietary therapy, one can try the autumn stomach-nourishing remedy “Malted Barley and Sprouted Rice Duck Gizzard Soup” to aid digestion and protect the stomach. The preparation is as follows: First, wash the inner wall of the gizzard (note: do not remove the gizzard membrane, as it enhances digestive strength), then take 50 grams each of malted barley and sprouted rice, place them in an earthenware pot with four bowls of water, simmer gently with the duck gizzard until the liquid reduces to one bowl, let it cool before consuming. This dish is very effective for treating indigestion such as food stagnation and poor appetite, especially for strengthening weak gastrointestinal function and improving slow digestion in the elderly and children. Malted barley contains amylase, lecithin, vitamin B, and other substances that help digest food, regulate the middle burner, and relieve qi stagnation. The duck gizzard enhances gastrointestinal function and aids digestion. However, it should be noted that pregnant women should avoid this remedy.