Gegen and Pork Spine Soup

Main Ingredients

• Pueraria root (Gegen) 30g
• Pork spine 500g
• Fresh ginger 3-5 slices
• Salt to taste
• Cooking wine as needed
• Dried tangerine peel (Chenpi) 1 piece
• Red dates 3-4 pieces
• Astragalus root (Huangqi) 10g
• Goji berries 10g

Steps

1. Gegen: Peel the Gegen and cut into thick slices or rolling chunks. If using fresh Pueraria root (about 300-500g), wash thoroughly, peel, and cut into chunks. Pork spine: Wash and cut into sections about 4-5cm long. Place in a pot with cold water, add ginger slices and cooking wine, bring to a boil, and blanch for 3-5 minutes. Skim off foam, remove, rinse with warm water, and drain. Other ingredients: Slice the ginger; soften dried tangerine peel in warm water and scrape off the inner pith (if using); wash and pit red dates; rinse astragalus and goji berries.

   

2. Place the blanched pork spine, Gegen chunks, ginger slices (and optional ingredients like tangerine peel, red dates, and astragalus) into a clay pot (sand pot) . Add enough water to fully cover all ingredients (about 2000-2500ml). Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off any foam, then reduce to low heat, cover, and simmer for 1.5-2 hours until the pork spine is tender and falls off the bone.

   

3. 5-10 minutes before turning off the heat, add goji berries (if using). Season with salt to taste. Ladle into bowls. Drink the soup and eat the meat – the Gegen can also be consumed.

   

TCM Notes

Gegen (Pueraria root) : Sweet, pungent, and cool in nature, acts on the Spleen and Stomach meridians. Rich in isoflavones including puerarin, daidzin, and daidzein, as well as starch, protein, and vitamins. Puerarin helps dilate coronary and cerebral blood vessels, improve microcirculation, and reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, effectively relieving neck stiffness and pain. In TCM, it is known to relieve muscle tension, reduce fever, quench thirst, promote yang, and facilitate rash eruption – particularly effective for neck and back stiffness, fever, and thirst. Pork spine: Rich in calcium phosphate, collagen, and bone mucin, along with protein, fat, and vitamins. Calcium supports bone health, while collagen benefits skin and joints. In TCM, pork bone is known to nourish yin, moisten dryness, and tonify bone marrow. Together, they achieve the synergistic effects of supplementing qi, nourishing yin, relaxing muscles, and strengthening bones. One serving (approx. 500ml) provides about 150-250 kcal, rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, and isoflavones.

Suitable for：Those with cervical spondylosis (nerve root type) : Symptoms include neck stiffness, shoulder and back pain, upper limb numbness, and limited mobility Those with prolonged desk work or neck fatigue: Computer users and office workers Those with neck and back stiffness and pain due to meridian obstruction Those with fever, headache, and body aches (for Gegen's fever-relieving effect) Those with thirst due to Yin deficiency or internal heat (for Gegen's thirst-quenching effect) General population as a daily wellness soup, especially suitable for autumn and winter

Not suitable for：Those with low blood pressure – Gegen has blood pressure-lowering effects; hypotensive individuals should avoid overconsumption Those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold – Gegen is cool in nature; excessive consumption may cause abdominal pain and diarrhea Pregnant women (especially in the first trimester) – Gegen is cool in nature and may increase the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy. Small amounts may be consumed in the second/third trimester with caution Those with hyperlipidemia or obesity – pork spine is high in fat; excessive consumption may worsen conditions Those with cholecystitis – use with caution Those allergic to Gegen or pork – should avoid