Seasonal Health Therapy: Drying and Treating Arthralgia at the Start of Spring

In two days, it will be the "Awakening of Insects" solar term. According to *The Collection of the Seventy-Two Hou of the Monthly Orders*: "...All things emerge from the East, where thunder resides. Hence, it is called 'Awakening of Insects,' meaning hibernating insects awaken and move about." It signifies that spring thunder awakens all living things. Last week was still chilly spring, but now it's nearly time for all life to revive. Weather is often foggy and lightly rainy. People often feel numbness in limbs and difficulty moving joints. We therefore recommend the following:
Old Mulberry Branch Chicken Soup
Traditional Chinese medicine mulberry branch chicken soup has the function of nourishing essence, dispelling wind-dampness, and benefiting joints. In Guangdong folk practices, it is commonly used to assist in treating rheumatoid arthritis, limb cramps and paralysis, neck and back pain, and chronic spinal strain.
[Ingredients] 60g old mulberry branch, 1 female chicken (about 500g, cleaned and gutted), 3 slices of ginger.
Old mulberry branch is neutral in nature, bitter in taste, enters the liver meridian, and functions to dispel wind-dampness, benefit joints, and promote water metabolism. *Compendium of Medicinal Herbs* states it "relieves wind-induced muscle spasms"; *Compendium of Materia Medica* notes it "benefits joints, nourishes body fluids, promotes water flow, and expels wind-dampness"; *Lingnan Herbal Records* also records its ability to "treat joint wind diseases and elderly knee deformities." Chicken is warm in nature, sweet in taste, enters the spleen, stomach, and liver meridians, and functions to warm the middle energizer, tonify qi, nourish essence, and enrich marrow. *Benji* says it "tonifies the five zang organs, repairs broken injuries, treats exhaustion, and strengthens qi"; *Food Therapy Materia Medica* considers it effective for "bone fractures and joint pain"; *Daily Light of the Herbalist* also records it "stops fatigue, enriches marrow, nourishes essence, and boosts yang energy." Combined, they greatly enhance the effects of dispelling wind-dampness, benefiting joints, and nourishing essence.
[Cooking Method] Wash the old mulberry branch with water and soak briefly. Clean the female chicken, remove feathers and internal organs, wash well. Place with ginger in a clay pot, add 2500ml water (~10 bowls), bring to boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for about 2 hours. Add appropriate salt. This serves 3–4 people. Remove chicken, mix with soy sauce for eating.