Chinese Herbs: Chicken Egg Yolk

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries. The first traditionally recognised herbalist, Shénnóng, is said to have lived around 2800 BC. There are roughly 13,000 medicinals used in China and over 100,000 medicinal recipes recorded in the ancient literature. In this blog post series, I highlight one Chinese herb and its healing properties: Chicken Egg Yolk

You may have heard the television jingle about the “Incredible, Edible Egg,” or read recent studies about the health benefits of eggs. Despite initial worries about eggs and cholesterol, eggs are good sources of protein and other nutrients. In traditional Chinese medicine, egg yolks have always been used alongside other herbal remedies.
Traditional Chinese medicine has long valued the different parts of the egg for its beneficial qualities. Where chicken eggshells and egg whites help reduce toxins and acid in the stomach, chicken egg yolks benefit blood flow, aiding in heart and kidney health.

Chicken egg yolks are considered “neutral” in terms of qi energy. In traditional Chinese medicine, the body’s energy or qi, needs to be balanced to ensure good health. Foods are usually qualified as hot or cold, and overindulgence in either hot or cold foods can unbalance the body’s energy. As a result, neutral dietary foods like chicken egg yolk are useful for their lesser impact on qi.

Because of these benefits to the heart and kidneys, as well as this neutral qi, chicken egg yolks are a nourishing supplement. Chicken egg yolks are also said to improve yin energy.