Ancient Chinese Medicinal Food: Angelica Blood-Nourishing Soup (Danggui & Astragalus Steamed Eggs)

Today, I’m sharing a traditional Chinese medicinal recipe: Danggui Buxue Tang (Angelica Blood-Nourishing Soup), also known as Danggui & Astragalus Steamed Eggs.

This formula has been used for centuries to replenish both Qi (vital energy) and Blood (Xue). It was first recorded in “Differentiation on Endogenous and Exogenous Diseases” by Li Dongyuan, one of the Four Great Masters of the Jin-Yuan Dynasty.

Women, in particular, go through a lot—stress, overthinking, menstruation, childbirth—all of which deplete Qi and Blood. When Qi is weak, it fails to properly move Blood, leading to stagnation. That’s why Blood deficiency (Xue Xu) and Blood stasis (Yu Xue) often appear together.

This herbal egg stew is a triple-action remedy:
✔ Nourishes Blood (with Danggui, red dates, and brown sugar)
✔ Strengthens Qi (with Astragalus)
✔ Promotes circulation (to prevent stagnation)

Many versions of this recipe omit Astragalus (Huang Qi), but that’s a mistake – Qi is just as important as Blood, if not more! The classic formula actually uses a 3:1 ratio of Astragalus to Danggui (or 5:1 for severe Qi deficiency) for optimal results.

Who Should Drink This?

1. Those with Qi & Blood Deficiency

(If you check 2-3 of these, you need this soup!)
☑️ Irregular periods, bloating
☑️ Constant fatigue, poor sleep
☑️ Dull, pale complexion
☑️ Brain fog or trouble concentrating
☑️ Palpitations after mild activity
☑️ Cold hands and feet, slow recovery after illness
☑️ Pale tongue or teeth marks along the edges
☑️ Thinning hair or hair loss (remember, healthy hair comes from healthy blood!)

2. Those with Blood Stasis

(1+ symptom means you need circulation support!)
☑️ Dark menstrual blood with clots or cramps
☑️ Facial pigmentation (dark spots)
☑️ Purple veins under the tongue

Ingredients

• Danggui (当归, angelica) – 3g
• Astragalus (黄芪, Huang Qi) – 9g
• Red dates (红枣) – 5 (or more if you love them!)
• Brown sugar (红糖) – 15g (must be real, unrefined!)
• Eggs – 2
• Water – 3 bowls

Step-by-Step Recipe

Step 1: First things first – rinse all ingredients except the brown sugar.

Get those eggs boiling until hard-cooked, then peel off their shells like you’re unwrapping little protein presents.

Take your red dates and give them a good split down the middle – this helps all their sweet nutrients escape during cooking.

Now gather your cast: astragalus root, dang gui herb, prepped dates, brown sugar, and your naked boiled eggs into the cooking pot.

Step 2: Time to hydrate! Pour in three full bowls of water (check our reference photo to see exactly how much).

Now unleash the fury of high heat until you’ve got a proper raging boil going – we’re talking big, enthusiastic bubbles dancing across the surface like in our demonstration picture.

Step 3: Here’s where patience pays off. Dial that heat way down to a shy simmer and let the magic happen for about thirty minutes. You’ll witness the alchemy as three bowls of water reduce down to one concentrated, power-packed bowl of liquid gold.

That incredible aroma hitting your nose? That’s the sound of your blood cells cheering! The eggs transform into these incredible flavor sponges, while the piping hot broth wraps around you like a warm qi blanket the moment it hits your lips.

Every sip gives you that unmistakable “ahhhh” feeling as you physically feel the revitalization spreading through your body – that luxurious sensation of your life force getting topped up is pure bliss!

Pro Tips

1. Make sure you buy high-quality brown sugar. Good brown sugar has a flavor similar to red dates—it’s not just about sweetness. It also helps nourish and move the blood. Don’t assume it’s only there to sweeten the soup. Do not use rock sugar, white sugar, or artificial sweeteners instead, or the blood-nourishing benefits will drop.

2. If you’re okay with the taste of Chinese herbs, you can increase the amount of Astragalus and Dang Gui—even 2 to 3 times what I used in this recipe. The boost in Qi and blood will be even better. You can also increase the red dates and brown sugar accordingly.

3. Always start with cold water when boiling the eggs. This keeps them from cracking. Once cooked, take them out and soak in cold water until they’re cool to the touch. That way, the shells peel off much more easily.

4. You can poke some holes in the eggs with a fork or toothpick so they soak up even more flavor from the herbs.

Why These Ingredients Work

🍁 Red dates + brown sugar – Directly nourish Blood.
🍁 Danggui – Moves and builds Blood (rare combo!). Great for cramps, fatigue, and dry skin.
🍁 Astragalus – The Qi powerhouse! Boosts immunity, energy, and metabolism.
🍁 Eggs – The secret weapon! The whites tonify Qi, yolks build Blood, and they absorb herbal essences like a sponge. (Ben Cao Gang Mu confirms: “For women’s Blood pain, cook eggs with Danggui.”)

Best Time to Take It

☀️ Mornings – Eggs lift Qi, giving you energy all day.
🌙 During period – Only if flow is light/pale (avoid if heavy!).
⏳ Long-term use – Eat regularly until symptoms improve, then 1-2x/week for maintenance.

Signs It’s Working!

✨ Brighter complexion, rosy lips/nails
✨ Less hair loss, stronger nails
✨ Warmer hands/feet
✨ More energy, better sleep
✨ Lighter periods (less cramping/clots)

Who Should Avoid It?

🚫 Colds/flu – Wait until recovered.
🚫 Damp/phlegm types (thick tongue coating) – Clear dampness first.
🚫 Heat excess (red tongue, dry stool) – Cool down before using.

FAQs

Q: Can men drink this?
A: It’s tailored for women’s Blood needs, but small amounts won’t hurt.

Q: Any side effects?
A: Don’t exceed 10g of Dang Gui regularly. It’s warming and may cause dryness, nosebleeds, or restlessness in some people.

This soup is a time-tested rejuvenator, but it works best with good sleep, movement, and a balanced diet. Here’s to radiant skin, strong Qi, and vibrant Blood for all my sisters! 💖

(P.S. Save this pin for your next “low-energy emergency”!)