Spring Vegetable - Chives 

There is a saying in Korea which goes "Keep the chives for yourself or your husband, and don't give them to anyone - not even your beloved son-in-law!". What do they mean? A mother-in-law knows that caring for their son-in-law is eventually the same as taking care of their daughter. As a result, mothers-in-law do not spare a brood hen if it is for their sons-in-law. Even so, they do not give spring chives to their sons-in-law because the effect of chives for tonifying Yang Qi should be conserved for their husbands!

Chives' Chinese medicine name is 壯陽菜, which means "a vegetable that makes Yang Qi flourish." It tastes pungent yet sweet, and its warm nature allows it to heat the interior (abdomen) and strengthen the Stomach. Drinking chive juice/extract mixed in milk is good for those with gastric disorders (vomiting, abdominal pain, stomach cancer) due to a weak and cold Spleen and Stomach. It also facilitates blood circulation to resolve Blood Stasis, which makes it an excellent food at times of trauma and contusions. In addition, it warms the Kidneys and raises the Yang Qi. This makes it a good food for those who have low libido/sexual desire, frequent urination, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, lower back soreness and cold sensation in that region due to Yang Qi Deficiency. At this time, a good food therapy is chives (400g) and walnuts(100g) stir-fried in sesame oil (season with shrimp paste for a better taste). As for women who have a cold lower abdomen and/or severe menstrual cramping accompanying cold sensation, or bad constipation from a cold abdomen, eating chives kimchi (must contain chives and Chinese/Sichuan pepper) is also effective at resolving those symptoms. Chives are also good for lactating mothers who don't have sufficient milk production, for promoting postpartum uterine contraction (to bring it back to its original state), for reducing high blood cholesterol, and for coronary artery disease patients. 

Even with many benefits, chives can become harmful if used on the wrong individuals. These people do not have enough water to control the inherent fire of our body, leading to excessive heat in comparison. They will have signs and symptoms such as a red face, a sensation of fever in the afternoon, dry mouth, constipation, stuffiness or a feeling of heat in the chest. Having chives on this kind of constitution will spark the fire even more and worsen the symptoms. The same applies to patients with gastric ulcers, eye disorders, or any form of inflammation. In addition, ancient Chinese texts say that "Chives are fragrant when consumed in spring, but they are stinky when consumed in summer. Consuming too many chives in summer can fuddle our minds and make things (before our eyes) go black. Also, avoid them after drinking (alcohol)." Herbal medicine textbooks also contraindicate chives within 10 days after febrile diseases, and they also mention that chives do not go well with honey and beef.

We hope those who see chives fit for their constitution get to try them this spring. If you are unsure what to do with them, try using them as a garnish like any other herbs.  Happy spring, everyone!