Tangerine Peels Postpartum Chinese Herbal Ingredients
All The Postpartum Herbal Ingredients You'll Need
All of the herbal ingredients required for the 12 weeks of our Tangerine Peels Postpartum Recipe Course are below. Each recipe has specific amounts and each week has a focus, to ensure you do not introduce ingredients that are too strong, too soon.
Where to Buy
You can purchase the below at your local Chinese Herbal store, Ranch 99 / 99 Ranch, or online. We've included Amazon affiliate links for ease.
Purchase Timeframe
You can easily purchase these ingredients a few weeks in advance and use them for up to a year (or more depending on the ingredient). They are dried as a means for preservation, so do not worry about them going bad. They will be older than the baby for probably at least a year if not longer!
Storage
Ideally, store all herbal ingredients in a low-humidity, room temperature pantry, unless otherwise indicated below. Avoid storing in the fridge as the humidity may dampen the ingredients. Room temperature is fine unless otherwise indicated.
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Apple blossoms, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Apple blossoms help with blood circulation and improves digestion. It also helps replenish the skin, an added but always welcome bonus for a newborn parent! -
Bei qi astragalus - Buy here on Amazon
Bei qi astragalus is a dried root primarily used for those who have lost a lot of blood and may help with reduced inflammation and strengthened immune systems, which makes it a good ingredient for postpartum recovery. It also help with urination. -
Black-Eyed Peas - Buy here on Amazon
These are the regular, uncooked black-eyed peas you can find at the grocery store. High in protein and restorative for the kidney and spleen. -
Black wood ear, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Wood ear helps nourish blood supply. Buy wood ear (木耳), which is black on both sides; it is basically replaceable with cloud ear (云耳), which is white on one side. -
Cassia bark - Buy here on Amazon
Cassia bark helps with increasing the appetite and improving blood circulation. -
Conch slices, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Dried conch helps increase the flavor of traditional Chinese medicinal soups.
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Cordycep flowers, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Cordyceps are a very common TCM ingredient as they are high in protein and amino acids and beneficial for kidney and liver.
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Dan sheng codonopsis root - Buy here on Amazon
I have a complicated relationship with dang shen. My dad thinks it is the be-all end-all cure-all-that-ails-you Chinese herbal ingredient, like the everyman’s everyday ginseng. Cough? Dan sheng. Not sleeping well? Dan sheng. Postpartum? Dan sheng! Personally, I think it smells a little… woody. That said, it is great for blood recovery! Dan sheng also helps to strengthen the stomach.
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Dark plums, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Primarily used to sweeten traditional soups, dried dark plums are a must-have!
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Dried shrimp - Buy here on Amazon
Beneficial for blood circulation, dried shrimp are very tasty and typically sold at Chinese herbal stores, which is why they are on this list instead of the pantry staples list.
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Dwarf lilyturf tuber, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Helps with stomach recovery for postpartum and expelling heat, which can sometimes be in surplus because of all that postpartum ginger!
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Fig, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Figs have the benefit of reducing inflammation, replenishing the stomach and lubricating the large intestines, and improving appetite. They also help sweeten traditional soups and teas, and are best when split open to maximize the sweetness.
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Fish maw, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Dried fish maw, are dried fish stomachs and are very high in collagen, protein, and are believed to be beneficial to the immune system. Fish maw is a common postpartum ingredient that also helps with digestion in the postpartum period.
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Fox nut - Buy here on Amazon
Fox nuts are beneficial for diarrhea and improving energy levels.
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Goji Berries/ Wolfberries - Buy here on Amazon
Superfood! Superfruit! Antioxidant! Now available dipped in chocolate! It's crazy out there.In all seriousness, dried red goji berries are a staple in postpartum soups. This bag is enough for the entire 12-week postpartum period, depending on how much tea or if you re-make certain soups. Goji berries are beneficial for immunity.
Sidebar: I have an aunt in Southern California who grows and dries these in her own backyard and it blew my mind that they could be sourced from anywhere not the herbal store. She also makes homemade Taiwanese pineapple cakes, which also thoroughly impressed me. Also, she is a total sweetheart.
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Honey dates - Buy here on Amazon
Honey dates are typically used for sweetening traditional Chinese soups. Don't skip this!
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Jisongrong mushroom/ Agaricus blazei, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Jisongrong mushrooms have antioxidants and help stimulate the immune system. They are also very sweet and delicious.
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Job’s Tears, raw - Buy here on Amazon
Job's Tears help reduce inflammation postpartum, improves immunity, and eases urination.
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Licorice root, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Licorice root strengthens the stomach, an important part of recovery!
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Lily bud, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Lily buds are heat-reducing and have calming properties.
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Lion’s mane mushroom, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Like dan sheng, lion's mane is widely hailed as a TCM it's-good-for-everything, but for postpartum specifically, it can help with improving digestion.
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Longan / Dragon Eyes, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Dragon eyes are a fruit similar to lychees, with a large black seed in the middle and a rough, golden-brown shell protecting the fruit flesh. Dried longan are often used in restorative herbal teas and desserts, as it is beneficial for the stomach and has calming properties.
I grew up drinking dried longan teas and eating the fresh fruit all summer, but at one point my mother did try to convince me to have them as a snack as well. I chose Pocky. Silly mom.
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Monk fruit, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Dried monk fruit is typically used as a natural sweetener for teas and soups.
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Morel mushroom, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Morel mushrooms are dense in amino acids, vitamins, and protein, which make them a great pairing for postpartum dishes. It doesn't hurt that they are so delicious!
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Octopus, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Dried octopus helps replenish blood, which is why it is a common postpartum ingredient. It also helps strengthen the stomach.
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Red date / Jujube, dried - Buy here on Amazon
A staple in traditional Chinese medicine and soups, red date nourish the blood and improves immunity. It is also calming.
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Rose buds, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Rose buds can help the circulation and replenishing of blood.
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Scallops, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Dried scallops are the backbone of many of our postpartum dishes. Mainly because I am absolutely addicted. They are delicious and help regulate the stomach.
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Shan zha hawthorn berries, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Dried hawthorn berries improve blood circulation and reduce postpartum pain. They also can help improve digestion to help things along.
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Shiitake mushroom, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Flower mushrooms (花菇) are more expensive and patterned like a tortoiseshell, and are typically used for braising or soups, while the fragrant mushroom (香菇) is more common in grocery stores and can be used for stir-frys and quicker cooking methods. If you don’t commonly use dried mushrooms, I suggest buying a pack of flower mushrooms, which will be enough for the entire course, instead of buying both types. For this reason, I don’t differentiate in the course between the two.
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Solomon’s root, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Solomon's root eases digestion, which is often challenging postpartum.
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Tangerine peel, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Dried tangerine peels are a common ingredient used to improve qi circulation and improve appetite, as the flavor is enticing to many. My grandmother often dried tangerine peels at home, but if you don't like decorative citrus peels hanging from every corner, I suggest this package from Amazon.
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Tong Cao - Buy here on Amazon
Tong cao is a Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal ingredient used to promote lactation, which again should only be used after the first week. It is a dried plant fiber, typically sliced horizontally into coins, and doesn’t require pre-soaking. This will be immediately obvious once you purchase some, as it is unbelievably low in density.
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White Snow Fungus - Buy here on Amazon
White snow fungus helps improve digestion and provides hydration. It is also purportedly great for your skin. Look for intact pieces about the size of your fist.
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(Chinese) Yam, dried - Buy here on Amazon
Another very common TCM soup ingredient, dried Chinese yam is beneficial for the spleen and lungs.
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