Frequent Urination & Kidney Deficiency
Chinese Medicine considers that deficiency, or weakness, of the Kidneys to be one of the major causes of frequent urination in the evening and during the night, especially deficiency of Kidney Essence & Kidney Yang.  The Kidneys control the Urinary Bladder, therefore when the Kidneys are deficient, loss of control over the bladder and urination can cause frequent urination. Other symptoms will also often occur during the day when their is a Kidney deficiency, including lack of energy, poor memory, lower back & knee pain, heel & ankle pain, puffy ankles, low libido, impotence, early menopause or severe menopause symptoms, slow flow when passing urination.

1. Strengthening the Kidneys and balance urination:
Two very old traditional Chinese Medicine books, Ben Cao Cong Xin & Sui Xi Ju Yin Shi Pu, mention that Scallops have a sweet and mild salty taste, and they balance and strengthen the Kidney function, so are suitable for the symptoms mentioned above.

2. Balance Digestive System & Increase Appetite
Many people experience indigestion, including poor appetite, bloating, reflux, sluggish bowel movement, belching and wind. Indigestion can cause one of two scenarios: either overweight, or underweight from a great lack of nutrition. If this happens to children it will affect their growth, causing great concern for the parents.

3. Aid the body’s recovery from long-term illness
Chinese Medicine pays more attention in recovery from long-term illness and major operations.  After long-term illness, the body and organs become weak or imbalanced.  If they can be rebalanced it will help the body return to its natural healthy state.  After long-term illness, if you have the following symptoms: lack of energy, shortness of breath, poor appetite, dry throat, thirst, sluggish bowel movement or dry stools, then you can eat Scallops.

Recipes: Scallop & Beef Bone Soup
1/2 Kg Beef Bone with meat on
2tblspn Dried Scallop
3tblspn Spring Onion (chopped)
2 pieces Ginger

Preparation:
Boil beef bone in 10 cups water. After 3 minutes, remove waste from surface.  Continue to boil on low for 2 hours, then add dried Scallops, spring onion and ginger and continue to cook for another 2 hours. Other vegetables and flavours can be added as desired (ie. carrots, celery, salt, pepper, etc). More water can be added throughout the cooking time as required.

You can eat the dish and drink the soup. This is best for breakfast or lunch. We do not recommend drinking the soup later in the day or the evening.

Effects of the dish: Tonify Kidneys, balance urination and increase energy.