Chun Jiu
What is Chun Jiu?
Chun Jiu translates directly to "Spring Alcohol." Chun Jiu is a tonic made with herbs and animal ingredients. It is supposed to have health and longevity benefits, as well as providing energy and sexual vigor.
"Spring Medicine" has faintly pornographic connotations to many people of Chinese descent. It may be thought of as something weak and dissipated dirty old men take in an attempt to recapture their youthful vigor. However, medicinal tonics of this sort have a long history in China. There are legends of men living to vigorous old ages by drinking such tonics. General Yang Sen is one modern example who drank herbal tonics in conjunction with his practice of Daoist exercises.
Notes on ingredients - I have prepared chun jiu omitting the animal based ingredients and it is still quite potent and good. I do have some concern about the human placenta being a potential disease vector and do not use that ingredient myself.
The ingredients should soak in strong alcohol, (brandy or vodka are both good) for at least 6 months, and preferably a year, before use.
Dosage is a small shot before bedtime. A little more in winter, a little less in summer. You may sweeten it to taste with sugar or honey if you wish. I don't.
I've added in simplified Chinese characters, Pinyin translations of the herbal names, Latin names and common names when I could find them. These should provide sufficient information for a Chinese herbalist to make up a packet should you wish to try out one of these recipes.
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Chun Jiu (Yang Sen’s formula) From Chinese Herbal Medicine by Reid, |
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Grams |
Name |
Other names and notes |
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150 |
鹿茸Lu4 Rong2 |
deer antler, Cervus nippon |
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150 |
鹿角胶Lu4 Jiao3 Jiao1 |
deer antler glue, Cervus nippon |
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150 |
阿胶E1 Jiao1 |
donkey skin glue, Equus asinus |
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150 |
龟胶Gui1 Jiao1 |
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60 |
当归Dang1 Gui1 |
tang-kuei root, Angelica sinensis |
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150 |
熟地黄Shu2 Di4 Huang2 |
wine-cooked Chinese foxglove root, Rehmannia glutinosa |
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80 |
黄荠Huang2 Qi2 |
milk vetch root, Astragalus membranaceus |
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20 |
人参Ren2 Shen1 |
ginseng root, Panax ginseng |
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60 |
女真子Nu3 Zhen1 Zi3 |
privet fruit, Ligustrum japonicum |
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20 |
覆盆子Fu4 Pen2 Zi3 |
Chinese raspberry, Rubus coreanus |
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60 |
枸杞子Gou3 Qi2 Zi3 |
matrimony fruit, Lycium chinese |
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60 |
胎盘 Tai1 Pan2 |
human placenta |
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60 (2 seahorses) |
海马Hai3 Ma3 |
sea horse, Hippocampus kelloggi |
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60 |
锁阳Suo3 Yang2 |
lock yang stem, Cynomorium songaricum |
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蛤蚧1 female, 1 male Ge3 Jie4 (gecko lizard) |
gecko gecko, |
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6 liters vodka |
After 6 months pour off half, add more vodka. After a year use all liquid. |
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Joiner provides a scaled-down version of the above recipe, suitable for a fifth of liquor.
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Chun Jiu From The Warrior as Healer by Joiner, |
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Grams |
Name |
Other names and notes |
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25 |
鹿茸Lu4 Rong2 |
deer antler, Cervus nippon |
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25 |
鹿角胶Lu4 Jiao3 Jiao1 |
deer antler glue, Cervus nippon |
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25 |
阿胶E1 Jiao1 |
donkey skin glue, Equus asinus |
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10 |
当归Dang1 Gui1 |
tang-kuei root, Angelica sinensis |
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25 |
熟地黄Shu2 Di4 Huang2 |
wine-cooked Chinese foxglove root, Rehmannia glutinosa |
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12 |
黄荠Huang2 Qi2 |
milk vetch root, Astragalus membranaceus |
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4 |
人参Ren2 Shen1 |
ginseng root, Panax ginseng |
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10 |
女真子Nu3 Zhen1 Zi3 |
privet fruit, Ligustrum japonicum |
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4 |
覆盆子Fu4 Pen2 Zi3 |
Chinese raspberry, Rubus coreanus |
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10 |
枸杞子Gou3 Qi2 Zi3 |
matrimony fruit, Lycium chinese |
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10 |
胎盘 Tai1 Pan2 |
human placenta |
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10 |
海马Hai3 Ma3 |
sea horse, Hippocampus kelloggi |
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10 |
锁阳Suo3 Yang2 |
lock yang stem, Cynomorium songaricum |
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蛤蚧1 whole piece Ge3 Jie4 (gecko lizard) |
gecko gekko |
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1 fifth vodka |
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Another variant of the same recipe
Source: Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity, Danierl Reid, Fireside, New York, 1989, pp 341.
| Latin botanical name | Common name | Quanity |
| Cervus sika | Deerhorn Shavings | 60 grams |
| Cervus sika | Deerhorn Resin | 60 grams |
| Equus asinus chinensis | Resin made from hides of wild black donkeys | 60 grams |
| Clemmys chinensis | Resin made from tortise shells | 60 grams |
| Clemmys chinensis | Horny Goat Weed | 60 grams |
| Rehmannia glutinosa | Rehmannia rhizome | 60 grams |
| Astragalus haongtchy | Astragalus root | 30 grams |
| Angelica polymorpha | Angelica root | 25 grams |
| Eucommia ulmoides | Eucommia bark | 25 grams |
| Lycium chinense | Chinese wolfbeny | 25 grams |
| Ligustrum japonicum | Japanese wax-privet seeds | 25 grams |
| Cynomorium cocdneum | Cynomorium stems | 25 grams |
| Homo sapien | Dried human placenta | 25 grams |
| Panx ginseng (best grade) | Korean Ginsing Root | 15 grams |
| Rubus coreanus | Raspberry seeds | 15 grams |
| Hippocampus coronatus | Sea horse | 2 each |
| Phrynosoma cornuta | Red-spotted lizard | 2 each 1 male 1 female |
Here are pictures of the ingredients for the Reid recipe, except for the placenta.
Lizards and seahorses
Donkey skin glue and Deer antler glue
Deer antler
privet fruit, matrimony fruit, ginsing
Remaining ingredients
Cost in 2007 - herbal ingredients - $176 + 4 half-gallons of Smirnoff Vodka - $115 = $291
