October 18 is World Menopause Day. Every woman walks this road: restless nights, sudden hot flushes, skin that looks a little tired, moods that ride a roller coaster. These changes are common — and they don’t have to be faced alone. Today, let’s look at five gentle home recipes passed down by Chinese grandmothers, made with nothing more than everyday kitchen ingredients.
Menopause Is Not a Disease — It’s a Transition
Menopause is the natural transition every woman makes as her body moves into a new chapter of life. As the body “changes gears,” small shifts are common: restless nights, sudden heat and sweating, patchy skin, a duller complexion, and wobbly moods.
None of this means something is seriously wrong. But if these changes are getting in the way of your life, please don’t push through alone — talk to your doctor or a qualified professional. And in the kitchen, a few small, caring routines can make the days feel a little softer.
Sleep Well: Mulberry & Lily Four-Herb Paste
Troubled sleep is one of the most common complaints of the menopause transition. Chinese grandmothers say restless nights at this age usually go with a body that is “running low” — you dream a lot, wake up, and your mind starts turning over everything.
Their answer is a spoonful of mulberry and lily four-herb paste. Mulberries, lily, lotus seeds and wild jujube seeds are all easy to find, and the paste is slow-cooked into a deep, glossy jar — a sweet spoonful in warm water, like drinking in a little calm.
- Mulberries 600 g
- Lily bulbs 120 g
- Lotus seeds 120 g
- Wild jujube seeds 600 g
- Brown sugar to taste
- Simmer the lily, lotus seeds and jujube seeds three times, then strain the liquid.
- Blend the mulberries into the liquid until smooth.
- Slow-cook until thick, then stir in brown sugar.
- Cool, jar it and keep refrigerated — take 2–3 spoonfuls a day.
A Cooling Brew: Licorice, Tangerine Peel & Plum Soup
Around mid-afternoon, many women feel a sudden wave of heat, a light sweat, skin that flushes — then it passes. Grandmothers call it the “hot flash,” and their answer is a glass of cooling plum soup.
The old recipe is licorice, tangerine peel and plum soup: dried plums, aged tangerine peel, dates, hawthorn and a little licorice, simmered for half an hour. The result is tart and slightly sweet — chilled in summer, warm in winter, it works all year round.
- Dried plums (wumei) 6
- Aged tangerine peel 1/4–1/2 piece
- Red dates 6
- Hawthorn 10 g (skip if pregnant)
- Licorice 5 g
- Rinse all ingredients and place in a pot.
- Add plenty of water and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer about 30 minutes.
- Add a little rock sugar if you like; serve warm or chilled.
Caring for Your Glow: A Tea and a Jar
Patchy skin and a duller complexion are two things women mind most at this age. Grandmothers put it simply: skin renews more slowly, and the body’s “inner glow” may be running low.
So they kept two small staples: a fragrant qi-soothing tea for days when the mind feels blocked, and a slow-cooked tonic paste of astragalus and angelica for when the glow needs a hand. Both are made entirely in the kitchen.
- Green citrus peels (qingpizi) 3
- Aged tangerine peel half a piece
- Brown sugar to taste
- Optional: a few orange leaves for extra aroma
- Put the peels in a cup.
- Pour in boiling water and steep a few minutes.
- Sweeten with brown sugar and sip while warm.
- Raw astragalus 600 g
- Angelica root 120 g
- Brown sugar 100 g
- Soak the astragalus and angelica in cold water for 1 hour.
- Boil, then simmer 30 minutes and strain; repeat with fresh water twice more.
- Combine all three brews, reduce, and stir in brown sugar until thick.
- Cool and refrigerate; dissolve a small spoonful in warm water daily.
Settling the Mind: A Sweet Bowl of Gammai Dazao Soup
Mood swings are part of the menopause journey for nearly every woman: small things set the nerves on edge, evenings feel heavy, and mornings lack energy. Grandmothers would say the mind is carrying too much.
Their comfort is a bowl of gammai dazao soup — licorice, wheat and red dates, the plainest of pantry staples. The brew is gently sweet with a soft, porridge-like aroma, like the warm drinks of childhood. On stressful days and sleepless nights, a hot bowl helps the heart settle.
- Licorice 9 g
- Wheat, with bran 30 g
- Red dates 9
- Split the dates (skin on) and add with wheat and licorice to a pot.
- Cover with water, bring to a boil, then simmer 20–30 minutes.
- Strain and drink while warm.
