edited by : Joe Hing Kwok Chu

Latin name: collocalia esculentaLEsculent

Common Name: birds' nests

Cantonese pronunciation: yin wo

Distribution: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Hainan province of China.

Characteristics:  tastes sweet, warm* and non toxic.

Channel (meridian) relation: Related to lung, kidney and spleen and stomach channels.

Uses: Tonic for chronic stomach problems, chronic lungs problems chronic coughs, chronic malaria. Helps heal chicken pox in children. Usage: about 20 grams per serving. Soak a few hours until softened. Pick off feathers.  Add water and double boil for several hours. Can be added to chicken soup stock or fish soup stock to enhance taste.

It should be taken on an empty stomach (i.e., at least one hour before or three hours after a meal).

Chemical ingredients:

protein 49.85%, carbohydrates 30.55%, ash 6.19% ( Ca 0.429%, P 0.03%, Fe 0.0049%, K 0.04%). Its amino acids include arginine 2.7%, cystine 2.4%, histidine 2.7%, tryptophan 1.4%, tyrosine 5.6%.

Note: Contrary to popular belief that birds' nest is cool, it is slightly warm. Non of the Chinese herb classics mentioned it is cool. Some of them mentioned it is warm. According to the author' experience, it is slightly warm.

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