History

According to many classical Chinese books about health food, swiftlet nest was imported into China from the Southeast Asian region since the T'ang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907). Chinese records on swiftlet nest consist mainly of several categories of historical documentation, including official histories, notes of scholars, travel records, books on dining, books on health food, and books on medical herbs. Swiftlet nest became well known by physicians, connoisseurs, encyclopedic scholars, and traders beginning in the early 17th Century. Consequently, Swiftlet nest developed into a well-known and well-accepted precious health food.

From the historical documents, a progressive familiarity of the swiftlet nest evolved through time. The records of around year 1587 show that large amount of swiftlet nest was imported into China and an import duty was levied on the nest. In 1618, the amount of swiftlet nest imported had increased so much that a reduction on the import duty was granted by the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, swiftlet nest was well accepted as precious food by residents of Guangdong and Fujian Provinces. From then on, records about swiftlet nest became more detailed and covered even its place of origin.

Hundreds of years after swiftlet nest had been accepted as a precious food in China, it was further accepted by the Chinese to have medical and health enhancing effects. Descriptions of such effects are found in the works of two famous practitioners of Chinese medicine in the Qing Dynasty. The medical and health-enhancing effects of swiftlet nest have been formally confirmed and accepted by Chinese medical practitioners after centuries of observation and validation. Swiftlet nest has been considered able to slow down the aging process, in other words, a rejuvenating agent. Swiftlet nest also acts as a demulcent to the lungs and has been used in relieving phlegm and coughs.

Based on modern research, the protein contained in swiftlet nest is distinct in that it is a biologically active protein, providing revitalization to the human body. Research reveals that Swiftlet nest contains an epidermal growth factor, and water extraction of Swiftlet nest can directly stimulate cell growth/regeneration and enhance the effectiveness of mitogen (the initiator in cell division). Also, this active protein in the nest makes it a very useful tonic for people with weak digestion systems (e.g. elderly people), and for people that need a very rapid cell regeneration and development (e.g.: pregnant women, growing children). The most recent published research confirms that the high content of water-soluble glyco-protein in swiftlet nest promotes cell division within the immune system.