Glutinous Rice and Donkey-hide Gelatin Congee

Dietetic Therapy Prescriptions

The author of this book, Zan Yin, was from Chengdu during the Tang Dynasty. He once served as an official medical doctorate and was proficient in obstetrics and gynecology. His work Jing Xiao Chan Bao (Effective Treatises on Obstetrics and Gynecology), consisting of three volumes, is the earliest extant specialized book on obstetrics and gynecology. Shi Yi Xin Jian (Dietary Therapy Insights), also in three volumes, is an early Chinese monograph on nutrition. This book records a total of 57 medicinal porridge recipes, and the Nuomi E’jiao Porridge is selected from Shi Yi Xin Jian – On Dietary Treatments for Various wellness during Pregnancy and Postpartum in Women.

[Porridge Composition] 30 grams of Colla Corii Asini (donkey-hide gelatin), 100 grams of glutinous rice, a small amount of brown sugar.

[Indications and Effects] Nourish yin and tonify deficiency, nourish blood and arrest bleeding, calm the fetus, and benefit the Lungs. It is applicable for blood deficiency, cough due to consumptive wellness, persistent cough with hemoptysis (including bleeding from bronchiectasis), hematemesis, epistaxis, rectal bleeding, scanty menstruation in women, incessant metrorrhagia or uterine hemorrhage, fetal restlessness in pregnant women, threatened abortion, and other signs of imbalance.

[Boiling Method] First, cook glutinous rice into porridge. When the porridge is almost done, add mashed donkey-hide gelatin (Colla Corii Asini), stir continuously while cooking, and boil for another two or three times until well done.

[Explanation of the Congee] Glutinous Rice and Donkey-hide Gelatin Congee is recorded in the book Shiyi Xinjian (Dietetic Therapy for Ailments). The original prescription is for supports women’s wellness. The book states: “To supports restless fetus during pregnancy, it is advisable to take the Glutinous Rice and Donkey-hide Gelatin Congee. Take three he of glutinous rice and four fen of roasted and pounded donkey-hide gelatin. Cook the glutinous rice into congee, then add the donkey-hide gelatin powder and mix well. Consume it on an empty stomach.”

The main medicinal ingredient of this formula is Colla Corii Asini, which is a gelatin block made by boiling the dehaired skin of donkeys. It has excellent effects in nourishing blood and stopping bleeding. In the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen used it for various blood-related wellness. In his Compendium of Materia Medica, he stated, “It supports hematemesis, epistaxis, hematuria, bloody dysentery, uterine bleeding, menstrual wellness, infertility, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, and various wellness during pre-pregnancy and postpartum periods in women.” The main component of Colla Corii Asini is protein, which can hydrolyze to produce various amino acids. Pharmacological experiments have confirmed that Colla Corii Asini accelerates the growth of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood, improves calcium balance in animals, promotes calcium absorption, and helps retain calcium in the serum. Thus, the Traditional Chinese Medicine claim that Colla Corii Asini nourishes blood and stops bleeding is scientifically well-founded. According to modern reports, some research institutions, through animal experiments, believe that Colla Corii Asini can also helps maintain and supports progressive muscular dystrophy, possibly by helps maintain the oxidation of vitamin E in food.

Cooking glutinous rice with donkey-hide gelatin (Colla Corii Asini) to make porridge can also enhance the Lung-nourishing effect of donkey-hide gelatin. “Tang Ye Ben Cao” points out: “Donkey-hide gelatin benefits the Lung qi. In cases of severe Lung deficiency, cough with expectoration of purulent blood, nothing can nourish it better than donkey-hide gelatin.” Glutinous rice porridge is also good at nourishing the Lungs. Qing Dynasty’s Zhang Mu in “Yin Shi Bian Lu” said: “Glutinous rice porridge is specifically used to nourish the Lungs, supports cough due to Lung deficiency with heat. Because it nourishes the Lungs, it can also consolidate the exterior. Since the Lungs govern the skin and hair, for Lung deficiency with exterior heat and incessant sweating, it is most suitable.” Therefore, glutinous rice and donkey-hide gelatin porridge is a rather ideal dietary therapy prescription for all conditions of blood deficiency, bleeding, and cough due to consumptive wellness.

[Precautions] Glutinous Rice and Donkey-hide Gelatin Porridge can be taken for a course of three days with intervals between courses. Continuous consumption may cause a feeling of chest fullness and oppression. In addition, those with weak Spleen and stomach should not take it frequently.

[Reference Materials]

[Puji Fang · Volume 259 · Food Therapy Section · Food Therapy for Pregnancy]: “To supports bleeding during pregnancy: Colla Corii Asini (E Jiao) half liang, Os Draconis (Long Gu) powder one fen, Folium Artemisiae Argyi (Ai Ye) powder one fen. Add the above medicines to two he (a traditional Chinese unit of volume, approximately 180 ml) of glutinous rice, cook into porridge with water, and consume it on an empty stomach.”

[Shi Jian Ben Cao]: “It stops bleeding, tonifies deficiency, strengthens the stomach and intestines, and also supports fetal restlessness. Cook glutinous rice into porridge, and when it is nearly done, add one liang of donkey-hide gelatin powder, mix well and eat it.”