Glehnia Root Congee

[Porridge Recipes]

[Porridge Composition] 15 to 30 grams of Radix Adenophorae, 30 to 60 grams of japonica rice, appropriate amount of rock sugar.

[Efficacy and Indications] Moistens the Lungs, nourishes the stomach, dispels phlegm, and helps with occasional cough. It is suitable for Lung heat and Lung dryness with dry cough and scanty sputum, or for chronic cough without sputum, dry throat due to Lung qi deficiency and Lung-stomach Yin Deficiency, or for thirst due to fluid injury after febrile wellness.

[Decoction Method] First, take 15 to 30 grams of Radix Adenophorae (Glehnia Root), decoct to obtain the medicinal juice, strain out the dregs, add glutinous rice to cook into porridge. After the porridge is cooked, add rock sugar and continue to cook into a thin porridge. Alternatively, take 30 to 60 grams of fresh Radix Adenophorae (Glehnia Root), wash and slice it, decoct to obtain a concentrated juice, and cook it with glutinous rice and rock sugar to make porridge for consumption.

[Explanation of Congee Efficacy] Adenophora is a commonly used drug in traditional Chinese medicine clinical practice, usually divided into Northern Adenophora and Southern Adenophora. Northern Adenophora is the root of Glehnia littoralis, a perennial herb of the Umbelliferae family, while Southern Adenophora is the root of Adenophora axilliflora or Adenophora tetraphylla, plants of the Campanulaceae family. In ancient medical literature, there was only one type of Adenophora, namely Southern Adenophora. It was not until the publication of Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica and Original Text in the Study of Materia Medica in the Qing Dynasty that Adenophora was divided into Southern and Northern types. Although Southern Adenophora and Northern Adenophora are medicinal herbs from different families and genera, they are generally considered to have similar functions. However, upon closer examination, Southern Adenophora is more inclined to clear the Lungs and expel phlegm, while Northern Adenophora is more effective in nourishing the stomach and promoting the production of body fluids.

The main functions of Adenophora Root Porridge are to moisten Lung dryness and clear Lung heat. Both Adenophora stricta (Southern Adenophora Root) and Adenophora tetraphylla (Northern Adenophora Root) are sweet in taste and cold in nature. According to Porridge Recipes · Six Types of Porridge, “Adenophora Root Porridge nourishes yin of the Lung and stomach and supports Lung heat.” The so-called “nourishing yin of the Lung and stomach” mainly refers to replenishing yin in the Lung and stomach. In the later stage of febrile wellness, there are often signs of imbalance such as Yin Deficiency in the Lung and stomach, reduced body fluids, and thirst. Choosing Adenophora Root Porridge indeed has the effects of clearing residual heat and moistening the Lung and stomach. The so-called “supports Lung heat” refers to patients with Lung dryness and Lung atrophy, who have insufficient Lung yin and a virtual fire burning the Lung; or patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who have Yin Deficiency and excessive fire; or those with fever due to consumptive wellness, often presenting with signs of imbalance such as dry cough with little or no sputum, a hoarse voice after prolonged coughing, thirst, and a dry throat. Taking Adenophora Root Porridge can achieve the effects of clearing heat, relieving cough, generating body fluids, and moistening the Lung.

Adding rock sugar can not only enhance the flavor but also improve the therapeutic effect of Adenophora Root porridge. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that rock sugar has the functions of “tonifying the middle-jiao and replenishing qi, harmonizing the stomach and moistening the Lungs, relieving cough, and resolving phlegm.” It can thus be regarded as a good medicine for moistening the Lungs and relieving cough. Cooking Adenophora Root and rock sugar together with rice to make porridge can be said to bring out the best in each other.

[Precautions] Adenophora Root Porridge can be taken continuously for 3 to 5 days as one course of supports. When cooking Adenophora Root Porridge, it should be made thin rather than thick. It is contraindicated for patients with wind-cold cough caused by cold-induced common cold.