Compendium of Materia Medica
[Porridge Composition] Cistanche deserticola 10 – 15 grams, lean mutton 2 liang (100 grams), japonica rice 2 liang (100 grams), a small amount of refined salt, two stalks of scallion whites, three slices of ginger.
[Efficacy and Indications] Tonify the Kidney and assist yang, strengthen the Spleen and nourish the stomach, moisten the intestines and helps with occasional constipation. It is applicable for impotence, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, female infertility caused by Kidney yang deficiency and decline, cold pain in the waist and knees, frequent urination, nocturia, enuresis, as well as general physical frailty, fatigue and internal injury, aversion to cold with cold limbs, Spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, dull pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, and constipation due to yang deficiency in the elderly.
[Decoction Method] Wash and finely chop Cistanche deserticola and lean mutton separately. First, decoct Cistanche deserticola in a casserole to obtain the juice, strain out the dregs, add the mutton and polished round-grained rice, and cook together. After it boils, add refined salt, ginger, and scallion greens, and continue cooking into a thin porridge.
[Explanation of Congee Significance] Cistanche is one of the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal herbs in clinical practice. In some regions, people also use fresh and tender cistanche as a food, making it into a vegetable soup with yams and lamb, which tastes extremely delicious. They believe that it is “beneficial to people and eating it is better than taking tonics.” Ancient Chinese medical practitioners also frequently used cistanche deserticola combined with other herbs or foods to make congee with rice for helps maintain and supports wellness. There are numerous records of this in traditional Chinese medical literature.
Cistanche is the fleshy stem of the perennial plant Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma in the Orobanchaceae family. The best quality is characterized by long, plump strips that are fleshy, oily, brownish-black, tender, and moist. It tastes sweet and salty, is warm in nature, non-toxic, and enters the Kidney and large intestine meridians. As early as in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), Cistanche deserticola was already classified as a “superior” herb, described as “sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, supports the five types of fatigue and seven types of injury, tonifying the center, nourishing the five internal organs, strengthening yin, benefiting essence and qi, and promoting lightness of the body with long-term use.” The Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao (Japanese Pharmacopoeia) more specifically states that Cistanche deserticola “supports male impotence and inability to achieve erection, female amenorrhea and inability to conceive, moistens the five internal organs, promotes muscle growth, warms the waist and knees, addresses male spermatorrhea, hematuria, urinary dribbling, and vaginal pain with leukorrhea.” Overall, its main functions are to nourish the Kidneys and strengthen yang, and warmly tonify the lower energizer. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is generally used to supports conditions such as insufficient Kidney yang, coldness in the lower energizer, impotence, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea, and enuresis. In modern times, some reports have stated that “Cistanche deserticola is a warm, tonifying, moistening, and strengthening herb that promotes longevity when taken long-term by the elderly and those with yang deficiency.” When made into a porridge with lamb, japonica rice, green onions, and ginger, it further enhances its ability to warmly tonify and supplement qi. Volume 12 of the Compendium of Materia Medica records: “For supports fatigue and injury, and essence deficiency with a sallow complexion, take four liang of Cistanche, boil until tender, thinly slice and finely grind, divide lean lamb into four portions, add the five flavors, and cook with rice into a porridge to be eaten on an empty stomach.” Additionally, Cistanche deserticola has a lubricating effect on the intestines to helps with occasional constipation, making it a suitable choice for patients with chronic constipation. For example, the Ben Jing Feng Yuan (Original Meaning of the Classic of the Materia Medica) points out that “for dry constipation in the elderly, it is advisable to cook it into a porridge and consume it.” This is an effective dietary therapy method of “promoting bowel movement while tonifying.”
[Precautions] Cistanche and Mutton Porridge is a warm and heat-producing medicinal porridge recipe suitable for consumption in winter, with a course of supports lasting 5 to 7 days. It is not suitable for consumption in summer. It should not be selected by individuals with loose stools or hyperactive sexual function.
[Reference Materials]
[Prescriptions from the Holy Benevolent Dispensary · Volume 188 · Food Therapy Section]: “For supports Kidney exhaustion due to wind and deficiency, with sallow and dark complexion, and dry and withered sideburn hair, the recipe for Cistanche and Sheep Kidney Porridge is as follows: 1.5 liang of Cistanche deserticola (processed with wine to remove soil), one sheep Kidney (with fat and membrane removed and finely chopped), 2 liang of Saiga tatarica horn shavings, 2 liang each of magnetite (calcined red, quenched in vinegar, and pounded into powder) and Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen. Of these five ingredients, except for the sheep Kidney, magnetite, and Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen, finely chop the rest and divide into three doses. For each dose, use 3.5 sheng of water, boil until 2 sheng remain, strain out the dregs, then add 1 liang each of magnetite and Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen, along with one sheep Kidney, and cook into porridge. Consume on an empty stomach as desired.”
[Taiping Shenghui Fang · Volume 97 · Various Prescriptions for supports Five Types of Fatigue and Seven Types of Injury through Diet]: “Prescription for Cistanche Deserticola Porridge to supports five types of fatigue, seven types of injury, long-standing deficiency and cold, and complete loss of sexual function. Two liang of Cistanche deserticola, soaked in wine overnight, scraped to remove the wrinkled skin, finely chopped; three he of polished round-grained rice; half liang of deer antler glue, crushed and stir-fried until yellow and dry, then ground into powder; four liang of finely chopped mutton. For the above ingredients, cook the mutton, Cistanche deserticola, and polished round-grained rice into porridge. When it is nearly cooked, add the powdered deer antler glue. Season with salt, soy sauce, and flavoring powder, and divide it into two portions to be eaten.”
[Tonic Drugs and Supplements]: Cistanche Congee. Cistanche deserticola (sliced after being boiled). Add rice and mutton to cook into congee, season and consume. It has the functions of nourishing the Liver and Kidneys and strengthening the body. It is used to supports signs of imbalance such as a dark complexion, soreness in the waist and knees, and irregular menstruation in women caused by insufficient essence and blood.