Plantain Leaf Porridge

[Sheng Ji Zong Lu (Complete Record of Holy Benevolence)]

[Porridge Composition] 30-60 grams of fresh Plantaginis Herba leaves, one stalk of scallion, 30-60 grams of japonica rice.

[Efficacy and Indications] Inducing diuresis, clearing heat, improving eyesight, and eliminating phlegm. Suitable for urinary obstruction, painful and difficult urination with dribbling, hematuria, edema, diarrhea due to enteritis, jaundice, red and swollen eyes with pain, and cough with excessive phlegm.

[Boiling Method] Wash and chop Plantain leaves, boil them together with scallion whites to make juice, then strain out the dregs. Add 1 to 2 liang of polished round-grained rice and cook into porridge.

[Explanation of Congee Significance] Plantago is a wild herb that grows on field ridges, roadsides, and riverbanks. It is distributed throughout various regions in China. In the past, some people in folk communities ate it as a wild vegetable, so it was also called “Plantago Vegetable”, “Cow Beet”, “Field Spinach”, etc. by predecessors.

Both the leaves and seeds of Plantago can be used medicinally with the same functions. They can promote diuresis, clear heat, improve eyesight, eliminate phlegm, and helps with occasional cough. In traditional Chinese medicine, they are often used to supports frequent urination, urgent urination, and painful urination during urinary tract infections; they are also used to supports acute enteritis, diarrhea, and bacterial dysentery. They also have certain effects on red, swollen, and painful eyes, as well as blurred vision.

Plantain leaves are sweet in taste, cold in nature, and non-toxic. Ancient physicians primarily used them for diuresis. As recorded in the Treatise on the Medicinal Properties of Herbs, “They supports hematuria, nourish the five viscera, improve eyesight, promote urination, and helps with occasional the five types of strangury.” According to modern research reports, plantain not only has a significant diuretic effect, increasing water excretion, but the leaves also have marked expectorant, antibacterial, and blood pressure-lowering effects. They act on the respiratory center, exhibiting strong cough-suppressing properties. They can enhance the secretion of tracheal mucus, thereby producing an expectorant effect. Additionally, they can inhibit the growth of Shigella dysenteriae. Some individuals have used plantain leaves alone to supports chronic bronchitis, observing 175 cases, all aged over 50. After 1-2 weeks of administration, 11 cases achieved clinical supports, 33 showed marked improvement, and 92 improved, with a total effective rate of 77.7%. Those supports for 2 weeks had better outcomes than those supports for 1 week, and patients with better physical constitutions responded more significantly than those with poorer constitutions. Others have used fresh plantain leaves to supports 88 cases of acute and chronic bacterial dysentery, with 63 supports, 11 improved, and 14 ineffective after 7-10 days of continuous administration, resulting in a total effective rate of 84%. Consuming porridge made with plantain leaves is particularly suitable for patients with the aforementioned conditions who have weak physical constitutions. The Prescriptions for Universal Relief, Volume 190, Dietary Therapy Section, records: “To supports heat strangury with hematuria and pain in the urethra: Take one jin of finely chopped plantain seeds and leaves, a handful of finely chopped scallions, and three sheng of cleaned millet. Boil these three ingredients in five sheng of fermented black bean juice until boiling. First, cook the millet until done, then add the plantain leaves and scallions to make a porridge. Add a small amount of salt and vinegar, and consume on an empty stomach, or boil it as porridge.” Especially for elderly, young, or weak patients suffering from urinary tract infections, acute and chronic bronchitis, enteritis, bacterial dysentery, or hypertension, consuming plantain leaf porridge as an adjunctive dietary therapy can both nourish the body and supports the wellness, truly achieving a dual benefit.

[Precautions] Plantain Leaf Porridge should be taken for a course of 5 to 7 days, divided into 2 to 3 doses per day. Since plantain is a substance that is “sweet, slippery, and promotes diuresis,” it is not suitable for patients with spermatorrhea or enuresis.

[Reference Materials]

[Shiyi Xinjian · Discussion on Food Therapy Prescriptions for Seven Types of Stranguria]: “To supports heat stranguria with hematuria and pain in the penis, it is advisable to consume a Plantain Leaf Soup. Take one jin (500 grams) of chopped plantain leaves (Plantago asiatica L., common plantain), a handful of chopped scallions (Allium fistulosum L., scallion), and two he (approximately 120 grams) of rice. Cook these ingredients together in fermented soybean juice to make a soup and consume it on an empty stomach.”

[Discourses of Staying Healthy in Old Age · Volume Five]: “Cheqianzi Congee. supports gonorrhea in the elderly. Wrap the seeds in cotton and cook in congee. It also eliminates dampness, promotes urination, improves eyesight, supports redness and pain, removes damp-heat, and stops diarrhea.”

Dysentery.”

[Eruting Qunfangpu · Volume One]: “Cheqian Congee. For elderly patients with stranguria and severe body heat, take five heaps of Plantaginis Semen (Plantago asiatica L., seeds of plantain), wrap in silk to boil the juice, add four heaps of green millet, cook into congee and consume. Regular consumption will be effective the next day.”

Q1: What are the health benefits of plantain leaf porridge in traditional Chinese medicine?

A1: According to the Sheng Ji Zong Lu (Complete Record of Holy Benevolence), plantain leaf porridge offers multiple health benefits, including inducing diuresis, clearing heat, improving eyesight, and eliminating phlegm. It is specifically indicated for conditions such as urinary obstruction, painful urination with dribbling, hematuria, edema, diarrhea due to enteritis, jaundice, red and swollen eyes with pain, and cough with excessive phlegm.

Q2: Does plantain leaf porridge help with digestion?

A2: Yes, plantain leaf porridge can aid digestion, particularly in cases of diarrhea due to enteritis. Its traditional Chinese medicine indications include treating gastrointestinal issues like enteritis-related diarrhea, as it helps clear heat and promote normal bowel function. However, its primary digestive benefit is addressing inflammatory diarrhea rather than general indigestion.

Q3: How long to cook plantain leaf porridge?

A3: To prepare plantain leaf porridge, combine 30-60 grams of fresh Plantaginis Herba leaves, one stalk of scallion, and 30-60 grams of japonica rice in a pot with sufficient water. Simmer over low heat until the rice is soft and the porridge reaches a thick consistency, typically about 30-45 minutes. Stir occasionally and ensure the leaves are fully integrated for optimal extraction of medicinal properties.

Q4: Can plantain leaf porridge treat urinary obstruction?

A4: Yes, plantain leaf porridge is traditionally used to treat urinary obstruction and painful urination with dribbling. According to the Sheng Ji Zong Lu, its diuretic and heat-clearing properties help alleviate urinary difficulties, hematuria, and edema, making it a common remedy for various urinary tract ailments in traditional Chinese medicine.

Q5: What ingredients are used in plantain leaf porridge?

A5: The classic recipe for plantain leaf porridge, as documented in the Sheng Ji Zong Lu, calls for 30-60 grams of fresh Plantaginis Herba leaves, one stalk of scallion (Allium fistulosum), and 30-60 grams of japonica rice (Oryza sativa subsp. japonica). These ingredients are combined with water and simmered to create a medicinal porridge with diuretic, heat-clearing, and expectorant benefits.