Bamboo Leaf Congee

[Discourses for the Aged]

[Porridge Composition] 30 to 45 grams of fresh bamboo leaves, 15 to 30 grams of dried bamboo leaves, or 30 to 60 grams of lophatherum gracile, 45 to 60 grams of gypsum fibrosum, 30 to 60 grams of japonica rice, and a small amount of granulated sugar.

[Indications and Effects] Clears Heart fire, eliminates restless heat, and promotes urination. Applicable for warm-heat wellness with signs of imbalance such as excessive thirst and drinking, restlessness, red eyes, mouth and tongue ulcers with erosion, yellow, red, and scanty urine, or painful urination (including acute cystitis), as well as infantile high fever with convulsions.

[Decoction Method] First, wash the bamboo leaves or lophatherum leaves clean, then decoct them together with gypsum in water to obtain the juice, remove the dregs, add polished round-grained rice, and cook into a thin porridge.

[Explanation of the Congee] Bamboo Leaf Congee is a thin congee made by boiling the traditional Chinese medicine bamboo leaves with gypsum. There are two types of bamboo leaves: one is the fresh leaves or the newly-born curled tender leaves of the bitter bamboo, a plant of the Gramineae family; the other is the whole herb of the common lophatherum, also a plant of the Gramineae family. Both types of bamboo leaves have a sweet, bland, and cold nature and flavor, and share identical functions. They can both clear heat and promote urination, so clinicians often use them interchangeably. Modern Practical Traditional Chinese Medicine records that bamboo leaves can “cool and helps with occasional heat, promote urination, supports thirst in febrile wellness, difficult and painful urination, restlessness and insomnia due to heat, swollen and painful gums, and stomatitis.” According to clinical practice, fresh bamboo leaves have better effects in clearing Heart heat and heat in the head and face, while common lophatherum excels in eliminating dampness and heat and has a stronger diuretic effect.

Gypsum is a mineral of calcium sulfate, generally divided into crude gypsum and calcined gypsum, and crude gypsum should be selected for medicinal porridge. In traditional Chinese medicine, crude gypsum is sweet in taste and extremely cold in nature, and is an important herb for clearing heat and purging fire. In cases of robust physique, persistent high fever, restlessness, unconsciousness, delirium, (that is, a state of high fever and coma), thirst, dry throat, intense thirst leading to excessive drinking, strong pulse, as well as acute febrile wellness such as stomach-fire-induced headache, toothache, swollen and painful gums, and sores on the tongue and mouth, crude gypsum has a very good antipyretic effect. Cooking porridge with bamboo leaves and gypsum enhances the heat-clearing effect on the one hand, and helps maintain the extremely cold nature of gypsum from injuring the stomach on the other hand. This is the subtlety of applying gypsum in medicinal porridge. Upon closer examination, bamboo leaf porridge actually originates from the “Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction” by Zhang Zhongjing, a renowned traditional Chinese medical expert in the Han Dynasty and considered a sage in traditional Chinese medicine. As stated in Discourses on Health Preservation for the Aged, “Bamboo leaf porridge supports internal heat, red eyes, and headache. Cook it with gypsum and add rock sugar. This embodies the concept of Zhang Zhongjing’s Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction, and also supports seasonal febrile wellness. Alternatively, simply cooking porridge with bamboo leaves can also quench thirst and helps with occasional restlessness.” When using bamboo leaf porridge, if thirst is pronounced, adding some fresh reed rhizomes can yield even better results.

[Precautions] Bamboo Leaf Porridge is a cold-natured porridge for clearing heat. It is not suitable for patients with stomach cold or those with fever due to Yin Deficiency. During fever, Bamboo Leaf Porridge should be cooked thin rather than thick, and taken in two or three divided doses per day. Discontinue use once the wellness is supports. Additionally, it can be used to helps maintain heatstroke in summer or to supports patients suffering from heatstroke.

[Reference Materials]

[Taiping Shenghui Fang · Volume 97 · Various Prescriptions for supports Children with Food Therapy]: “Prescription for Lophatherum Gracefulus Porridge to supports children with Heart wind-heat and mental confusion. A handful of Lophatherum gracile, one sheng of japonica rice, and half a liang of Artemisia capillaris. Put the above ingredients into two large cups of water, decoct the two herbs to obtain one cup of decoction, remove the dregs, add the rice to make porridge and eat it.”

[Zunsheng Bajian, Volume Five]: “Bamboo Leaf Porridge. For those suffering from heatstroke, it is advisable to use a handful of bamboo leaves and one gardenia fruit. Boil them in water, remove the dregs, add rice to cook into porridge. When cooked, sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Consuming one or two cups will lead to recovery.”

[Duoneng Bishi · Volume IV]: “Bamboo Leaf Porridge supports wind-heat above the diaphragm in the elderly, characterized by red eyes, headache, and impaired vision. Fifty bamboo leaves (cleaned), three liang of gypsum, one liang of brown sugar, and three he of polished round-grained rice. Boil the bamboo leaves and gypsum in three large cups of water, remove the dregs to obtain one cup of liquid, clarify it, then cook the rice into porridge until done, and add the sugar before consuming.”

Q1: What is bamboo leaf congee good for elderly?

A1: Bamboo leaf congee is beneficial for elderly individuals experiencing signs of warm-heat imbalance, such as restlessness, excessive thirst, and red eyes. Its properties clear heart fire and promote urination, helping to cool the body and alleviate discomfort associated with these conditions.

Q2: How to make bamboo leaf congee with gypsum fibrosum?

A2: To make bamboo leaf congee with gypsum fibrosum, combine 30–60 grams of fresh bamboo leaves (or 15–30 grams dried), 45–60 grams of gypsum fibrosum, and 30–60 grams of japonica rice. Simmer the bamboo leaves and gypsum in water, strain the liquid, then cook the rice in that liquid until soft, adding a small amount of granulated sugar to taste.

Q3: What is a bamboo leaf congee recipe for cooling the body?

A3: A bamboo leaf congee recipe for cooling the body uses 30–45 grams of fresh bamboo leaves (or 30–60 grams of lophatherum gracile) combined with 45–60 grams of gypsum fibrosum and 30–60 grams of japonica rice. After simmering and straining the herbal liquid, cook the rice until tender, then sweeten lightly with sugar for a soothing, cooling porridge.

Q4: Can bamboo leaf congee help with fever?

A4: Yes, bamboo leaf congee can help with fever by clearing heart fire and eliminating restless heat, which are common in warm-heat conditions. It promotes urination and helps cool the body, making it suitable for mild fevers accompanied by thirst and restlessness. However, it should not replace medical treatment for high or persistent fevers.

Q5: Is bamboo leaf congee suitable for elderly with restlessness?

A5: Yes, bamboo leaf congee is suitable for elderly individuals with restlessness caused by internal heat, as it effectively clears heart fire and calms the spirit. Its cooling properties help reduce excessive thirst and red eyes, promoting overall comfort and balance in the body.