Mulberry Kernel Porridge

[Porridge Recipes]

[Porridge Composition] 20-30 grams of Fructus Mori (mulberry fruit), 30-60 grams if fresh, 2 liang of glutinous rice, or a small amount of rock sugar can be added.

[Indications and Effects] Nourishes the Liver and Kidney, replenishes blood, and improves eyesight. Applicable for dizziness and blurred vision, visual deterioration, tinnitus, soreness and weakness of the lumbar region and knees, premature graying of hair and beard, as well as constipation due to intestinal dryness, all caused by Liver-Kidney blood deficiency.

[Cooking Method] First, soak the mulberries for a moment, wash them, and then put them into a casserole along with rice to cook porridge. When the porridge is cooked, add rock sugar and cook for a short while. Alternatively, use fresh, purple-black, ripe fruits and cook them with rice to make porridge.

Explanation of the Congee: Mulberry fruit was known as “Sang Shi”, “Wu Shen”, and “Wen Wu Shi” in ancient times, and is called “Sang Ren” in Wakan Yaku (Japanese-Chinese Materia Medica). It is commonly known as “Sang Guo” in Jiangsu, “Sang Li” in Northeast China, and “Sang Bao” in Sichuan. Mulberry fruit is produced in most regions of China, mainly in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Sichuan and other provinces. It is harvested from April to June each year when it turns reddish-purple, and is then dried in the sun or steamed slightly before being dried for later use. Ripe mulberry fruit is oily and rich in sugar content. It tastes slightly sour and sweet. For medicinal use, the preferred mulberry fruit is large, thick-fleshed, reddish-purple, and rich in sugar.

In traditional Chinese medicine, mulberry fruit is sweet in taste, cold in nature, and non-toxic. It enters the Liver and Kidney meridians and is used as a nourishing and strengthening medicine. Lan Mao in the Ming Dynasty’s “Dian Nan Ben Cao” stated that it “benefits the Kidneys and consolidates essence; long-term consumption darkens the hair and improves eyesight.” Wang Mengying in the Qing Dynasty’s “Sui Xi Ju Yin Shi Pu” recorded that “mulberry fruit nourishes the Liver and Kidneys, replenishes the blood, dispels wind-dampness, strengthens walking ability, calms deficient wind, and clears deficient fire.” Modern traditional Chinese medicine practitioners commonly use it to nourish the Liver, benefit the Kidneys, nourish the blood, and improve eyesight. It is used to supports dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia, soreness and weakness in the lower back and legs, anemia, premature graying of hair and beard, and constipation in the elderly. When used to make porridge, it is sweet, smooth, and enhances appetite, while also providing nourishing benefits. Huang Yunhu in the Qing Dynasty’s “Zhou Pu · Zhou Pin Si · Mu Guo Lei” mentioned that “mulberry porridge improves eyesight and nourishes the Kidneys.” According to modern research, mulberry fruit contains sugars, tannic acid, malic acid, and vitamins B1, B2, C, A, D, and carotene. The fatty acids in mulberry oil are mainly composed of linoleic acid and small amounts of stearic acid and oleic acid. Thus, it is scientifically justified that traditional Chinese medicine claims it can nourish and strengthen the body and supports visual impairment. Pharmacological experiments suggest that mulberry fruit can replenish the lack of gastric juice in the stomach to enhance digestive capacity, and when it enters the intestines, it can stimulate the intestinal mucosa, increase the secretion of intestinal fluid, and aid intestinal peristalsis. Therefore, it is also scientifically grounded that traditional Chinese medicine considers mulberry fruit effective in supports “intestinal dryness constipation.”

[Precautions] Mulberry porridge is a tonic porridge that can be consumed regularly at will. It can also be taken as a course of supports lasting 5 to 7 days, with two servings taken on an empty stomach each day. When cooking the porridge, avoid using an iron pot; a sand pot is preferable. According to New Compilation of Materia Medica, “Among mulberries, the purple ones are the best, followed by the red ones, and the green ones should not be used.” In addition, it is not suitable for those who usually have loose stools or diarrhea.