Polygonatum sibiricum Congee

[Records on Dietary Differentiation]

[Porridge Composition] 15 to 30 grams of Polygonati Rhizoma, or 30 to 60 grams of fresh Polygonati Rhizoma, 60 grams of japonica rice, and an appropriate amount of white sugar.

[Efficacy and Indications] Tonify the Spleen and stomach, moisten the Heart and Lungs. It is applicable for Spleen and stomach deficiency, physical fatigue and lack of strength, reduced food intake, dry cough due to Lung deficiency or dry cough without sputum, and hemoptysis due to pulmonary tuberculosis.

[Decoction Method] Select 15 to 30 grams of clean Polygonatum sibiricum, decoct to obtain a concentrated juice, and then remove the dregs. Alternatively, use 30 to 60 grams of fresh Polygonatum sibiricum, wash and slice it, decoct to obtain a concentrated juice, remove the dregs, and cook it with japonica rice to make porridge. After the porridge is cooked, add an appropriate amount of white sugar.

[Explanation of Congee Efficacy] Polygonatum sibiricum is the rhizome of the perennial plant Polygonatum sibiricum in the Liliaceae family. It has a sweet taste and a neutral nature, and enters the Lung and Spleen meridians, having the effects of tonifying the Spleen and moistening the Lungs. According to “Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao” (Japanese Pharmacopoeia of the Song Dynasty), Polygonatum sibiricum “tonifies the five types of fatigue and seven types of injury, strengthens tendons and bones, helps with occasional hunger, withstands cold and heat, benefits the Spleen and stomach, and moistens the Heart and Lungs.” “Dian Nan Ben Cao” (Yunnan Herbal) states that it “tonifies deficiency and replenishes essence.” According to the “Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Records,” Polygonatum sibiricum “tonifies the Kidneys and moistens the Lungs, replenishes qi and nourishes yin. It supports Spleen deficiency with a sallow complexion, Lung deficiency with cough, soreness and weakness of tendons and bones, and postpartum qi and blood deficiency.” Cooking Polygonatum sibiricum with rice to make congee can enhance its function of strengthening the Spleen and stomach and nourishing Lung yin. “Yin Shi Bian Lu · Volume II” records, “Polygonatum sibiricum congee. Chop it

Cooked with rice, it is indicated for all types of deficiency and exhaustion, regardless of whether it involves the decline of yin, yang, qi, or blood, and is suitable in all cases. For example, when used for pulmonary tuberculosis with dry cough, scanty sputum, or sputum mixed with blood, it can be further combined with bletilla (Bletilla striata) powder and lily (Lilium brownii) powder to cook porridge, which is even better, or it can be alternated with adenophora (Adenophora stricta) porridge. When used for Spleen-stomach qi deficiency, post-wellness emaciation, poor appetite, and fatigue, it can be further combined with Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita) to cook porridge, or alternated with atractylodes (Atractylodes macrocephala) and pork stomach porridge.

The main components of Polygonati Rhizoma are mucilage, starch, and sugars. According to clinical reports, when Polygonati Rhizoma was used alone to supports 19 patients with infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis, after two months, complete absorption of lesions was observed in 4 cases, absorption and improvement in 12 cases, and no change in 3 cases. Among the 6 patients with cavities, 2 cases showed cavity closure, and all 4 remaining cases experienced varying degrees of cavity reduction. This indicates that regular consumption of Polygonati Rhizoma porridge by patients with pulmonary tuberculosis can significantly aid in wellness recovery. Additionally, modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that Polygonati Rhizoma also has antihypertensive effects and can help helps maintain atherosclerosis and hepatic fatty infiltration to a certain extent. Therefore, patients with Lung qi deficiency who regularly consume Polygonati Rhizoma porridge can not only replenish Lung qi but also help helps maintain the occurrence of certain cardiovascular wellness.

[Precautions] Polygonatum sibiricum porridge should be taken for a course of 3 to 5 days, with 2 doses per day. It is not suitable for patients who usually have excessive phlegm-dampness, sticky mouth, thick and greasy tongue coating, as well as those with deficiency-cold of the Spleen and stomach and diarrhea. If chest fullness and oppression occur after consumption, the porridge should be discontinued immediately.

[Reference Materials]

[Porridge Recipes · Porridge Type Six · Herbal Category]: “Polygonatum sibiricum porridge nourishes essence and replenishes the Kidneys.”