Trichosanthin Porridge

[Qian Jin Fang (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces)]

[Porridge Composition] 15 to 20 grams of dried Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maxim. root, 30 to 60 grams of fresh Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maxim. root, or 10 to 15 grams of Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maxim. root powder, and 30 to 60 grams of japonica rice.

[Indications and Effects] Clear heat, generate body fluids, and quench thirst. Applicable for fluid impairment due to febrile wellness with excessive thirst, dry cough due to Lung heat, and diabetes.

[Decoction Method] Decoct the juice of Trichosanthes kirilowii root, strain out the dregs, or for fresh ones, wash, slice, and decoct to obtain a concentrated juice, then cook it with japonica rice to make porridge.

[Explanation of Congee Efficacy] Trichosanthes Root, known as Gualoufen, Baiyao, Dilou, and Ruixue in ancient times, is the root of the cucumber family plant Trichosanthes kirilowii. It is mostly harvested in spring and autumn, with the autumn harvest being preferable. It is produced in most regions of China, with Henan Province having the largest output and superior quality. It is customarily referred to as “Anyang Trichosanthes Root”. For medicinal use, those with a white color, sufficient starch content, fine and tender texture, and plump bodies are considered the best, while those with a brown color and abundant fibers are of secondary quality.

Trichosanthes Root has a long history of medicinal use. It was listed as a “medium-grade” herb as early as in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, which stated that it “supports wasting-thirst, body heat, restlessness and fullness, high fever, tonifies deficiency and calms the center, and supports severe injuries.” Li Shizhen, a renowned pharmacologist of the Ming Dynasty, believed that “the root of Trichosanthes kirilowii is sweet, slightly bitter, and sour in taste. The sourness generates body fluids, thus quenching thirst and moistening dryness. The slight bitterness clears heat and reduces fire, while the sweetness does not harm the stomach. Previous scholars only mentioned its bitter and cold nature, which seems to lack in-depth observation.” Through clinical practice, the main functions of Trichosanthes Root are to clear heat, generate body fluids, and quench thirst, similar to those of fresh Phragmites Root. However, although Trichosanthes Root is weaker than Phragmites Root in clearing heat, it surpasses Phragmites Root in generating body fluids. Therefore, for clearing heat, Fresh Phragmites Root Porridge is preferable, while for quenching thirst, Trichosanthes Root Porridge is superior. Qian Jin Fang records: “To supports severe thirst, deeply dig up a large Trichosanthes kirilowii root, thickly peel it until reaching the white part, cut it into inch-long pieces, soak it in water for one day and one night, change the water for five days, then take it out, pound it until broken, grind it finely, filter it through a silk bag, and dry it using the method for extracting powder. Take one square inch spoonful of the powder with water, three or four times a day. It can also be made into powder porridge or eaten with milk or cheese in unlimited amounts until recovery (chái, same as “瘥”, meaning recovery from wellness).” In addition to supports thirst in febrile wellness, it also has a good auxiliary therapeutic effect on cough due to Lung heat, dry cough with hemoptysis.

[Precautions] It is used for signs of imbalance of thirst and dry cough due to febrile wellness. When cooking porridge, it should be made thin. Take it twice a day, with a course of supports lasting 2 to 3 days. It is not suitable for people with diarrhea.

[Reference Materials]

[Zunsheng Bajian, Volume 12]: “Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maxim. root. Dig deeply to obtain the large root, peel it until it turns white, cut it into inch-long pieces, soak in water, changing the water once a day for five to seven days. Then collect the pieces, pound them into a paste and powder, filter the fine paste powder through silk, let it dry into powder, mix it with glutinous rice to make porridge, and consume it with milk and cheese. It is highly nourishing.”

Q1: What is trichosanthin porridge used for?

A1: Trichosanthin porridge is traditionally used to clear heat, generate body fluids, and quench thirst. It is particularly indicated for fluid impairment due to febrile wellness with excessive thirst, as well as dry cough caused by Lung heat.

Q2: How to make trichosanthin porridge?

A2: To make trichosanthin porridge, you can use 15 to 20 grams of dried Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maxim. root, or 30 to 60 grams of fresh root, or 10 to 15 grams of root powder. Combine this with 30 to 60 grams of japonica rice and cook into a porridge.

Q3: What are the health benefits of trichosanthin porridge?

A3: Trichosanthin porridge health benefits include alleviating excessive thirst and dry cough by clearing heat and generating body fluids. It is commonly used for recuperation after febrile illnesses to restore fluid balance.

Q4: Who can benefit from consuming trichosanthin porridge?

A4: Individuals experiencing fluid impairment following a febrile wellness, particularly those with intense thirst or dry cough due to Lung heat, can benefit from trichosanthin porridge. It is also suitable for people needing gentle heat-clearing and fluid-generating support.

Q5: Is trichosanthin porridge effective for thirst and dry cough?

A5: Yes, trichosanthin porridge is effective for thirst and dry cough, as it is formulated to clear heat and generate body fluids. It addresses the root causes described in classical texts like Qian Jin Fang (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces).