Insomnia is a common disease among modern people, affecting both young and old. It not only makes people feel physically and mentally exhausted, but also has no benefits for overall health. So let's take a look at how Poria cocos can be used to treat insomnia.
【How to Use Poria cocos to Treat Insomnia】
1. Specific Method
Take 50g of Poria cocos and decoct it twice in water. Collect about 100ml of the decoction and take it in two doses, 1 dose half an hour before nap and 1 dose half an hour before bedtime. Stop using any sedatives during the medication period and avoid eating spicy and stimulating foods. One month of medication is considered one course of treatment.
2. The Efficacy of Poria cocos
Poria cocos is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in clinical practice. The "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic" classifies it as a superior medicinal herb, stating that it "calms the soul, nourishes the spirit, and prolongs life without hunger." "Compendium of Materia Medica" describes it as "regulating the visceral qi, strengthening yang, replenishing qi, and calming the spirit." Poria cocos has a sweet, mild, and neutral nature, with the functions of promoting diuresis, eliminating dampness, invigorating the spleen, and calming the mind. The calming and sedative effects of Poria cocos are reflected in various prescriptions such as Anshen Decoction, Tianwang Buxin Dan, and Guipi Decoction, and have been confirmed by modern research. However, there are few reports on the use of Poria cocos as a single herb. From the perspective of therapeutic effect, using a large dose of Poria cocos as a single herb also has good efficacy in treating insomnia.
3. Brewing Poria cocos Wine
Poria cocos can also be used to brew wine for treating insomnia. Take 60g of Poria cocos and 500g of white wine. Soak the Poria cocos in the wine and it can be consumed after 7 days. It can promote diuresis, strengthen muscles, calm the mind, and is suitable for arthritis, limb paralysis, palpitations, and insomnia.
Poria cocos has a diuretic effect, but excessive intake should be avoided. Excessive intake can lead to increased frequency of urination, which can harm the body. For individuals with kidney deficiency, the consumption of Poria cocos can worsen symptoms and even lead to conditions such as spermatorrhea. Therefore, the dosage and special populations should be taken into consideration when using Poria cocos.
【Methods of Consuming Poria cocos】
1. Lotus Leaf and Poria cocos Porridge
Ingredients: 1 lotus leaf (fresh or dried), 50g of Poria cocos, 100g of glutinous rice or millet, and an appropriate amount of white sugar.
Instructions:
1. Boil the lotus leaf to make a decoction and remove the residue. Add Poria cocos and washed glutinous rice or millet to the decoction.
2. Cook into porridge, add white sugar for seasoning before serving.
This porridge has the effects of cooling heat, calming the mind, and stopping diarrhea. It has an auxiliary therapeutic effect on cardiovascular diseases and neurasthenia.
2. Steamed Spare Ribs with Poria cocos and Chinese Yam
Ingredients: 200g spare ribs, 1 tablespoon of Poria cocos powder, a small piece of Chinese yam, a small handful of Codonopsis (optional), 8 red dates (optional), 1 tablespoon of starch, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, salt, sugar.
Recipe:
1. Blanch the spare ribs, wash them, and set aside.
2. Peel and wash the Chinese yam, cut into large chunks, and soak in water to prevent oxidation.
3. Wash the red dates after soaking them in warm water.
4. Add the spare ribs to a mixture of chopped scallion, ginger, cooking wine, light soy sauce, salt, oyster sauce, sugar, Poria cocos powder, Codonopsis, and a small amount of starch. Marinate for more than one hour.
5. Add the red dates and Chinese yam.
6. Steam over high heat for 50 minutes when the water in the steamer boils.
