Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is unique in that it emphasizes the connection between medicine and food. One such TCM herb is Dang Shen, which is known for its nourishing properties. In modern life, many things can cause us to feel stressed and our appetite to decline, leading to poor digestion. Dang Shen millet porridge can help nourish the stomach and improve digestion. Let's take a look at its benefits!
【Name】
Dang Shen Millet Porridge
【Ingredients】
Dang Shen (Codonopsis pilosula) 30g, Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga heracleifolia) 10g, Millet 50g
【Method】
1. Rinse the Dang Shen and cut it into small pieces. Soak it in water for 10-20 minutes.
2. Bring water to a boil in a pot, add the Dang Shen pieces and simmer for a while (as dried herbs need more time to release their flavor). Then add the rinsed millet and continue cooking.
3. Once the pot comes to a boil again, reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot halfway and stir occasionally to prevent overflow.
4. When the millet blossoms, the porridge is ready. No need to add sugar or salt as seasoning.
【Functions and Indications】
Boosts Qi and lifts the spirit. Suitable for uterine prolapse, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
【Dosage】
Take on an empty stomach, twice daily.
【Nutritional Value】
Dang Shen contains polysaccharides, phenols, sterols, volatile oils, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, various essential amino acids, baicalin glucoside, saponins, trace alkaloids, trace elements, and more.
TCM believes that millet is sweet, salty, and cool in nature. It contains fats, proteins, sugars, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, phosphorus, iron, calcium, and other nutrients.
Eating millet regularly can help improve symptoms of poor concentration and insomnia. It can also help nourish postpartum women with cold constitution and aid in their recovery. In northern China, millet is often used as a nourishing supplement for postpartum women.
【Benefits of Consuming Dang Shen】
1. Dang Shen can dilate peripheral blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and inhibit the pressor effect of adrenaline.
2. It tonifies the middle burner and benefits the spleen and lungs, making it suitable for various types of qi deficiency. It is used for weakness in the limbs, poor appetite, and loose stools.
3. Dang Shen tonifies qi and nourishes blood, making it especially suitable for people with both qi and blood deficiency. It is beneficial for shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue, pale complexion, dizziness, blurry vision, poor appetite, loose stools, and susceptibility to colds.
4. It has a regulatory effect on gastric motility, with anti-ulcer, anti-acid secretion, and inhibition of gastric protease activity.
5. Dang Shen enhances the body's resistance by stimulating the nervous system.
