Postpartum depression refers to a psychological disorder characterized by symptoms such as depression, sadness, despair, crying, irritability, restlessness, and even suicidal or infanticidal tendencies in postpartum women. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this condition is mostly caused by liver qi stagnation and phlegm-heat disturbance. The treatment principle is to soothe the liver, relieve depression, clear heat, and transform phlegm. Below are several medicinal congee recipes that can help alleviate postpartum depression.
Chai Hu Shu Gan Congee: Chai Hu, Chen Pi, Chuan Xiong, Xiang Fu, Zhi Qiao, and Shao Yao, each 10 grams, and Zhi Gan Cao 5 grams, 50 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of white sugar. Clean the herbs and put them in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, decoct the herbs, and extract the juice. Add rice to the decoction and cook the congee. When it is cooked, add white sugar and cook for another one or two boils. Take one dose daily. This congee can soothe the liver, relieve depression, and is suitable for postpartum melancholy, chest tightness, and restlessness.
Shen Qi Sha Ji Congee: Ren Shen, Huang Qi, Sha Ji, Gou Qi Zi, and Yin Yang Huo, each 10 grams, 100 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar. Clean the herbs and decoct them in water to extract the juice. Cook the congee with rice and the herbal juice. When it is cooked, add rock sugar and cook for another one or two boils. Take two doses daily. This congee can soothe the liver, relieve depression, harmonize the heart and kidney, and is suitable for postpartum melancholy, palpitations, easy startle, insomnia with frequent dreaming, and lumbosacral weakness.
Shen Ling Zao Rou Congee: Dang Shen, Ling Zhi, Da Zao, and Long Yan Rou, each 10 grams, 100 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of white sugar. Clean the herbs and put them in a pot. Add an appropriate amount of water and soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Decoct the herbs in water and extract the juice. Add rice to the decoction and cook the congee. When it is cooked, add white sugar and cook for another one or two boils. Take one dose daily. This congee can nourish the heart and spleen, nourish the blood, and calm the mind. It is suitable for postpartum melancholy, fatigue, dreaming with easy awakening, palpitations, forgetfulness, dizziness, limb fatigue, loss of appetite, and pale complexion.
Er Zi Jing Wu Congee: Nu Zhen Zi, Gou Qi Zi, Huang Jing, and He Shou Wu, each 10 grams, 50 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of white sugar. Decoct the herbs in water to extract the juice. Cook the congee with rice and herbal juice. When it is cooked, add white sugar and cook for another one or two boils. Take two doses daily. This congee can nourish the liver and kidney, nourish yin, and strengthen yang. It is suitable for postpartum melancholy, fatigue, dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness, irritability, insomnia with frequent dreaming, restlessness, and lumbosacral weakness.
Long Zao Yuan Zhi Congee: Long Yan Rou, Zao Pi, and Yuan Zhi, each 10 grams, 100 grams of rice, and a little white sugar. Clean Yuan Zhi and put it in a pot. Soak it in cold water for 10 to 30 minutes. Decoct Yuan Zhi in water and extract the juice. Cook the congee with Long Yan Rou, Zao Pi, and rice. When it is cooked, add white sugar or rock sugar and cook for another one or two boils. Take one dose daily. This congee can nourish the liver and kidney, nourish the heart, and calm the mind. It is suitable for postpartum melancholy, confusion, dizziness, lumbosacral weakness, hot hands and feet, restlessness, and palpitations.
Qin Zhu Er Qian Congee: Huang Qin, Zhu Ru, Bai Qian, and Qian Hu, each 15 grams, 100 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of white sugar. Clean the herbs and put them in a medicinal pot. Add an appropriate amount of water and soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Decoct the herbs in water and extract the juice. Add rice to the decoction and cook the congee. When it is cooked, add white sugar and cook for another one or two boils. Take one dose daily. This congee can transform phlegm, clear heat, and calm the middle and mind. It is suitable for postpartum melancholy, insomnia with heavy head, phlegm with chest tightness, aversion to warm food, acid regurgitation, restlessness with bitter taste in the mouth, dizziness, and greasy and yellow tongue coating.
