Specific Applications of Congee Nutrition and Therapy
Li Shizhen emphasized the analysis of the efficacy of congee and emphasized the use of appropriate congee based on different constitutions and health conditions, fully reflecting the ideas of TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment in "Compendium of Materia Medica". In terms of specific applications, there are several main characteristics:
(1) Using the properties of single food to serve as congee for health care
In "Compendium of Materia Medica", this is mostly seen in cereal foods, such as glutinous rice congee, wheat congee, and millet congee.
(2) Cooking congee with medicine or food
By cooking congee with rice and food or medicine, using one main food or medicine, combined with white rice or other grains as congee, such as longan meat congee, leek congee, and pork stomach congee, it achieves the dual effects of nourishing with congee and supplementing with medicine, as well as nourishing with food and treating with medicine.
(3) Utilizing the synergistic effects between food (medicine) to achieve health care functions
For example, Huangqi Honey Congee is composed of Huangqi, which has the effects of tonifying Qi, promoting Yang, consolidating the surface, and stopping sweating, and honey, which has the effects of nourishing Yin, moisturizing dryness, and lubricating the intestines for smooth bowel movements. It is used for the elderly, post-illness, postpartum qi deficiency constipation, difficulty in defecation, fatigue after defecation, and even sweating and shortness of breath.
(4) Using methods such as administering medicine with congee, making medicine with congee, and consuming congee after taking medicine
In addition, "Compendium of Materia Medica" also contains methods such as administering medicine with congee, making medicine with congee, and consuming congee after taking medicine, to exert the effects of congee as an adjuvant for medication, enhancing the efficacy of medicine, and counteracting the properties of medicine. For example, Wuziye is recorded as "congee drink for administering medicine", and Bai Zhi is described as "using Bai Zhi powder...then consuming hot scallion congee to induce sweating".
"Compendium of Materia Medica", as a monumental work summarizing the TCM system of medicine before the 16th century in China, also has indelible achievements in the field of diet therapy. It provides detailed information on the main treatment, ingredients, and the use of congee for nourishing the body, treating diseases, making medicine with congee, consuming congee after taking medicine, and the contraindications of congee. The ingredients and methods of congee vary, and their therapeutic effects differ. It integrates the consumption, nourishment, and treatment effects of congee, making outstanding contributions to the development of congee nutrition and therapy.
