Congees
Rush & Lean Pork Congee (Dengxincao Shourou Zhou)
Rush & Lean Pork Congee is a classic heat-clearing medicinal porridge recommended by Professor Yang Zhimin, Vice President of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in the Daily Medicinal Diet series. Rush (Dengxincao) is sweet and slightly cold in nature, entering the Heart, Lung, and Small Intestine meridians, with the effects of clearing heart fire and promoting diuresis. Salted lean pork can direct fire downward. Northeast rice (japonica rice) nourishes yin, boosts qi, and harmonizes the stomach. Together, they achieve the effects of clearing heat, relieving irritability, calming the mind, and promoting diuresis. The congee is smooth and mild in nature. It is especially suitable for those suffering from irritability, insomnia, mouth ulcers, and painful urination during hot summer days, and is suitable for both the elderly and children.
Main Ingredients
- Lean pork 100g
- Northeast rice (or japonica rice) 75g
- Rush (Dengxincao) 3 small bundles
- Salt to taste
Steps
Rinse 100g of lean pork, add salt to taste, and salt for 1 day in advance to make salted lean pork. Note: Salting is a key step – salted lean pork helps direct fire downward and enhances the heat-clearing effect.
Rinse 3 small bundles of rush gently with water. Use the rush in bundles without untying them. Rinse 75g of Northeast rice and drain.
Place the salted lean pork, rush bundles, and rinsed rice together in a pot, add enough water (about 1000-1200ml). Once the congee is done, remove and discard the gauze bag (do not eat it). Add rock sugar to taste and stir well. Consume warm, 1-2 times daily.
TCM Notes
Rush (Dengxincao) : Sweet and bland in taste, slightly cold in nature; enters the Heart, Lung, and Small Intestine meridians. Known for clearing heart fire, promoting diuresis, and calming the mind. Used for irritability, insomnia, scanty painful urination, mouth ulcers, and night crying in children. Contains dengxincane diterpenes, dengxincanol, luteolin, and other components. Lean Pork (salted) : Provides high-quality protein and iron, nourishes yin, moistens dryness, and tonifies deficiency. When salted, it helps direct fire downward. Northeast Rice (Japonica Rice) : Sweet in taste, neutral in nature; enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung meridians. Known for nourishing yin, boosting qi, and harmonizing the stomach. Synergistic Effect: Rush clears heart fire and promotes diuresis; salted lean pork directs fire downward; rice nourishes yin and harmonizes the middle. Together, they clear fire without harming the body's integrity, and promote diuresis without damaging yin. Total approx. 250-350 kcal, primarily carbohydrates and protein – a nourishing medicinal porridge.
Suitable for：Those with irritability, insomnia, and difficulty falling asleep Those with recurrent mouth ulcers and canker sores Those with painful urination and scanty urine Those with summer heat, dizziness, and fatigue Children with night crying and restlessness General population for summer heat relief and daily wellness
Not suitable for：Those with deficiency-cold constitution – rush is slightly cold in nature; those with deficiency-cold (cold intolerance, easy fatigue, pale complexion, poor appetite, loose stools) should use with caution Those with lower-jiao deficiency-cold with urinary incontinence – avoid Those with qi deficiency with urinary incontinence – avoid Pregnant women – consult a doctor before consuming Breastfeeding women – consult a doctor before consuming Those with weak constitution – use with caution Those allergic to rush or pork – avoid
