“Grains” refers to rice, including five types of grains such as rice, millet, wheat, barley, and sorghum, which undergo the processes of spring sowing, summer growth, autumn harvest, and winter storage. The Huangdi Neijing states, “The five grains nourish, and the five fruits assist…” emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet with five grains, which nourish the five organs, reflecting the TCM theory of “food and medicine sharing the same source.”
1. Rice Nourishes the Spleen and Moistens the Lungs:
Rice, also known as Dazao (Oryza sativa), is considered neutral in nature and sweet in flavor, belonging to the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. Its primary health benefit is to moisten the lungs and strengthen the spleen. It has auxiliary therapeutic effects for those with lung heat cough and spleen-stomach qi deficiency. Cooking rice into a porridge until the rice soup is relatively thick is recommended; it is better to drink more rice soup and eat fewer rice grains, and it can be consumed multiple times a day.
2. Millet Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, Benefits the Kidneys:
In TCM, millet is sweet and salty, with a cold nature, belonging to the lung, stomach, and kidney meridians. Cooking millet into porridge reduces its cold nature, making it easier for the intestines and stomach to absorb, and it also protects the gastrointestinal mucosa. It is the most suitable food for those with spleen and stomach weakness. Millet can also be cooked with other coarse grains to achieve nutritional balance.
3. Wheat Nourishes the Heart:
The Huangdi Neijing also contains relevant records about wheat, stating that it nourishes the heart and calms the spirit, alleviating irritability and dryness. A common dietary remedy is to boil shriveled wheat (known as Fuxiaomai (Floating Wheat)) in water and drink it as tea daily to nourish the heart and reduce sweating. Whole wheat can also be cooked into porridge, which has heart-nourishing and calming effects.
4. Soybeans Strengthen the Spleen and Promote Water Metabolism:
Soybeans are sweet in flavor and neutral in nature, entering the large intestine and spleen meridians. They have effects of strengthening the spleen, promoting water metabolism, and enhancing the body’s immunity. Whether yellow or black soybeans, they can be prepared in various ways, such as making soy milk or cooking soybeans with rice to make porridge. For patients with edema, it is advisable to consume more soybean-based foods, which are excellent choices.
5. Sorghum Strengthens the Spleen and Stops Diarrhea:
Sorghum is a type of coarse grain, sweet, astringent, and warm in nature, entering the spleen meridian, and has very high therapeutic effects. Consuming sorghum appropriately has excellent benefits for strengthening the spleen, stopping diarrhea, and enhancing digestion. The Neijing states that sorghum can nourish the liver and benefit the stomach, and it can also help stop diarrhea. For those with chronic loose stools, eating more sorghum rice can improve symptoms.
Source: Haicheng City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital