Eliminating Dampness and Strengthening the Spleen: Five Barley Recipes for Dampness Relief

Yi Yi Ren has a sweet and bland taste, is cool in nature, and enters the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. It has the effects of promoting urination, eliminating dampness, strengthening the spleen, and clearing heat and pus. Therefore, many families in Guangdong keep Yi Mi at home to cook porridge or soup, which helps strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness.Dr. Chi Xiaoling from the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine explains that Yi Yi Ren is mild and sweet, capable of promoting urination and reducing swelling, while also strengthening the spleen and tonifying the middle. It is most suitable for conditions such as spleen deficiency diarrhea, edema, and beriberi. It can be used alone to make porridge or rice, or combined with herbs like Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes), Huang Qi (Astragalus), and Fu Ling (Poria) to create medicinal dishes, such as Yi Yi Ren Fu Ling Porridge and Yi Yi Ren Shen Ling Pork Soup.Additionally, Yi Yi Ren has a cool property that can clear heat and eliminate dampness, making it an excellent food therapy choice for summer heat and dampness. It can be combined with ingredients like winter melon, dried tangerine peel, and lotus leaves to create medicinal dishes, such as Yi Yi Ren Winter Melon Soup. Yi Yi Ren can clear lung heat and large intestine heat, making it suitable for patients with cough accompanied by yellow or purulent phlegm. In such cases, it can be paired with winter melon and almonds. If diarrhea is accompanied by symptoms like anal burning, abdominal pain, irritability, and thirst, Yi Yi Ren can be combined with Bian Dou (Hyacinth Bean), Mu Mian Hua (Silk Cotton Flower), and Che Qian Cao (Plantago) to create medicinal dishes.Moreover, Yi Yi Ren also has the effect of relaxing the muscles and alleviating pain, making it a common medicinal and dietary choice for treating arthritis. It can be used alone or combined with Cang Zhu (Atractylodes) and Mu Guo (Papaya) to create dishes like Yi Ren Mu Guo Drink.It is worth noting that individuals with spleen deficiency diarrhea should first roast Yi Yi Ren before consumption for better effects. Due to its strong dampness-eliminating properties, those recovering from febrile diseases or those with chronic yin deficiency and excess heat should use it cautiously.Dietary Recommendations1. Yi Yi Ren Porridge

Ingredients and Method:15 grams of Yi Yi Ren, 50 grams of japonica rice, both washed and placed in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat until it becomes porridge.

Effects:It has the effect of strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness. Suitable for spleen deficiency diarrhea, spleen deficiency edema, and joint pain.

2. Yi Yi Ren Winter Melon Pork Soup

Ingredients:10 grams of Yi Yi Ren, 10 grams of Bian Dou, 5 grams of dried tangerine peel, 500 grams of winter melon (with skin), 400 grams of pork, and an appropriate amount of ginger.

Method: Clean and cut the pork into pieces, blanch to remove blood, and set aside. Wash Yi Yi Ren, Bian Dou, and dried tangerine peel, clean the winter melon (with skin) and cut into pieces, slice the ginger. Place all ingredients in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 1.5 hours, and season with salt before serving.

Effects:It has the effect of strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness.

3. Yi Yi Ren Eight Treasure Porridge

Ingredients: 10 grams of Yi Yi Ren, 5 red dates, 10 grams of white hyacinth bean, 10 grams of lotus seed, 10 grams of walnut, 10 grams of longan meat, 100 grams of glutinous rice, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar.

Method:Wash all ingredients and place them in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer until it becomes porridge, and add brown sugar to taste.

Effects:It has the effects of strengthening the spleen, opening the appetite, and nourishing qi and blood. Suitable for those with spleen deficiency constitution or weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, irritability, and insomnia.

4. Yi Yi Ren Red Bean and Carp Soup

Ingredients:30 grams of Yi Yi Ren, 30 grams of red beans, 5 grams of dried tangerine peel, 3 slices of ginger, and 1 carp (about 400 grams).

Method:Scale and gut the carp, wash it, and fry it in oil until cooked, then set aside. Wash Yi Yi Ren, red beans, dried tangerine peel, and ginger, and place them with the carp in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 1-1.5 hours, add cooking wine, and boil briefly before serving.

Effects:It has the effects of strengthening the spleen, eliminating dampness, and reducing swelling. Suitable for those with spleen deficiency edema and beriberi.

5. Yi Yi Ren Che Qian Cao Drink

Ingredients and Method: 10 grams of Yi Yi Ren and 15 grams of Che Qian Cao (30 grams if fresh). Wash both ingredients, place them in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 20 minutes, strain, and drink as tea.

Effects:Suitable for those with damp-heat diarrhea and urinary tract infections.