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The “Huangdi Neijing” states that “the five grains are for nourishment,” indicating that grains are fundamental to health maintenance.
The five grains refer to “rice, millet, barley, wheat, and beans,” which include rice, wheat, soybeans, millet, and generally all grains and legumes available today.
The essence of “grains” is that they are seeds of plants. Seeds concentrate the essence of the plant and possess vigorous vitality, also referred to as “life force” or “yang qi.” When consuming staple foods, one not only ingests various nutrients but also the “yang qi” of the grains.
Furthermore, the five grains can also regulate and nourish the spleen and stomach. The properties of most grains are generally neutral in nature, sweet in taste, and yellow in color, primarily corresponding to the spleen meridian, stomach meridian, and kidney meridian. These characteristics determine their function in nourishing the spleen and stomach.
1
Grain
Rice
Includes brown rice (which has only the husk removed, retaining the bran layer, germ, and endosperm nutrients) and white rice (which has both the husk and bran layer removed, resulting in refined japonica rice).
In TCM theory, it corresponds to the “lung” among the five organs, and the lung is associated with the autumn season, thus rice is particularly suitable for consumption during the dry winds of autumn.
Autumn
When symptoms such as lung heat and cough occur, rice has a good effect of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs.
Preparation: Simmer rice porridge over low heat until the rice soup is thick, drink only the rice soup without the rice grains, and it can be consumed at any time.
2
Grain
Millet
Millet is yellow rice, which in TCM theory corresponds to the “heart” among the five organs. Yellow rice and millet are both yellow, but they are not the same food; yellow rice is actually larger.
Autumn
Yellow rice is not suitable for direct consumption as a meal; when cooked, it becomes somewhat sticky and hard to digest. People usually make it into sweet snacks like yellow rice cakes or sticky bean buns.
3
Grain
Job’s Tears
Job’s tears refer to millet, which in TCM theory corresponds to the “spleen” among the five organs. There is a common understanding that millet porridge is good for nourishing the stomach. The millet must be cooked until soft to be quickly absorbed by the stomach and intestines, thus achieving its stomach-nourishing effect.
Autumn
Millet is the top of the five grains, and regular consumption can strengthen the spleen and benefit the stomach. For those with spleen deficiency and weakness, millet is an excellent tonic that can replenish qi and promote longevity.
Preparation: Cook a pot of millet porridge, skim off the essence from the top layer of the porridge—rice oil, and drink it on an empty stomach. It has excellent effects on nourishing the spleen and stomach and can be consumed every morning and evening.
4
Grain
Wheat
Wheat refers to oats, wheat, etc. In TCM theory, it corresponds to the “liver” among the five organs.
Autumn
Wheat is a staple in northern households, divided into refined wheat flour and coarse wheat flour. Refined wheat flour is fine and produces delicious and easily digestible noodles and buns. Coarse wheat flour is usually used to make pasta and macaroni.
5
Grain
Legumes
Legumes refer to various beans, including soybeans, red beans, black beans, lentils, green beans, peas, and fava beans. In TCM theory, they correspond to the “kidney” among the five organs.
Autumn
Black beans among the soybeans are known as the “grain of the kidneys.” TCM believes they have the effects of tonifying the kidneys, strengthening the body, detoxifying, and moisturizing the skin, and are beneficial for kidney deficiency and edema.
Preparation: Soak and blend into soy milk, or cook black bean porridge, consuming it once in the morning and once in the evening.
Source: Health China
