New Collection of Longevity Porridge Recipes

Author: Wang Huanhua/Ni Huizhu (editors)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-04-01
Features: "The foundation of well-being must be rooted in food; without understanding dietary appropriateness, one cannot sustain life." Dietary therapy is an important component of the treasure trove of traditional Chinese medicine. The use of medicinal porridge to delay aging and prevent elderly diseases has been a highly valued experience among generations of medical scholars and is recorded in numerous medical texts such as Essentials of Diet and Feasting, Compendium of Materia Medica, Nurturing Parents in Old Age, and The Constant Practice of Caring for the Elderly. It remains widely practiced in folk traditions to this day. Currently, in Western countries like the United States, many people frequently buy Chinese herbs such as goji berries, coix seeds, polygonum multiflorum, and cinnamon to cook porridge for health and longevity. Since ancient times, food and medicine have been intertwined. Many Chinese medicinal herbs, such as lotus seeds, lotus nuts, lentils, and Chinese yam, are beloved by middle-aged and elderly individuals. Our ancestors referred to these commonly consumed foods as "premium medicinal herbs" and believed that "premium herbs nourish life in harmony with the heavens, are free of toxicity, and cause no harm when taken in large or long-term doses. They promote vitality, enhance health, and prevent aging, extending years of life." They also said, "Premium herbs should be taken for extended periods—lifetime for those who take more, and several years for those who take less. Combined with the nourishing properties of grains, they lead to a long and healthy life." Therefore, selecting medicinal herbs that prevent aging, strengthen the body, and treat elderly diseases, and cooking them into porridge for consumption, is indeed an excellent dietary approach for longevity. As the Southern Song Dynasty patriotic poet Lu You wrote in his poem On Porridge: "All in the world seek longevity, yet fail to realize it is before their eyes. I follow the simple method of Wanchu, using porridge to attain immortality." As the saying goes, "Food supplements are better than medicine supplements," and "Dietary treatment surpasses medicinal treatment." Scientifically and rationally combining medicinal herbs with food to nourish the body and prevent elderly diseases is a distinctive feature of traditional Chinese medicine. The New Compendium of Longevity Porridge Recipes is a concrete application of this integration of medicine and food, emphasizing both dietary nourishment and therapeutic effects. The book compiles 100 types of medicinal porridge suitable for middle-aged and elderly health and longevity, selected from nearly a thousand historical porridge recipes and the practical experiences of renowned modern Chinese traditional medicine practitioners. After careful screening and noting their origins for credibility, the authors have combined their 30 years of clinical insights in traditional Chinese medicine to present these recipes. The aim is to ensure ease of ingredients, simplicity of preparation, delicious taste, safety, and effectiveness, providing readers with a reliable choice to achieve the goal of health and longevity.