cozyweekends: 清清day... 清保良粥

What to eat when you're sick...?

A bowl of hearty congee sure helps :)

Chinese 清保良 is a very common chinese medicinal mix... Adding it to congee not only makes it flavorful, but it also helps nourishing and detoxing our body.

I did a brief research about the ingredients used in 清保良 (my very first time to get to know what I've been drinking since childhood... because when mom says "Drink it, it's beneficial and nutritious", you just do without asking anything... So, the ingredients in 清保良 are as follows :

Apricot Kernels (南北杏) - is literally the seed kernel of the apricot fruit, they can be very strong tasting and bitter, so that the Chinese name reflects the tastes of it: sweet (南), bitter (北) kernels (杏). Apricot kernels are known to target and benefit the lungs, they are best used as a cough remedy.

Chinese Yam, dried (淮山) - a root, commonly used in Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisines.
In combination with meats and other Chinese herbs, it helps with digestion and regulates blood sugar levels. Traditionally it is used to relieve stomach ache and diarrhea.

Euryale Ferox or Fox Nuts (芡實) - are little white starchy seeds produced from a flowering plant which grows in water, with large, round leaves and purple flowers (from water lily family). The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked.
Fox nuts are said to strengthen male potency, it is a good source of starch, contains healthy amounts of calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and anti-aging properties.

Glehnia Roots (沙參) - are light and brittle in texture, commonly used as a health tonic. It's believed to nourish yin and stomach. Its used for treating chronic dry cough, dry throat and thirst.

Lotus Seeds (蓮子) - also known as lotus nuts.
Traditionally, lotus seeds are associated with weddings as the chinese name means “continuous sons” and therefore represent the continuation of succession in the family.
Lotus seeds are nutritious, low in fat, beneficial to the heart, spleen and kidneys. It improves appetite.

Solomon's Seal (玉竹) - contains vitamin A and it's an excellent herb used in dry winters when skin tends to become very dry.
It is heart friendly and also used to lower blood sugar levels.

About the 蜜枣 (sugary date), I think it's just for flavoring... (my grandpa used to give me sugary date as treat :) )

We all know the properties of carrots... they are rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants, and minerals...They get their bright orange color from β-carotene (beta carotene), which is metabolized into vitamin A when consumed... etc, etc, etc, etc. But in chinese medicine, carrots are also thought to be helpful in treating digestive problems such as intestinal parasites and constipation.