Congee & Porridge

Mai Dong, Sha Shen and American Ginseng Congee

Traditionally nourishes the lungs and supports qi during seasonal nasal sensitivity

In short: Mai Dong, Sha Shen and American Ginseng Congee is a congee & porridge that Traditionally nourishes the lungs and supports qi during seasonal nasal sensitivity. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, energy & vitality, eye wellness. Total time about 70 min. Key ingredients: red dates, white rice.

Prep
10 min
Cook
60 min
Total
70 min
Makes
600–900 ml
Mai Dong, Sha Shen and American Ginseng Congee

Why people make this congee

When the seasons turn, plenty of folks find their nose gets dry, stuffy and over-reactive. In traditional Chinese food therapy, allergic-type nasal symptoms are tied to the lungs, spleen and kidneys not moving qi smoothly. This congee leans on three gentle herbs to moisten the lungs and quietly support qi, and it is aimed at the warm, dry constitution rather than the cold, watery type.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • American ginseng · Randomized controlled trial · 2013
    The change in the general fatigue score was not significantly different from placebo at 4 weeks (P = .07). At 8 weeks, the ginseng group improved more than placebo (20 vs 10.3, P = .003). Toxicities did not differ between arms.Limitation: The primary endpoint at 4 weeks was not statistically significant, and fatigue was self-reported. Benefit appeared greater in people still receiving cancer treatment.PubMed 23853057 · 1 more american ginseng study
  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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