Nourilo

Congee & Porridge

Codonopsis, Poria, and Red Date Congee

traditionally associated with replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and supporting children or adults who are easily fatigued or have poor appetite

In short: Codonopsis, Poria, and Red Date Congee is a congee & porridge that traditionally associated with replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and supporting children or adults who are easily fatigued or have poor appetite. It is most often made for digestive wellness, children's wellness, energy & vitality. Total time about 1 hr 15 min. Key ingredients: codonopsis root, poria, ginger, red dates.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
15 min
Cook
1 hr
Total
1 hr 15 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Digestive WellnessChildren's WellnessEnergy & Vitality
Codonopsis, Poria, and Red Date Congee

Why people make this congee

Some children never seem to eat enough. They pick at meals, tire easily, look a little pale, and catch every bug going around. In traditional Chinese medicine this pattern is often attributed to a constitutionally weak spleen and stomach — the digestive system simply doesn’t have enough energy to absorb nutrition efficiently, so the body runs on low reserves. Adults can develop the same pattern after prolonged illness, overwork, or chronic stress. Nourilo’s Codonopsis, Poria, and Red Date Congee is a classic three-ingredient tonic that directly addresses this foundation. It is warming, easily digestible, and mild enough to be eaten regularly as a breakfast congee — not a medicinal decoction, just honest nourishing food.

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.

  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies
  • 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.

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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