Fu Shen, Red Date and Millet Congee

Why people make this congee

At the dried-goods and herb shops you’ll see boxes of poria — some pure white, some with a reddish rim, and some with an “eye” in the middle, sold as fu shen. Poria is cut from different parts of the same fungus: poria peel (the outer skin), red poria (the reddish layer near the skin), and fu shen (the white core that hugs a piece of pine root). Bro Niu uses the fu shen here because it is the portion traditionally associated with calming the mind. Simmered with red dates and millet, this congee is traditionally taken by people who feel frazzled or muddled, with palpitations, poor sleep, shortness of breath and low energy.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suited to people who feel scattered or on edge, with palpitations, restless sleep and low energy.
• Bro Niu notes it is also a comforting choice for women going through menopause and for elderly people.
• A calming food, but if palpitations or stomach pain are ongoing, see a doctor to find the cause and treat it early.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Fu shen (poria core): Traditionally used to calm the mind, settle the spirit and support healthy fluid balance.
• Red dates (hong zao): Associated with supporting qi and blood and gently calming.
• Millet (xiao mi): A gentle, easily-digested grain that traditionally nourishes the spleen and stomach.

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fu shen	~19 g	The white pine-root core of poria
Red dates	10
Millet	~113 g

Method

1. Rinse and soak the ingredients.
2. Cook with 8 bowls of water for about 2 hours down to 4 bowls.
3. Eat as desired.

Bro Niu’s tips

This congee is also a comforting, beneficial choice for women in menopause and for elderly family members.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Jackie): My mum has been feeling unwell and is on Western medication; she now has breakouts and constipation. Is there something to help clear heat and calm the mind, and does it clash with her medicine? Bro Niu: A food-therapy option: wheat berries ~19 g, honey-fried licorice ~7.5 g, lily bulb ~38 g, 6 red dates, and biota seed ~11 g, simmered in 5 bowls of water down to 2; take for 5 days. It helps calm the heart-mind and moisten the bowels, and does not clash with Western medicine — just space them 2 hours apart.

• Q (Jackie): If she sometimes has stomach pain, can she still drink this? Bro Niu: This is good for the stomach too. But stomach pain should be checked by a doctor to find the cause and treat it early.

• Q (anonymous reader): Can the red dates in the fu shen congee be swapped for southern dates (nan zao)? Bro Niu: (Yes — southern dates can be used in place of red dates.)

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Published December 14, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.