Nourishing Heart-Calming Congee (Yang Xin An Shen Zhou)

Why people make this congee

Stress, uncertainty, and the pressure of daily life have made poor sleep quality one of the most common modern complaints. This congee is one of the most comforting and practical responses — a bowl of something warm, gently sweet, and assembled from ingredients that traditional Chinese food therapy has used for generations to quiet an overworked mind.

Wheat berries (the whole grain form of wheat, before it is refined into flour) carry a special association in Chinese food therapy with calming the heart and settling mental restlessness — a quality quite distinct from refined white flour. Paired with longan (for blood nourishment and heart-calming sweetness), lily bulb (cooling and sedating), lotus seeds (stabilising and spleen-supporting), and jujube dates (broadly nourishing and grounding), this congee becomes a layered, thoughtful formula rather than just a coincidental collection of comforting foods.

It is suitable for adults and children alike, and Nourilo notes it is particularly helpful for children who grind their teeth at night or are emotionally sensitive and easily stressed.

Method

1. Soak the wheat berries in cold water for at least 2 hours (they take longer to cook than white rice, so pre-soaking is important).
2. Rinse all other ingredients; pit the jujube dates.
3. Combine all ingredients in a pot. Add water at 3 times the volume of the total grains (wheat berries and rice combined).
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 1 hour until everything is soft and the congee is smooth and thick — yielding about 4 bowls.
5. Taste, adjust seasoning if desired (this congee is naturally sweet and usually needs no added sugar), and serve warm.

Nourilo’s Tips

This congee is naturally lightly sweet from the longan and dates — most people will not need to add sugar. It is mild enough for daily eating and suitable for the whole family. If you cannot find wheat berries, Nourilo says you can add millet (xiao mi) instead — though the wheat berry’s specific heart-calming association in traditional food therapy makes it worth seeking out. In Canada and elsewhere, wheat berries/wheat groats are typically available at health food stores. Pregnant women should replace longan with poria with heart (fu shen, 19 g). For children who grind their teeth at night, this congee can make a real difference when eaten regularly.