Phytolacca porridge

I believe that there are still many friends who don’t know some knowledge about Shanglu porridge. Let me give you a detailed explanation below.

Phytolacca porridge

In the late stage of liver cirrhosis, dry skin, grayish yellow face, mild jaundice, shrunken liver, significantly enlarged spleen and anemia are common clinical symptoms. Due to portal hypertension, esophageal varices are often accompanied, ascites and lower limb edema may occur. If the liver damage is serious, coma may occur, which is a dangerous symptom. In the ascites stage of liver cirrhosis, the use of pomelo porridge diet therapy can alleviate the symptoms.

Introduction to Shanglu Congee

3 grams of Phytolacca, 50 grams of polished rice. First, boil Phytolacca with water, remove the residue, and then add polished rice to cook porridge. Phytolacca porridge comes from the book "Emergency Prescriptions for the Elbow". Phytolacca is the root of the perennial herb Phytolacca of the Phytolacca family. It is bitter, cold, slightly toxic, and is suitable for the lung, spleen, kidney, and large intestine meridians. "Shennong's Herbal Classic" says that "Phytolacca is the main cause of water swelling", "Yao Xing Lun" says that "it can relieve ten kinds of water diseases", and "Bie Lu" contains "treating evil qi in the chest, edema, paralysis, abdominal distension, dredging the five internal organs, and dispersing water gas". Because Phytolacca is bitter, cold, and can relieve bowel movements, it is good at expelling water and reducing swelling. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Phytolacca contains Phytolacca toxins, oxidized myristic acid, saponins, potassium nitrate, and Phytolacca alkaloids. Its mechanism of reducing swelling is to excrete excess water through defecation and urination. The diuretic effect may be due to stimulating the vasomotor center, increasing renal blood flow and diuresis. Oral administration of Phytolacca can stimulate the intestinal mucosa and cause diarrhea and drainage. In addition, Phytolacca alone is also effective for edema and ascites caused by acute nephritis and other reasons, and has no side effects.

Because Phytolacca is "slightly toxic", the Compendium of Materia Medica states that "people with weak stomach qi should not use it". However, if it is necessary to use it for edema and ascites, it is indeed a good method to use Phytolacca and polished rice to make Phytolacca porridge. Because polished rice can protect stomach qi, protect the intestines, and nourish the body, achieving the purpose of "strengthening the body and promoting diuresis". Although Phytolacca is slightly toxic, the amount consumed is small, and it is generally not poisoned when cooked with polished rice porridge, and a satisfactory therapeutic effect can be achieved. Pregnant women should not take it.