Millet (小米 xiǎomǐ)
Millet comes first in “Five Grains” for its nutrients especially for the health of spleen and stomach. Old man says people need five grains for living and health. One depends mainly on strong spleen and stomach to allow other organs in the body to absorb nutrients easily and effectively thus maintain one's health. Millet is the main ingredient that helps maintain the function of spleen and stomach.
Compendium of Materia Medica, a pharmaceutical text written by Lin Shizhen during the Ming Dynasty of China, mentions that millet cures nausea and heat dysentery. Millet porridge strengthens one’s health especially stomach. Millet contains various types of vitamins, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other nutrients.
In some parts of northern China, it is also traditionally eaten by mothers after giving birth. The grain is mixed with brown sugar and boiled, providing a much needed nutritional boost for recovering mothers and their babies. For similar reasons, the elderly are also advised to gobble down a bowl of millet congee every day before going to bed, to provide energy and help get a good night’s rest. For the life in between these stages, traditional Chinese medicine teaches that millet will help nourish yin, remove humidity, strengthen the spleen and stimulate the appetite, as well as nurture the liver and help lift blood production.
The multi-benefit millet:
Strengthens stomach and improve digestive system
According to traditional Chinese medicine, millet can strengthen and improve the function of spleen and stomach. Millet porridge not only smells nice but also contains plenty of nutrients. It can be easily absorbed and digested, and prevent from bloating. Millet has been classified as alkaline grain, thus is suitable for people with hyperacidity stomach.
Reduce blood lipid and blood pressure
Millet can reduce blood lipid. It is beneficial for the adjuvant therapy of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and blood circulation disorders.
Strengthens immune system and nourishes health
Millet is rich in amino acid. It can prevent pregnant mother from miscarriage and is commonly used as a health supplement during after-give-birth period.
Anti-bacteria and anti-inflammatory
Besides, it can reduce the formation of bacteria inside the month and eliminate bad breath.
Improve quality of sleep
Millet helps regulate one’s mood and improves the quality of sleep.
Other properties: stops vomiting, relieves diarrhea, consolidates or astringes the stomach and intestines, promotes urination, soothes
morning sickness.
Calories 286
Total fat (g) 2.4
Saturated fat (g) 0.4
Monounsaturated fat (g) 0.4
Polyunsaturated fat (g) 1.2
Dietary fiber (g) 3.1
Protein (g) 8
Carbohydrate (g) 57
Cholesterol (mg) 0
Sodium (mg) 5
Thiamin (mg) 0.3
Niacin (mg) 3.2
Magnesium (mg) 106
Zinc (mg) 2.2
Property in TCM
Sweet, salty, cool; kidney, spleen and stomach meridians entered.
Actions in TCM
Harmonize the spleen and stomach, tonify the kidney, clear heat and remove toxicity.
Indications in TCM
Deficiency-heat in spleen and stomach, regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea and diabetes.
Dosage and Administrations in TCM
Decoct 15~30 g, or made into porriage. Proper dosage is for external application, pounded into powder for applying.
Compendium of Materia Medica, a pharmaceutical text written by Lin Shizhen during the Ming Dynasty of China, mentions that millet cures nausea and heat dysentery. Millet porridge strengthens one’s health especially stomach. Millet contains various types of vitamins, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other nutrients.
In some parts of northern China, it is also traditionally eaten by mothers after giving birth. The grain is mixed with brown sugar and boiled, providing a much needed nutritional boost for recovering mothers and their babies. For similar reasons, the elderly are also advised to gobble down a bowl of millet congee every day before going to bed, to provide energy and help get a good night’s rest. For the life in between these stages, traditional Chinese medicine teaches that millet will help nourish yin, remove humidity, strengthen the spleen and stimulate the appetite, as well as nurture the liver and help lift blood production.
The multi-benefit millet:
Strengthens stomach and improve digestive system
According to traditional Chinese medicine, millet can strengthen and improve the function of spleen and stomach. Millet porridge not only smells nice but also contains plenty of nutrients. It can be easily absorbed and digested, and prevent from bloating. Millet has been classified as alkaline grain, thus is suitable for people with hyperacidity stomach.
Reduce blood lipid and blood pressure
Millet can reduce blood lipid. It is beneficial for the adjuvant therapy of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and blood circulation disorders.
Strengthens immune system and nourishes health
Millet is rich in amino acid. It can prevent pregnant mother from miscarriage and is commonly used as a health supplement during after-give-birth period.
Anti-bacteria and anti-inflammatory
Besides, it can reduce the formation of bacteria inside the month and eliminate bad breath.
Improve quality of sleep
Millet helps regulate one’s mood and improves the quality of sleep.
Other properties: stops vomiting, relieves diarrhea, consolidates or astringes the stomach and intestines, promotes urination, soothes
morning sickness.
Calories 286
Total fat (g) 2.4
Saturated fat (g) 0.4
Monounsaturated fat (g) 0.4
Polyunsaturated fat (g) 1.2
Dietary fiber (g) 3.1
Protein (g) 8
Carbohydrate (g) 57
Cholesterol (mg) 0
Sodium (mg) 5
Thiamin (mg) 0.3
Niacin (mg) 3.2
Magnesium (mg) 106
Zinc (mg) 2.2
Property in TCM
Sweet, salty, cool; kidney, spleen and stomach meridians entered.
Actions in TCM
Harmonize the spleen and stomach, tonify the kidney, clear heat and remove toxicity.
Indications in TCM
Deficiency-heat in spleen and stomach, regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea and diabetes.
Dosage and Administrations in TCM
Decoct 15~30 g, or made into porriage. Proper dosage is for external application, pounded into powder for applying.
Basic millet porridge to loose weight, cholesterol and blood pressure
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Ingredients
- 1/3 cup millets
- 4 cup water
- Rince the millets with clean water.
- Cover the washed millets with 4 cups of water in a pot. Add more water if you prefer thinner porridge.
- Bring the pot to a boil and let it simmer with lid on for 30 mins. Stir once in a while to prevent the millet from sticking.
- Remove from the heat and leave for 5 minutes after water get reduced until porridge absorbs it
- Eat this amount during the day
