The night is deep, yet you're still tossing and turning in bed, counting sheep; The sky is not yet bright, but you've already woken up early and can't fall back asleep... Insomnia torments many people. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sleep can be regulated through dietary therapy, and the recipes vary depending on one's physical condition.
Lily Seed and Lotus Seed Congee
Take 30 grams of dried lily bulb, 30 grams of lotus seeds (with the cores removed, soaked in water until softened), and 30 grams of rock sugar. Add the dried lily bulb, japonica rice, and lotus seeds to a pot to cook. When the congee is almost done, add the rock sugar. This congee clears heat, nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, and calms the spirit. It is suitable for those with insomnia, excessive dreaming, accompanied by heart fire flourishing, anxiety, and irritability.
Lily Seed and Lotus Seed Congee
Sour Jujube Seed Congee
15 grams of sour jujube seed powder, 100 grams of japonica rice. First, cook the japonica rice until it's done, then add the sour jujube seed powder and cook for another 5 minutes. It has the effect of nourishing the heart to calm the spirit, and calming the heart to stop sweating. It is suitable for those with insomnia, excessive dreaming, palpitations, vexation, and deficiency with excessive sweating.
Sweet Wheat, Jujube, and Lotus Root Soup
250 grams of lotus root, 75 grams of wheat, 12 grams of licorice root, 5 red dates, and 3 grams of salt. Wash the wheat and soak it in water for 1 hour; Soak the red dates until soft and remove the pits. Boil the wheat, licorice root, and red dates in water, then add the lotus root and simmer over low heat until soft. Finally, add salt to taste. This soup tonifies qi and nourishes blood, and calms the heart and spirit. It is especially suitable for insomniacs with a poor complexion.
Mulberry Water
60 grams of fresh mulberries, add water and bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Take it 1 hour before bedtime each night. Mulberry is sweet and cold in nature. It has the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, calming the spirit and improving intelligence, nourishing blood and yin, promoting the production of body fluids to quench thirst, moistening the intestines to relieve constipation, improving eyesight, and darkening hair and beard. It is especially suitable for those with insomnia accompanied by constipation, anemia, hair loss, premature graying, or tinnitus.
Chestnut and Red Date Stewed Black Chicken
1 black chicken, cleaned and cut into pieces. Place it in a clay pot with 20 peeled chestnuts and 20 red dates. Add clear water and simmer over low heat until the chicken is tender. This recipe strengthens the spleen and benefits the stomach, and tonifies the kidneys and replenishes essence. It is suitable for insomnia and excessive dreaming caused by a weak spleen and stomach, and insufficient qi and blood, accompanied by poor appetite, limb weakness, soreness in the lower back and knees, and irregular menstruation in women.
Millet and Red Date Congee
Millet and Red Date Congee
60 grams of millet, 6 pitted red dates, and 30 grams of honey. Cook the millet and red dates into a congee. After the congee is ready, stir in the honey and eat it before bedtime. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that poor spleen and stomach function leads to poor sleep quality. Millet and red dates can regulate the spleen and stomach, making them suitable for insomniacs with a disharmony in the spleen and stomach.
Red Date, Sweet Wheat, and Soothing Heart Tea
12 red dates, 30 grams of wheat, 6 grams of licorice root, and 9 grams of Albizia flowers. Add water and bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Let it cool and add honey. Take one dose daily as a tea substitute. This tea has the effect of tonifying qi to strengthen the spleen, and calming the heart to soothe the spirit. It is very suitable for patients with menopausal syndrome.