The efficacy of congee oil surpasses that of ginseng soup.

After the congee is cooked, a delicate, thick, and creamy-like substance floats on top. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is called "mǐ yóu" (米油), commonly known as congee oil. Many people dismiss it, but in fact, it has a strong nourishing effect, comparable to ginseng soup.

White Congee

The congee oil commonly referred to is obtained from millet or rice congee. TCM believes that both millet and rice are sweet in taste and neutral in nature, and they have the effect of tonifying the middle and Qi, and strengthening the spleen and stomach. When used to make congee, a large portion of the nutrients enters the broth, with the congee oil being the most abundant. It is the essence of the rice soup, and its nourishing power is in no way inferior to precious medicinal herbs like ginseng and prepared rehmannia root. In the "Bencao Gangmu Shiyi" (Compendium of Materia Medica, Supplementary Records) by Zhao Xuemin of the Qing Dynasty, it is recorded that "for those who are thin and dark, eating it for a hundred days will make them plump and fair. Its nourishing yin effect is superior to prepared rehmannia root. It is best to consume a bowl of it daily, taken plain." The Qing Dynasty medical scholar Wang Mengying, in his "Suixi Ju Yinshi Pu" (Dietary Guide at Suixi Residence), stated that "congee oil can replace ginseng soup" because, like ginseng, it has the effect of greatly tonifying the original Qi.

TCM has the saying that "after the age of fifty, one's yin energy naturally halves," meaning that the elderly, to varying degrees, suffer from a deficiency of kidney essence. Drinking congee oil often can help replenish kidney essence and prolong life; postpartum women and those with chronic gastritis often feel a lack of vital energy. Drinking congee oil can replenish this energy, increase physical strength, and promote a speedy recovery.

It is best to drink congee oil on an empty stomach. Adding a small amount of salt can guide the "medicine" into the kidney meridian, thereby enhancing the congee oil's effect of tonifying the kidneys and replenishing essence. According to the "Zilin Danfang" (Zilin's Simple Formulas), this method of consumption also has a certain therapeutic effect on men with sexual dysfunction. In addition, when infants start to eat supplementary foods, congee oil is also a good choice.

It should be noted that to obtain high-quality congee oil, the pot used for cooking must be scrubbed clean and free of grease. It is best to cook it slowly over a low flame, and no seasonings should be added. Research shows that the congee oil from fresh rice has a protective effect on the gastric mucosa, making it suitable for patients with chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers. However, the congee oil from old, stored rice has an ulcer-inducing effect. Therefore, the rice used for making congee must be high-quality new rice; otherwise, the nourishing effect of the congee oil will be greatly diminished.