The concept of "five grains as nourishment" was recorded as early as in the "Huangdi Neijing" (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), where the "five grains" referred to five specific crops: rice, wheat, broomcorn millet, panicled millet, and soybeans. Today, the term "five grains" has come to refer broadly to various grains and legumes, commonly known as "coarse grains." However, the principle of "five grains as nourishment" remains unchanged, advocating for the consumption of coarse grains to nourish the five vital organs (Zang) and regulate the spleen and stomach.
Millet nourishes the spleen. Millet enters the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians, and has the effect of strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach, making it especially suitable for people with a weak spleen and stomach. When cooking millet porridge, after it is cooked and slightly cooled, a layer of fine, viscous substance will float on the top. This is the "porridge oil," which protects the gastric mucosa and benefits the spleen and stomach. It is most suitable for patients with chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers. It is particularly noted that new millet has a better nourishing effect than old millet.
Wheat nourishes the heart. Wheat enters the heart, spleen, and kidney meridians, and has the effects of nourishing the heart, benefiting the kidneys, clearing heat, and quenching thirst. For those with insomnia, vexation, or unexplained sadness, they can use unhusked whole wheat to make porridge. For severe cases, licorice and Chinese dates can be added and decocted in water. Drinking it warm can help soothe the liver and regulate qi, as well as harmonize the heart's qi.
Rice moistens the lungs. Rice enters the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians, and has the effects of tonifying the middle jiao and qi, strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach, nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, and alleviating vexation and thirst. Ancient health advocates also promoted "eating porridge in the morning" to generate body fluids. Therefore, patients with cough and constipation caused by lung yin deficiency can consume rice porridge in the morning and evening. Regularly drinking rice porridge helps generate body fluids and can, to some extent, relieve discomforts such as dry skin. Adding pears to the porridge while cooking can enhance its effects.
Black beans nourish the kidneys. Black beans are sweet in flavor and neutral in nature, with the effects of nourishing the kidneys and strengthening the body, invigorating blood and promoting urination, and detoxifying. They are especially suitable for people with kidney deficiency. For lower back pain and tinnitus caused by kidney deficiency, one can take 50 grams of black beans and 500 grams of dog meat, cook them until tender, and then consume with various seasonings.
Sorghum nourishes the liver. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that sorghum has the effect of strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach. Animal experiments have shown that sorghum has the effect of nourishing and protecting the liver. For those with a weak spleen and stomach or indigestion in children, sorghum flour can be toasted yellow in a pot, then decocted into a porridge for consumption. For children, the amount per serving should generally not exceed half a liang (about 15 grams), three times a day.