4 Medicinal Food Recipes for Insomnia: TCM Natural Home Remedies
In today’s society, insomnia has become a widespread issue, affecting people’s daily lives and work productivity.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), insomnia stems from factors such as the dysfunction of internal organs, a deficiency in Qi and blood, or emotional distress.
Consequently, in addition to conventional medical treatment, dietary therapy—utilizing the inherent medicinal properties of certain foods—serves as a highly effective approach.
This article introduces 4 TCM-based dietary home remedies for insomnia to help readers restore healthy sleep.
Sour Jujube Seed Soup
This soup is known for nourishing the blood, calming the spirit, and clearing away heat and restlessness.
It is suitable for those experiencing insomnia accompanied by vivid dreams, heart palpitations, or a dry, bitter taste in the mouth.
Ingredients:
15g poria root (fu shen)
30g wheat
Preparation:
Rinse all ingredients and place them in an earthenware pot.
Add an appropriate amount of water (1000ml-1200ml), bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Strain out the solids, collect the liquid, and consume it in two separate, warm servings.
Longan Pulp Porridge
Longan pulp porridge is effective for tonifying the heart and spleen, nourishing the blood, and calming the spirit.
It is suitable for individuals suffering from insomnia, forgetfulness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or a sallow complexion.
Ingredients:
15g longan pulp
10 red dates
100g rice
Preparation:
Rinse the longan pulp and red dates, then combine them with the rice in an earthenware pot.
Add an appropriate amount of water (1000ml-1200ml), bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer until the mixture reaches a porridge-like consistency.
Consume in two separate, warm servings.
Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, and Lean Pork Soup
This soup nourishes the heart, calms the spirit, replenishes vital energy (Qi), and strengthens the spleen.
It is suitable for those experiencing symptoms such as insomnia, vivid or excessive dreaming, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, poor appetite, and physical fatigue.
Ingredients:
30g lotus seeds
15g lily bulbs
100g lean pork
Preparation:
Rinse the lotus seeds and lily bulbs.
Place them in an earthenware pot along with the lean pork and an appropriate amount of water (1000ml-1200ml).
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for one hour.
Strain the solids and consume the liquid in two separate servings while warm.
Red Date Porridge
Red date porridge replenishes vital energy (Qi), nourishes the blood, and calms the spirit.
It is suitable for those suffering from insomnia, forgetfulness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and a sallow complexion.
Ingredients:
10 red dates
100g of rice
Preparation:
Rinse the red dates.
Place them in an earthenware pot with the rice and an appropriate amount of water (1000ml-1200ml).
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer until the mixture reaches a porridge-like consistency.
Consume in two separate servings while warm.
Dietary therapies for insomnia, rooted in TCM, are a treasure of Chinese culture with a long history and remarkable efficacy. The remedies introduced above are simple to prepare and use easily accessible ingredients, making them excellent options for readers to incorporate into their daily lives.
The above information was translated & edited from the following article on WeChat:
More therapeutic food recipes that you can try at home for different conditions are available in our Medicinal Food section.
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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing persistent sleep difficulties, please consult a qualified TCM practitioner or healthcare provider.
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