Congee & Porridge
Motherwort and Brown Sugar Brown-Rice Congee
Traditionally used to regulate menstruation and ease period discomfort
Why people make this congee
Now and then the market sells fresh motherwort — sweetly fragrant, pleasant in texture and not too bitter, though Bro Niu finds the dried herb works better. Motherwort has long been called a “women’s herb” in the tradition, used to support circulation, regulate menstruation and ease swelling. When women feel bloated, crampy or have a sluggish period, a bowl of motherwort brown-rice congee with a little brown sugar is a warm, comforting way to ease through those days.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits women with period cramps, a delayed or sluggish period, or pre/post-period bloating and water retention
- Strictly avoid during pregnancy — motherwort is not for pregnant women
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Motherwort (yi mu cao): traditionally used to support circulation, regulate menstruation, ease cramps and reduce swelling
- Brown rice (cao mi): a wholesome, gentle base for the congee
- Brown sugar (hong tang): warming and traditionally associated with supporting the blood during menstruation
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motherwort | ~11 g dried (3 qian) | Or ~38 g fresh (1 liang) — see tips |
| Brown rice | ~75 g (2 liang) | |
| Brown sugar | To taste |
Method
- Rinse the dried motherwort and simmer in 3 bowls of water down to 1 bowl; strain and keep the liquid.
- Rinse the brown rice, add water and cook into a thick congee. Stir in the motherwort liquid and brown sugar; once the sugar dissolves, serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
If using fresh motherwort, use about 1 liang and add it only after the congee is cooked, then simmer with the brown sugar for about 10 minutes — you can eat the herb along with the congee. But remember: pregnant women must not use motherwort.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Lan): My daughter lives abroad; her doctors won’t use medication to bring on the miscarriage and say it must happen naturally. Once the fetus has passed on its own, is that when she can eat foods like motherwort and black wood-ear? And for now, can she have yam-and-goji stewed pork soup, or red date and millet congee? Bro Niu: Yes — once it has passed naturally, you can make black wood-ear and beetroot soup, which helps nourish the blood and clear stasis; add some ginger. Use lean pork if she avoids chicken. Yam-goji stewed pork, red date millet congee, qing bu liang pork-rib soup and papaya-white fungus pork soup are all fine; papaya helps the uterus contract. Once recovered, a mulberry-mistletoe, lotus seed and egg sweet soup once or twice a week nourishes the liver and kidneys.
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Q (anonymous visitor): In Chinatown, the Chinese herb store sells motherwort (yi mu cao). Bro Niu: Thank you — I imagine motherwort is easy to find in Chinatown. It is traditionally used to help the uterus contract and the contents pass.
Published April 10, 2026 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
