Congees
Chicken Gizzard Lining Congee (Ji Nei Jin Zhou)
Chicken Gizzard Lining Congee is a classic stomach-strengthening and digestion-promoting medicinal congee rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chicken gizzard lining is the dried inner wall of the chicken's gizzard, sweet in taste and neutral in nature, entering the Spleen, Stomach, Small Intestine, and Bladder meridians, with the effects of strengthening the stomach, promoting digestion, astringing essence, stopping enuresis, and treating urinary calculi. The Qing Dynasty physician Zhang Xichun recorded in the Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu: "The chicken gizzard lining is the spleen and stomach of the chicken... it can digest porcelain, stone, copper, and iron, showing its ability to transform accumulations". Japonica rice tonifies the middle and strengthens the spleen and stomach; white sugar harmonizes the flavor. Together, they achieve the effects of strengthening the spleen, boosting qi, promoting digestion, and resolving food stagnation. The congee is thick and smooth, with the gizzard lining powder blending seamlessly into the rice porridge, mild and easy to consume. It is especially suitable for food stagnation, abdominal distension, indigestion, and pediatric malnutrition.
Main Ingredients
- Chicken gizzard lining (Ji Nei Jin) 5-6g
- Japonica rice 100g
- White sugar to taste
- Dried tangerine peel 3g
- Amomum fruit (Sha Ren) 2g
- Chinese yam 20g
Steps
Take 5-6g of chicken gizzard lining and stir-fry over low heat until yellow-brown, then grind into fine powder. Note: Roasting enhances the digestion-promoting effect and removes any gamey odor. If using pre-roasted gizzard lining, grind directly. Rinse 100g of japonica rice. Soak for 30 minutes for a creamier texture.
Place the rice in a clay pot or regular pot with about 800-1000ml of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat, cover with a small gap, and simmer for 30-40 minutes until the rice has bloomed and the congee is thickening.
When the congee is cooked but still slightly thin, slowly add the gizzard lining powder while stirring to prevent clumping. Boil for 1-2 more minutes. Note: Do not overcook the powder—prolonged cooking destroys the active compounds (gastric hormones, amylase, etc.) and reduces its digestive benefits.
Add white sugar to taste (if using 3g dried tangerine peel and 2g Sha Ren, grind them into powder and add together with the gizzard lining powder). Stir well. Consume warm, once daily for 3-5 consecutive days as one course. Avoid consuming on an empty stomach—best after meals or between meals.
TCM Notes
Chicken Gizzard Lining (Ji Nei Jin): Sweet in taste, neutral in nature; enters the Spleen, Stomach, Small Intestine, and Bladder meridians. Known for strengthening the stomach, promoting digestion, astringing essence, stopping enuresis, and treating urinary calculi. Modern research shows it contains gastric hormones, keratin, amylase, various vitamins, and trace elements, with effects of enhancing gastric motility, increasing pepsin and pancreatic lipase activity, and strengthening bladder sphincter contraction. After consumption, it increases gastric juice secretion and enhances gastric motility, thereby slowly strengthening digestive capacity and accelerating gastric emptying. Recommended daily dosage: 3-10g. Japonica Rice: Sweet in taste, neutral in nature; enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung meridians. Known for tonifying the middle, boosting qi, and strengthening the spleen and stomach. Combined with chicken gizzard lining, it enhances the tonic effects while ensuring the digestion-promoting action does not harm the body's integrity. Synergistic Effect: Chicken gizzard lining strengthens the stomach, promotes digestion, and resolves accumulations; japonica rice tonifies the middle and strengthens the spleen; white sugar harmonizes the flavor. One promotes digestion, one tonifies, one harmonizes—promoting digestion without harming the spleen and stomach, and strengthening the spleen without retaining stagnation. Total approx. 350-400 kcal, primarily carbohydrates—a low-fat, digestion-promoting, spleen-strengthening medicinal congee.
Suitable for：Those with food stagnation, abdominal fullness, and indigestion Children with pediatric malnutrition, anorexia, and poor appetite Those with vomiting, diarrhea, and undigested food Those with enuresis and spermatorrhea Those with biliary or urinary tract stones (adjunctive support) Those with weak spleen and stomach, and poor appetite General population for daily stomach-strengthening, digestion-promoting, and digestive support
Not suitable for：Those with spleen deficiency but no food stagnation – chicken gizzard lining is a digestion-promoting and accumulation-resolving substance; long-term use may deplete vital qi Pregnant women – chicken gizzard lining has a dredging nature; pregnant women should use with caution Avoid consuming on an empty stomach – may cause gastrointestinal discomfort; best consumed after meals or between meals Avoid consuming with persimmon – tannic acid in persimmon may bind with proteins in chicken gizzard lining, affecting digestion and absorption Those allergic to chicken gizzard lining Infants and young children – when giving to children, it is best to do so under medical guidance
