Soups

Kudzu Root, Adzuki Bean, Coix Seed and Dace Fish Soup

traditionally used to clear heat and dampness, supporting acne-prone and congested skin

In short: Kudzu Root, Adzuki Bean, Coix Seed and Dace Fish Soup is a soup that traditionally used to clear heat and dampness, supporting acne-prone and congested skin. It is most often made for cooling & summer heat, skin & natural beauty. Total time about 2 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: kudzu root, adzuki beans, coix seeds / job's tears, ginger.

Prep
20 min
Cook
2 hr
Total
2 hr 20 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Kudzu Root, Adzuki Bean, Coix Seed and Dace Fish Soup

Why people make this soup

Stress, late nights, and poor diet have a way of showing up on the skin — especially for young adults who find acne appearing not just on the face but across the chest and back as well. From a traditional Chinese food-therapy perspective, this pattern is often linked to an accumulation of internal heat and dampness, and the approach is to help the body clear it through nourishing, flavourful food rather than restriction alone.

This soup — kudzu root with adzuki beans, coix seeds, and dace fish — turns out a beautiful milky broth that is deeply savoury. Beyond its reputation for supporting skin clarity, Nourilo notes it has traditionally been used for general body aches, muscle tension in the shoulders and neck, and puffiness around the eyes.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Kudzu root · Randomized controlled trial, 20 participants · 2015
    The kudzu group reduced intake from 3.0 to 1.9 beers after treatment, while the placebo group rose from 2.7 to 3.4. Kudzu-treated participants also drank more slowly.Limitation: Very small sample (10 per group) with a single dose in a laboratory setting, so results may not carry over to everyday drinking.PubMed 26048637 · 2 more kudzu root studies
  • Adzuki beans · Randomized crossover trial, 10 participants · 2019
    Adzuki bean meals had a low glycemic index (21–51 range reported with lotus seed), whereas other starchy foods did not differ significantly from rice. Adzuki bean hydrolysis index was lower than other test foods.Limitation: Only ten healthy participants and acute single-meal responses, so effects in people with diabetes or with regular intake are unknown.PubMed 30875961 · 1 more adzuki beans study
  • Job's tears (coix) · Randomized controlled trial · 2024
    Myeloperoxidase activity rose significantly in the placebo group after 8 weeks but showed no significant change in the adlay tea group. Vascular endothelial function improved in the adlay group, especially in those over 40.Limitation: Participants were healthy adults and the outcomes were surrogate markers, so the results say little about clinical disease outcomes. Tea is a polyphenol-rich extract, not whole grain.PubMed 38945894 · 2 more job's tears (coix) studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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