Capillary Wormwood, Mung Bean and Smilax Soup

Why people make this soup

Roughly 8% of people in Hong Kong are hepatitis B carriers, so good hygiene — separate chopsticks when sharing meals, not sharing razors or toothbrushes — matters. This “capillary wormwood damp-clearing soup” is traditionally associated with clearing damp-heat and supporting the liver. Combined with mung bean and smilax, it is also traditionally used by people with damp-heat skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and ringworm.