Soups

Astragalus, Chinese Yam, Poria and Two-Bean Soup with Tangerine Peel

Traditionally used to tonify qi, strengthen the spleen and support the body in managing swelling

In short: Astragalus, Chinese Yam, Poria and Two-Bean Soup with Tangerine Peel is a soup that Traditionally used to tonify qi, strengthen the spleen and support the body in managing swelling. It is most often made for digestive wellness, children's wellness, energy & vitality. Total time about 1 hr 45 min. Key ingredients: astragalus root, chinese yam, white atractylodes rhizome, adzuki beans.

Prep
15 min
Cook
1 hr 30 min
Total
1 hr 45 min
Makes
900 ml
Astragalus, Chinese Yam, Poria and Two-Bean Soup with Tangerine Peel

Why people make this soup

Lymphangiomas — benign growths of the lymphatic system — are most common in children but can also occur in adults. They tend to grow slowly but do not resolve on their own, and medical treatment is essential. Traditional food therapy, while not a substitute for medicine, can play a supportive role by strengthening the body’s overall constitution and helping manage accompanying discomfort.

This soup uses classic spleen-tonifying and qi-building herbs alongside two types of beans to create what traditional Chinese medicine describes as a formula for “strengthening the spleen, replenishing qi, softening hard accumulations and dissipating knots.” Nourilo notes that this combination is not just for lymphatic conditions — anyone dealing with tumour-related illness may find it a useful and gentle daily nourishment.

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.

  • Astragalus root · Meta-analysis, 8 studies, 750 participants · 2025
    TA-65 was associated with longer leukocyte telomeres compared with controls, but the meta-analysis found no significant improvement in frailty measures or inflammatory markers (CRP/IL-6). Mild gastrointestinal effects were reported.Limitation: Industry-funded trials reported larger effects than others, and the compound is a purified extract at doses not comparable to eating Astragalus root.PubMed 41286474 · 3 more astragalus 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
  • Tangerine peel · Randomized controlled trial, 72 participants · 2025
    The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325

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.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Astragalus: May interact with medicines that suppress the immune system. A thorough safety evaluation has not been done, and little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Astragalus

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

Members only

Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips

One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,344 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.

  • Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,344 recipes
  • Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
  • One-time payment · card, Apple Pay or Google Pay · no subscription, no renewals

Checking your access…

Spot an error? Report a correction

Comments

Loading comments…