Soups

Plantain Herb, Coix Seed and Lean Pork Soup

traditionally used to support urinary comfort and clear summer dampness-heat

In short: Plantain Herb, Coix Seed and Lean Pork Soup is a soup that traditionally used to support urinary comfort and clear summer dampness-heat. It is most often made for cooling & summer heat, children's wellness, kidney & urinary wellness. Total time about 45 min. Key ingredients: coix seed / job's tears, honey dates, lean pork.

Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Plantain Herb, Coix Seed and Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

During summer months, sweating heavily depletes the body’s fluids — and active children who run around without drinking enough water can end up with dark, scanty urine and general discomfort, which Chinese medicine describes as “bladder damp-heat.” Nourilo has long recommended this fresh plantain herb soup as a gentle seasonal staple: when paired with coix seed and a couple of honey dates, the result is a clear, pleasant soup the whole family can enjoy. Think of it as a hydrating summer tune-up rather than medicine.

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.

  • 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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