Chinese Yam, Euryale Seed and Yi Zhi Ren Soup

Why people make this soup

Bedwetting is common in young children, but traditional Chinese medicine considers it a deficiency pattern: the kidney qi is insufficient to hold the bladder firmly. Bro Niu is clear that any child still wetting the bed regularly at four or five years old should be seen by a doctor — ideally before age six — because left untreated, this can affect a child’s confidence and social development. This soup is a gentle, supportive food-therapy preparation to be used alongside proper medical guidance. Chinese yam and euryale seeds are two of the most trusted spleen and kidney tonics in Cantonese cooking; yi zhi ren (the fruit of a ginger-family plant) adds a warming quality that is traditionally associated with warming the kidney, reducing frequency of urination, and consolidating bladder function.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Children aged 4 and above with regular bedwetting, used as food-therapy support alongside medical evaluation.
• Adults with frequent urination or nocturia can add lean pork or chicken when making this soup.
• Children or adults with habitual constipation should avoid this preparation — the astringent quality of euryale seeds and yi zhi ren may worsen constipation.
• If the child has a cold or fever, pause the soup until recovered.
• Yi zhi ren has a strong medicinal flavour; reduce to 9 g (3 qian) and add a few red dates if the child finds the taste too strong.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Chinese yam (huai shan): Nourishes the kidneys, strengthens the spleen, and traditionally associated with reducing frequent urination.
• Euryale seeds (qian shi): Associated with benefiting the kidneys, firming the essence, and stopping diarrhoea and frequent urination. Pairs naturally with Chinese yam.
• Yi zhi ren (Alpinia oxyphylla fruit): A warming aromatic fruit from the ginger family; in traditional practice it is associated with warming the spleen to stop diarrhoea, warming the kidney to reduce urinary frequency, and calming excessive salivation. Its pronounced flavour is the main reason parents sometimes reduce the amount for children.

Ingredients (2 bowls, 1-day portion)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Chinese yam (dried)	~37 g	Soaked and rinsed
Euryale seeds	~37 g	Soaked and rinsed
Yi zhi ren	~18 g	Reduce to 9 g for children who dislike the taste; add red dates

Method

1. Soak and rinse all ingredients briefly.
2. Place in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour, reducing to 2 bowls.
4. Serve in portions throughout the day. For adults, lean pork or chicken can be added to the pot for a more substantial soup.

Bro Niu’s tips

• This soup also helps adults with frequent urination and nocturia — add lean meat or chicken to make it more of a meal.
• Yi zhi ren has a quite strong, warming flavour; for children who find it unpleasant, reduce to 9 g and add 8 pieces of ginkgo nut (bai guo, pitted) for extra bladder-consolidating effect. An alternative formula that is gentler in taste: Chinese yam and euryale seeds 15 g each, plus raspberries (fu pen zi) 9 g, ginkgo nuts 6 pieces, and southern dates 5 pieces, simmered with lean pork — 5 bowls to 2 bowls.
• This soup firms the bowels; do not use for children with constipation.
• Allow at least two weeks of regular use (3 servings per week) before judging the effect.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Kathy Lou, reader): My 11-year-old has one night waking to urinate each night — is this soup appropriate? How often and how soon will we see results? Bro Niu: An 11-year-old can take 3 servings a week. Reduce yi zhi ren to 9 g, and add 8 pitted ginkgo nuts for a better effect. Expect at least half a month before seeing improvement.

• Q (Py, reader): Can a 4-year-old drink this? Bro Niu: Yes, a 4-year-old can have it. But note — this soup consolidates the bowels, so it is not suitable for children with constipation.

• Q (Kahului, reader): My soup turned out spicy — what went wrong? Bro Niu: Yi zhi ren has quite a strong medicinal flavour. Reduce it to 9 g and add 5 red dates — that will make the taste much more acceptable.

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Published May 24, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.