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. Nourilo 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.

Method

1. Soak and rinse all ingredients briefly.
2. Place in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour, reducing to 600 ml.
4. Serve in portions throughout the day. For adults, lean pork or chicken can be added to the pot for a more substantial soup.

Nourilo’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 600 ml.
• 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.