Fresh Dendrobium, Yam, Glehnia and Solomon's Seal Quail Soup

Why people make this soup

Some people find that warming or strongly tonic foods leave them feeling worse — dry mouth, mild nausea, heartburn, or a persistent feeling of internal heat. In Chinese food-therapy tradition, this pattern is often described as stomach or lung yin deficiency, and the remedy is not to take stronger tonics but to nourish more gently with cooling, moistening ingredients.

This soup is built for exactly that purpose. Fresh dendrobium (shi hu) is one of the most valued herbs in this context — a succulent orchid stem that is traditionally associated with nourishing stomach yin, generating fluids, and clearing low-grade internal heat without being cold or harsh. Combined with fresh yam, glehnia root, and Solomon’s seal, all of which are gentle, moistening herbs, and with the mild protein of quail, the result is a soup that nourishes without burdening the digestive system.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Well suited to people with poor appetite, a flat or tasteless sensation when eating, mild dry mouth or bitter taste, or loose stools from internal heat.
• Ideal for those who are “too deficient to tolerate tonic” — people who feel worse after eating strongly warming foods.
• Suitable for the elderly, children with weak digestive systems, and pregnant women (per traditional guidance).
• Note: if you have constipation, eat the soup but avoid eating the pieces of yam directly — yam has an astringent effect on the bowels and may worsen constipation.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Fresh dendrobium (xian shi hu): In traditional Chinese medicine, one of the primary herbs for nourishing stomach yin and generating body fluids. Also associated with supporting vision and clearing deficiency heat. Fresh is considered equivalent to dry; dry dendrobium is best ground into powder for use.
• Fresh Chinese yam (xian huai shan): Supports the spleen, stomach, and kidneys; associated with aiding absorption and strengthening the digestive system.
• Glehnia root (sha shen): A sweet, cooling herb traditionally used to nourish lung yin and stomach yin, and to clear heat from the lungs and stomach.
• Solomon’s seal (yu zhu): Moistening and yin-nourishing; particularly associated with clearing heat from the stomach and lungs, and relieving thirst.
• Goji berries (gou qi zi): Gently nourishing to the liver and kidneys; traditionally associated with brightening the eyes.
• Quail (an chun): Lighter and less warming than chicken; provides protein and is considered especially suitable for children and those with delicate digestion.

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh dendrobium stem	37 g	Rinsed, cut into sections; or use 11 g dried
Fresh Chinese yam	112 g	Peeled, cut into chunks
Glehnia root (sha shen)	19 g	Soaked and rinsed
Solomon’s seal (yu zhu)	19 g	Soaked and rinsed
Goji berries	11 g	Soaked and rinsed
Ginger slices	2 slices
Quail	2 birds	Cleaned; blanched in boiling water

Method

1. Rinse the fresh dendrobium and cut into 3–4 cm sections.
2. Peel the fresh yam and cut into large chunks.
3. Soak and rinse the glehnia root, Solomon’s seal, and goji berries.
4. Clean and gut the quail; blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes to remove impurities, then drain.
5. Place all ingredients in a pot with 9–10 bowls of water (about 2.2 litres). Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
6. Cook for 2 hours until the broth reduces to about 4 bowls. Serve warm, eating the ingredients with the broth.

Bro Niu’s tips

This is a naturally sweet, gentle soup that is suitable for the whole family including children. If fresh dendrobium is hard to find in your area, check organic vegetable stores or Chinese herbal shops — it is available seasonally. If you cannot source it at all, substitute 3 qian (about 11 g) of dried dendrobium. This soup also helps children who are small for their age due to a weak digestive system.

For those who want to use dried yam instead of fresh: use about 1 liang (37 g) of dried yam slices — they have a similar effect but with a slightly more astringent flavour.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Amy): I am about two months pregnant — is this soup safe to drink? Bro Niu: Yes, pregnant women can drink this soup. You can also browse the “Women’s Health / Prenatal / Postnatal” category on the website for many more soups suitable during pregnancy.

• Q (susanna): Which is better — fresh or dried dendrobium? How do you use the dried form? Bro Niu: Fresh and dried dendrobium are equally good. The best way to use dried dendrobium is to grind it into a powder and take it with American ginseng powder — this combination is especially good for generating fluids, nourishing the stomach, and brightening the eyes.

• Q (anonymous): Can someone with constipation eat yam? Bro Niu: Yam has an astringent, stool-firming effect — so if you are constipated, it is fine to drink the soup, but leave the pieces of yam in the bowl rather than eating them.

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Published April 24, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.