Purslane & Solo Garlic Soup

Why people make this soup

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a growing concern worldwide, and Cantonese food therapy has long included a practical answer: purslane (ma chi xian), a herb whose antibacterial reputation is well-documented in traditional Chinese medicine literature. Purslane is said to enter the large intestine, liver, and spleen meridians, and its antibacterial scope includes E. coli, Salmonella, dysentery bacillus, and Staphylococcus aureus — with particular effectiveness against bacterial dysentery, where traditional sources cite efficacy rates of 60–90%. Combined with solo garlic — which itself is traditionally considered effective against some 15 types of bacteria — this 20-minute soup is Nourilo’s recommendation as a seasonal preventive when bacterial transmission risk is elevated.