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Purple Chinese Yam, Chestnut and Chicken Soup

traditionally associated with supporting hormonal balance, nourishing the uterus, and promoting overall reproductive wellness

In short: Purple Chinese Yam, Chestnut and Chicken Soup is a soup that traditionally associated with supporting hormonal balance, nourishing the uterus, and promoting overall reproductive wellness. It is most often made for women's wellness, everyday balance. Total time about 110 min. Key ingredients: chestnuts, carrot, ginger, red dates.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
20 min
Cook
90 min
Total
110 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Women's WellnessEveryday Balance
Purple Chinese Yam, Chestnut and Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

Purple Chinese yam is less common than the standard white variety, but noticeably different in both colour and nutritional profile. The vivid purple flesh comes from anthocyanins (the same family of antioxidant pigments found in blueberries and red cabbage), and the yam contains a compound called diosgenin — a natural plant sterol that researchers have noted may support the body’s own sex-hormone synthesis pathways. In Chinese food therapy, purple yam has long been associated with supporting ovarian function, uterine health, and lactation, as well as benefiting men’s reproductive health. This soup is not a medical fertility treatment, but it is a genuinely nourishing family meal with a solid traditional reputation.

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.

  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies
  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates 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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