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Four-Herb Chen Pi Red Date Soup

Traditionally supports spleen and stomach function, improving digestion and energy

In short: Four-Herb Chen Pi Red Date Soup is a soup that Traditionally supports spleen and stomach function, improving digestion and energy. It is most often made for digestive wellness, energy & vitality, everyday balance. Total time about 1 hr 10 min. Key ingredients: chinese yam, red dates.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
10 min
Cook
1 hr
Total
1 hr 10 min
Makes
600 ml; double for family
Digestive WellnessEnergy & VitalityEveryday Balance
Four-Herb Chen Pi Red Date Soup

Why people make this soup

Office workers who skip meals, eat at their desks, or grab food on the run often end up with a sluggish digestive system over time — pale complexion, persistent low energy, and a body that just does not seem to absorb nutrition well. Traditional Chinese medicine has long recognised this pattern as a weakness of the spleen-stomach system. The classic ancient formula “Yi Wei San” called for eight different ingredients, but Nourilo has simplified the approach to just four key herbs — Chinese yam, poria, lotus seeds, and euryale seeds — plus tangerine peel to move Qi and red dates for blood nourishment. The result is a soup that has essentially no strong herbal taste, is genuinely pleasant to drink, and can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. It can be made with or without meat and simmered to a sweet broth.

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.

  • Tangerine peel · Randomized controlled trial, 72 participants · 2025
    The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325
  • 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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