Adenophora, Polygonatum & Astragalus Soup

Why people make this soup

When the thyroid runs fast, Nourilo often hears the same complaints: feeling hot and on edge, a dry mouth and throat, a poorer appetite, and a tiredness that no rest seems to fix. In traditional thinking this looks like “yin deficiency with inner heat.” This quietly sweet soup pairs cooling, moistening herbs with a little warming astragalus, so it nourishes without being cold — an easy everyday pot to round out proper medical care.

Method

1. Rinse and soak the herbs; pit the red dates.
2. Put everything in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
3. Simmer about 1 hour until reduced to 600–900 ml. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

You can add a little lean pork and cook it as a family soup — it is also good for thyroid and diabetes-prone friends. Note that northern adenophora (bei sha shen) is stronger at nourishing yin and moistening dryness than the southern type, and is usually more slender in appearance.