Soups
Ophiopogon, Lily Bulb and Longan Sweet Soup
traditionally used to calm the heart, nourish yin, and ease palpitations, anxiety, and insomnia
Why people make this sweet soup
Hyperthyroidism — an overactive thyroid — is most commonly seen in young people, particularly young women. The thyroid becomes overstimulated, leading to a classic cluster of symptoms: a racing heart, excessive sweating, heat intolerance, anxiety and irritability, difficulty sleeping, weight loss despite a good appetite, and sometimes emotional instability. In Chinese medicine, this pattern — heat, hyperactivity, and restlessness — is associated with yin deficiency and heart fire. This gentle sweet soup (tang shui) addresses those qualities directly. Ophiopogon root (mai dong) is one of the classic yin-nourishing herbs, widely used in Chinese medicine to moisten the lungs and heart, generate fluids, and reduce heat. Lily bulb (bai he) is famously used to calm the spirit and ease heat-related restlessness — it is a key ingredient in the classical formula Bai He Di Huang Tang, which targets exactly this kind of emotional-physical heat pattern. Longan flesh adds warmth and gentleness, and is said to nourish the heart and blood.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Well-suited for those experiencing hyperthyroidism-related symptoms: rapid heartbeat, palpitations, restlessness, poor sleep, emotional volatility, or heat sensations.
- Also suitable for those with nervous exhaustion, irritability, or general yin deficiency with internal heat.
- Pregnant women should substitute 6 red dates or southern dates for the longan flesh. Longan is considered warming and stimulating, and is generally avoided in pregnancy.
- Recipe as written is for 1 person. Double all quantities for 2 servings.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Ophiopogon root (mai dong): A classic cooling, yin-moistening herb associated with nourishing the heart and lungs, generating fluids, clearing mild heart fire, and reducing rapid heartbeat. Well-researched for cardioprotective properties.
- Lily bulb (bai he): Traditionally associated with calming the heart spirit, easing anxiety and restlessness arising from internal heat, and supporting sleep. Gentle and mild; particularly suited to heat-related emotional disturbance.
- Longan flesh (gui yuan rou): Dried longan flesh (the sweet brown meat of the longan fruit) is associated in Chinese food therapy with nourishing the heart blood, calming the spirit, and easing worry-related insomnia. Its warmth provides balance in this otherwise cooling formula.
- Rock sugar (bing tang): Mild and gently moistening; used to sweeten without over-heating.
Ingredients (2 bowls, 1 serving)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ophiopogon root (mai dong) | 19 g (5 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Lily bulb (bai he) | 38 g dried (1 liang), or 75 g fresh (2 liang) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Longan flesh (gui yuan rou) | 19 g (5 qian) | Rinse; pregnant women substitute 6 red/southern dates |
| Rock sugar (bing tang) | To taste | Add near the end |
| Water | 4 bowls (~800 mL) |
Method
- Rinse and briefly soak ophiopogon root and lily bulb.
- Rinse longan flesh.
- Add all ingredients (except rock sugar) to a pot with 4 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a medium-low simmer.
- Cook for 30 minutes until you have approximately 2 bowls.
- Add rock sugar, stir to dissolve, and serve. Eat the lily bulb and longan along with the soup.
Bro Niu’s tips
This sweet soup is mild and easy to drink, suitable for the whole family in double or triple quantities. For those actively managing hyperthyroidism with medication, a daily flower-herb tea of American ginseng (hua qi shen / xi yang shen), ophiopogon root, and goji berries (each about 1 tablespoon) steeped together is also very helpful — it can help ease sweating, heat sensations, and shortness of breath, and can be prepared easily in a tea bag to take to work. For pregnant women who want a similar calming effect, simply swap the longan for 6 red dates and the formula remains safe and soothing.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Ying): I was just diagnosed with hyperthyroidism with a very high reading; my heart rate is over 100 and I get flushed and sweaty easily. I am a man in my 30s and already on one month of medication. Is this sweet soup suitable? Bro Niu: For hyperthyroidism, the priority is yin-nourishing and cooling foods. Lingzhi mushroom (ling zhi) is too warming for you right now — better to focus on American ginseng, dendrobium powder (shi hu fen), or ingredients like adenophora, Solomon’s seal, lily bulb, and ophiopogon. A daily tea of American ginseng, ophiopogon, and goji berries (each 1 tablespoon) steeped together is practical for work — it can ease the sweating, heat, and breathlessness associated with your condition.
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Q (Chow): My helper has a goitre. Is there a food therapy to help reduce it? Bro Niu: Try selfheal herb (xia ku cao, 1 liang), Zhejiang fritillary bulb (zhe bei mu, 3 qian), and half a large monk fruit (luo han guo), simmered in 5 bowls of water to make 2 bowls. Take 3 consecutive doses; if there is improvement, continue at 2 doses per week.
Published December 3, 2018 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
