Soups
Niu Da Li, Sinew-Relaxing Herb, Mulberry Mistletoe and Pig Tail Soup
traditionally used to support joint comfort and strengthen sinews
In short: Niu Da Li, Sinew-Relaxing Herb, Mulberry Mistletoe and Pig Tail Soup is a soup that traditionally used to support joint comfort and strengthen sinews. It is most often made for bone & joint wellness. Total time about 2 hr 15 min.
Why people make this soup
When damp, chilly weather arrives, many people — especially as they get older — start noticing that familiar ache in their knees and lower back, or find their joints stiff in the morning. Nourilo spotted a bundle of wild niu da li root at the Chinese herbal medicine shop, then noticed sinew-relaxing herb and a box of steamed mulberry mistletoe right beside it. The steamed preparation of sang ji sheng is prized because it is gentler in taste yet delivers a fuller nourishing effect. Paired with green-kernel black soybeans, which are traditionally associated with supporting the liver and kidneys, this rich soup has been used in Cantonese households to look after the lower back, knees, and general sinew health.
Method
- Blanch the pig tail bone in a pot of boiling water for 2–3 minutes, then drain and rinse. This removes any off odours.
- Rinse and briefly soak the niu da li root, mulberry mistletoe, sinew-relaxing herb, and black soybeans.
- Place all ingredients in a soup pot with 2.4 L of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 hours.
- Serve the broth warm. The soup ingredients may also be eaten.
Nourilo’s Tips
This soup is traditionally described as dispelling wind-cold, reducing swelling, relaxing sinews, and supporting blood circulation. It is associated in folk medicine with supporting people who experience weakness in the limbs, puffiness, or recovery from strains. Pregnant women must avoid it. If you would like the soup slightly sweeter, you can add 2 honey dates (mi zao) when cooking without meat; do not add them if cooking with pork. Dried tangerine peel (chen pi) can also be added for fragrance.
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.
- Mulberries
Post-prandial self-monitored glucose was lower than placebo (18.2%), but A1C did not differ between mulberry leaf extract and placebo. Serum creatinine rose about 15% in the extract group.Limitation: Small pilot: only 17 of 24 enrolled participants completed the study, limiting statistical power.PubMed 28619294 · 3 more mulberries studies - Black soybeans
Systolic blood pressure fell more in the black soy peptide group (-9.69 mm Hg) than in the placebo group (-2.91 mm Hg) after baseline adjustment. Plasma malondialdehyde decreased and superoxide dismutase activity increased compared with placebo.Limitation: Used an isolated peptide supplement rather than whole black soybeans, and followed participants for only 8 weeks, so the results may not apply to food intake.PubMed 23924691 - Red dates
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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