Soups
Kelp, Rehmannia and Mung Bean Soup
Traditionally used to clear heat, cool the blood and ease summer-damp
Why people make this soup
In humid weather, young people often break out in stubborn pimples and acne, especially around the face and head — not a serious illness, Bro Niu notes, but one that lingers for days and quietly wears on a person. This cooling soup of kelp, raw rehmannia and mung beans is traditionally used to clear heat, cool the blood and ease the damp-heat that feeds those breakouts.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with heat- and damp-related pimples and acne, especially in humid weather
- Those with heat-natured skin sores; lean pork can be added to make it an everyday soup
- Raw rehmannia is cooling — go easy if your digestion runs cold or weak
- If acne is persistent or severe, please see a doctor
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Kelp / seaweed (hai dai): traditionally associated with softening lumps and clearing damp-heat.
- Raw rehmannia (sheng di): a classic blood-cooling herb said to clear heat and cool the blood.
- Mung bean (lü dou): traditionally used to clear heat, relieve summer-heat and ease toxicity.
- Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): added to move qi and keep the soup easy on the stomach.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tender kelp (hai dai) | 1 small handful | softened in boiling water |
| Raw rehmannia (sheng di) | ~19 g / 5 qian | rinsed |
| Mung bean (lü dou) | ~75 g / 2 liang | rinsed |
| Dried tangerine peel (chen pi) | 2 pieces | rinsed |
| Rock sugar | to taste |
Method
- Soften the tender kelp in boiling water; rinse the rehmannia, mung beans and tangerine peel.
- Put everything in a pot, add water and simmer about 1 hour.
- Stir in rock sugar until dissolved. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup also suits people with heat in the blood who get skin sores and boils; you can add lean pork and drink it as an everyday family soup.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Mon): I’m overseas and can’t find raw rehmannia — what can I use instead? Bro Niu: Can you get lily bulb where you are? Fresh or dried lily bulb both work; use about 1 liang of dried lily bulb.
- Q (Yan, age 35): I’m spleen-deficient with gastritis, and acne keeps coming back around my nose and mouth. What can I steep at the office, and how do I stop my hair and nose getting so oily? Bro Niu: This sounds like damp-heat acne. Stir 2 teaspoons of pearl barley powder (yi mi fen) into a hot drink at work, daily. At home you can simmer mung beans, sweet almond and kelp with rose buds and a little brown sugar; remove the rose buds, then drink the soup and eat the rest, every other day for two months.
- Q (Eric): Can a 16-year-old with stubborn boils on the chin and nose use this? He doesn’t know his constitution. Bro Niu: Have him go easy on spicy and deep-fried, oily food and keep meals light. He can use this rehmannia-mung-bean-seaweed soup; if there’s pus, add 1 liang of raw pearl barley.
Published March 4, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
