Lily Bulb, Goji Berry and Abalone Soup

Why people make this soup

City life brings relentless pressure. When that pressure is never fully released, some people begin to experience a chronic state of tension — irrational fear, an inability to unwind, a sense of dread that seems out of proportion to what is actually happening. In Chinese medicine, this pattern is often linked to an excess of internal heat arising from yin deficiency: the cooling, nourishing aspect of the body is depleted, so the mind and emotions become overheated and restless.

Lily bulb (bai he) is one of the best-known food-therapy ingredients for a disturbed, overheated mind — gently clearing heart-fire and calming mental agitation. Goji berries (gou qi zi) nourish the liver and kidney yin, which is especially helpful for the dizziness and visual disturbances that can accompany a deficient constitution. Abalone (qing bian bao) is prized in Chinese cuisine and food therapy alike for its ability to nourish the blood, soften liver tension and clear internal heat. Together these three ingredients form a soup that is both genuinely delicious and traditionally meaningful for those who feel chronically wired, anxious or emotionally depleted.