Lotus Seed, Cicada Shell and Rush Pith Soup

Why people make this soup

When a young child cries through the night, the first job is to rule out the obvious: is the nappy wet, is the room too warm or too cold, is the clothing too tight? Once those are ruled out, traditional Cantonese food therapy points to internal heat along the heart channel — the child is overstimulated, perhaps from a loud outing or too many visitors during the day, and their little nervous system cannot wind down. This simple three-ingredient preparation has been trusted by Cantonese families for generations. It is mild, naturally low in strong flavours, and Nourilo often recommends it as a starter tea for infants under one year old.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients briefly.
2. Combine with 0.9–1.2 L of water in a pot.
3. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook over low heat for 45 minutes, reducing to about 450 ml of liquid.
4. Strain and divide into portions for the child to sip throughout the day.

Nourilo’s Tips

• This soup clears heart heat, calms restlessness, and settles fright — it is mild enough for very young children.
• For babies under one year, place the ingredients in a mesh soup bag and simmer with thin rice congee, or use the tea as an opening milk supplement.
• If whole lotus seeds with embryo are hard to find, ordinary split lotus seeds will also work.
• A gentle variation for older children who are sleeping poorly: add 30 g lily bulb (bai he) to the basic recipe for additional calming nourishment.