Bei Qi, Fang Feng and Bai Zhu Soup (Jade Screen formula style)

Why people make this soup

Lots of people get nasal allergies — the moment the weather shifts, the sneezing and clear runny nose start up. It’s not a big illness, but it nags at daily life. There’s a classic formula called the “Jade Screen” (Yu Ping Feng San), so named because it is said to stand like a screen against invading “evil qi.” It is built on three herbs — astragalus, fang feng and bai zhu — and is traditionally used to support qi and secure the body’s surface. As a homely food, Nourilo cooks it with ginger and red dates, which are thought to help an allergy-prone constitution.

Method

1. Rinse the ingredients.
2. Add about 1.5 L of water and simmer about 1 hour, down to 600 ml.
3. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup strengthens the constitution and is also good for warding off chills and colds. For nasal sensitivity with a runny nose, you can add 6 magnolia flowers (xin yi hua) while cooking, which traditionally helps reduce the watery discharge. Lean pork can be added to the pot.