Pseudostellaria Root, Chinese Yam, Notoginseng and Chicken Breast Soup

Why people make this soup

Some children seem to eat well enough but just never quite put on weight — they stay small and lean, and parents worry. In traditional Cantonese food therapy, this is often attributed to a weak spleen and stomach that cannot efficiently absorb nutrients even when meals are regular. The approach is to gently strengthen the digestive system first, so the body can make better use of what it receives.

Pseudostellaria root (tai zi shen), nicknamed “prince ginseng,” is one of the most child-friendly tonic herbs in Chinese food therapy — it has the qi-nourishing quality of true ginseng but at a much gentler level. Notoginseng (tian qi), which is used here in its cooked/prepared form (shu tian qi), goes beyond simple blood-stopping and is traditionally considered to both nourish and move the blood, support healthy blood production, boost stamina, and enhance learning and memory. Together with Chinese yam and red dates in a light chicken breast broth, this is a well-loved soup for children who need a little extra nourishment.