Dried Persimmon and Black Wood Ear Fungus Sweet Soup

Why people make this soup

Hemorrhoids are far more common than most people admit — and they are not actually sores or wounds. They are swollen, dilated veins in the rectal area that can cause bleeding, discomfort, a feeling of fullness, or prolapse. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies them into types, and this soup is suited to what is called the “damp-heat and blood stagnation” type — the kind that tends to come with early-stage hemorrhoid flare-ups, a sense of irritation or heat around the anal area, some bleeding or mucus, and sometimes a bitter taste in the mouth. This soup uses dried persimmon to cool and moisten the intestines, and black wood ear fungus for its traditional blood-vitalising properties. Nourilo stumbled upon some wild rock ear fungus (a close relative of black wood ear), and this recipe was born from combining it with persimmon and brown sugar — a gentle, tasty, and accessible home remedy.