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Winter Melon, Hyacinth Bean, Job's Tears and Frog Soup

traditionally supports postpartum water retention and dampness clearance

In short: Winter Melon, Hyacinth Bean, Job's Tears and Frog Soup is a soup that traditionally supports postpartum water retention and dampness clearance. It is most often made for cooling & summer heat, women's wellness, kidney & urinary wellness. Total time about 2 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: job's tears / coix seed, lean pork.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
20 min
Cook
2 hr
Total
2 hr 20 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Cooling & Summer HeatWomen's WellnessKidney & Urinary Wellness
Winter Melon, Hyacinth Bean, Job's Tears and Frog Soup

Why people make this soup

During the later stages of pregnancy, the growing baby can press on the lower abdomen and slow venous blood flow, leading to swelling in the legs and feet. For most women, this eases naturally after delivery with rest and attention to diet. But when swelling continues after birth, traditional Chinese food therapy points to two key steps: increase easily absorbed protein to help pull fluid back into circulation, and reduce sodium intake. In warm weather, cooling and damp-clearing foods become especially important, and this soup — built around winter melon, hyacinth bean, and Job’s tears — has long been a trusted choice in Cantonese households for exactly this situation.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Job's tears (coix) · Randomized controlled trial · 2024
    Myeloperoxidase activity rose significantly in the placebo group after 8 weeks but showed no significant change in the adlay tea group. Vascular endothelial function improved in the adlay group, especially in those over 40.Limitation: Participants were healthy adults and the outcomes were surrogate markers, so the results say little about clinical disease outcomes. Tea is a polyphenol-rich extract, not whole grain.PubMed 38945894 · 2 more job's tears (coix) studies
  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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