Nourilo

Soups

Purslane, Mung Bean, Pearl Barley and Lean Pork Soup

traditionally used to clear heat-toxins, support recovery from shingles, and reduce the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia

In short: Purslane, Mung Bean, Pearl Barley and Lean Pork Soup is a soup that traditionally used to clear heat-toxins, support recovery from shingles, and reduce the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia. It is most often made for cooling & summer heat, skin & natural beauty, energy & vitality. Total time about 1 hr 15 min. Key ingredients: purslane, mung beans, job's tears (coix), lean pork.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
15 min
Cook
1 hr
Total
1 hr 15 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Cooling & Summer HeatSkin & Natural BeautyEnergy & VitalityEveryday Balance
Purslane, Mung Bean, Pearl Barley and Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which can lie dormant in nerve tissue for decades. The illness typically begins with a painful rash on one side of the body, and the most feared complication is post-herpetic neuralgia — a burning, stabbing nerve pain that can persist for months after the rash has healed. The sooner treatment begins, the lower the risk of this lasting pain.

In Chinese food therapy, fresh purslane (ma chi xian) is one of the most highly regarded natural “clearing” herbs — sometimes described as having properties analogous to an antibiotic, in that it is traditionally associated with clearing bacterial and viral heat-toxins from the body. Mung beans and raw pearl barley add further clearing and cooling action. This soup is Nourilo’s own experience: he developed mild shingles after his second vaccination and prepared this soup for himself during recovery — sharing it here as a practical resource for others.

Method

  1. Remove the roots from the purslane, wash thoroughly, and cut into sections. Set aside — it will be added partway through cooking.
  2. Soak and rinse the mung beans and raw pearl barley.
  3. Slice the pork and blanch in boiling water for 1–2 minutes; drain and rinse.
  4. Place the mung beans, pearl barley, and pork in a pot with 2.1 L of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
  5. Add the purslane sections and continue cooking for another 30 minutes.
  6. Serve warm, eating the solid ingredients along with the broth.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup has a clean, mildly cooling flavour — pleasant and not overly medicinal. It is also traditionally considered helpful for supporting urinary comfort and healthy skin. The key ingredient is fresh purslane, which is the most potent form; it can be found at Chinese or Asian grocers, herbal stalls, or online. Dried purslane (38 g) is an acceptable substitute if fresh is not available. Keep the diet light and avoid “trigger” foods (fa wu) such as shellfish, goose, bamboo shoots, and mango while recovering from shingles, as these are traditionally thought to aggravate inflammation.

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.

  • Mung beans · Randomized crossover trial, 20 participants · 2019
    Breath hydrogen and methane were higher after wheat than after rice or mung bean noodles. Bloating scores after mung bean did not differ significantly from wheat, and mung bean produced gas levels similar to rice.Limitation: Small sample of 20 patients, with single meals tested rather than habitual intake, so longer-term effects of mung bean on symptoms are unknown.PubMed 31484315 · 1 more mung beans study
  • 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

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

Spot an error? Report a correction

Frequently asked questions

What role does purslane play in this soup?

Fresh purslane (ma chi xian) is the key ingredient and is traditionally associated with clearing bacterial and viral heat-toxins from the body. In Chinese food therapy it is one of the most highly regarded natural "clearing" herbs, and the fresh form is considered the most potent.

Why are mung beans and raw pearl barley included alongside the purslane?

Mung beans and raw pearl barley are included to add further clearing and cooling action, complementing the purslane as part of this traditionally heat-clearing soup.

Are there any foods I should avoid while drinking this soup during shingles recovery?

The recipe advises keeping the diet light and avoiding "trigger" foods (fa wu) such as shellfish, goose, bamboo shoots, and mango while recovering from shingles, as these are traditionally thought to aggravate inflammation.

How long does this soup take to prepare, and how much does it make?

Preparation takes about 15 minutes and cooking takes 1 hour, for a total time of 1 hour 15 minutes. The recipe yields approximately 0.9 to 1.2 litres of soup.

Can I use dried purslane if fresh is not available?

Yes. The recipe states that dried purslane (37–38 g) is an acceptable substitute if fresh purslane cannot be found. Fresh purslane is described as the most potent form and can be sourced from Chinese or Asian grocers, herbal stalls, or online.

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