Reed Root, Water Chestnut & Pear Soup

Why people make this soup

In traditional Chinese medicine, the lungs and the large intestine are considered closely related — when the lungs are congested with heat, the bowels often slow down too. This soup came out of that logic: it is designed to clear heat from the respiratory tract while also easing the digestion, which is why people who drink it often feel generally more comfortable and lighter, not just in the chest but throughout the body. Reed root in particular has long been regarded as one of the safest, most gentle herbs for children’s fevers, and the combination with sweet pear and water chestnut produces a broth that most children actually enjoy drinking — no persuasion needed.