Soups
Rehmannia Mung Bean Pigeon Soup (Sheng Di Lu Dou Ru Ge Tang)
traditionally used to clear heat and dampness, support skin health, and ease folliculitis and acne
Why people make this soup
Folliculitis — inflammation of the hair follicles — is quite common and can appear on the scalp, face, chest, back, upper arms, shoulders, and buttocks. Early signs include redness and itching around individual follicles; in more severe cases, raised bumps, cysts, or even pus may develop. Acne is closely related: while folliculitis is typically caused by bacterial, fungal, or mite infection, acne is mainly driven by blocked pores — from oil, environmental debris, or the skin’s own sebaceous secretions.
During adolescence especially, the oil glands work overtime, and if the skin is not well cleansed or the diet is rich in fried and greasy foods, oil can build up in the follicles and form blackheads or breakouts. Traditional Chinese food therapy recommends reducing internal heat and dampness as one approach to supporting skin health from the inside. This soup — combining the cooling, blood-nourishing qualities of rehmannia with the heat-clearing properties of mung beans and coix seed — has been used for generations for exactly this purpose.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Those experiencing early-stage folliculitis, scalp sores, blackheads, or acne; suitable for most body types as this soup balances clearing with mild nourishment
- Adults and older children can drink it; multiple consecutive doses are needed for results, so patience is key
- Pregnant women should not use coix seed (yi mi). Substitute with red beans (chi xiao dou) instead — the soup remains effective and safe for pregnancy
- Those with a cold constitution or weak digestion may add a slice of fresh ginger to reduce the cooling effect
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh rehmannia root (sheng di): A classic cooling and blood-nourishing herb; mildly bitter and sweet, it colours the soup dark but is not unpleasant in taste. Traditionally associated with clearing internal heat and supporting skin conditions related to blood heat
- Mung beans (lu dou): One of the most widely used cooling foods in Chinese cuisine; traditionally considered excellent for reducing inflammation and detoxifying
- Raw coix seed (sheng yi mi): A grain used in food therapy for its ability to support the body’s natural fluid balance and ease dampness-related conditions including certain skin issues
- Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Aids digestion and prevents the soup from becoming too cold in nature; harmonizes the formula
- Pigeon (ru ge): A lean protein traditionally considered nourishing; provides depth of flavor and makes the soup more satisfying
Ingredients (4 bowls / 2 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh rehmannia root (sheng di) | 1 liang (~38 g) | Available at Chinese herb shops |
| Mung beans | 2 liang (~75 g) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Raw coix seed (sheng yi mi) | 1 liang (~38 g) | Use raw, not pre-processed |
| Dried tangerine peel (chen pi) | 1 piece | Soaked and rinsed |
| Red dates | 6 pieces | Pitted |
| Squab pigeon | 1 | Cleaned and blanched |
| Water | 8 bowls | — |
Method
- Rinse and briefly soak the rehmannia root, mung beans, coix seed, and dried tangerine peel separately.
- Pit the red dates.
- Clean the pigeon, chop into large pieces, and blanch in boiling water to remove blood and impurities. Rinse and drain.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of cold water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 1.5 hours until the liquid reduces to about 4 bowls.
- Serve warm. Drink over 2 servings (2 bowls per person).
Bro Niu’s tips
This recipe makes 2 servings. You need to be patient and take several consecutive doses before results show — skin conditions typically need time to respond to food therapy. The design of this soup is well-balanced: it clears without being too cold, and nourishes without being heavy, so people with weaker constitutions can also drink it. Pregnant women: please swap the coix seed for red beans (chi xiao dou). There is no need to add other meat or additional ingredients — the soup has its own gentle flavor.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Joan): My 7-year-old daughter has a large abscess on her buttock and is on antibiotics and ointment. Is this soup suitable, or would fresh poria (tu fu ling) be better? Bro Niu: For a child, a soup with fresh poria (2 liang), mung beans and coix seed (1 liang each), dried tangerine peel, and 5 red dates with lean pork would be even better. Take 3 consecutive doses.
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Q (Ying): After two rounds of antibiotics for tonsillitis, my skin started breaking out with small pimples and oil-seed bumps. Several months on, it is still the same. Bro Niu: Try this rehmannia mung bean pigeon soup for 2 to 3 consecutive doses. It should help with the breakouts. In your daily routine, brewing black soybean (qing ren hei dou) with licorice root (gan cao) as a tea helps clear residual toxins from both Western and Chinese medicines.
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Q (alexvin21): I am 24 and have serious eczema and folliculitis on my back. If I moisturize, I get more acne; if I don’t, the eczema dries out. What can I do? Bro Niu: Your situation may be related to hormonal fluctuations during your twenties. Try drinking this soup for a week straight and see if there is improvement. For the eczema, use a moisturizer that is free from chemical additives to keep the skin hydrated without triggering breakouts.
Published September 1, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
