Rehmannia Mung Bean Pigeon Soup (Sheng Di Lu Dou Ru Ge Tang)

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.

Method

1. Rinse and briefly soak the rehmannia root, mung beans, coix seed, and dried tangerine peel separately.
2. Pit the red dates.
3. Clean the pigeon, chop into large pieces, and blanch in boiling water to remove blood and impurities. Rinse and drain.
4. Place all ingredients in a pot with 2.4 L of cold water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 1.5 hours until the liquid reduces to about 1.2 L.
6. Serve warm. Drink over 2 servings (2 bowls per person).

Nourilo’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.