Soups
Sang Piao Xiao, Rou Cong Rong and Yi Zhi Ren Soup
traditionally used to tonify kidney yang and support urinary control
Why people make this soup
Urinary incontinence — the inability to hold urine, or leaking before reaching the bathroom — can be deeply distressing, particularly for older people. In traditional Chinese medicine, this condition is often attributed to declining kidney yang (the warming, activating force of the kidneys), which loses its ability to “hold” the bladder securely. Bro Niu’s food-therapy approach uses sang piao xiao, the dried and toasted egg case of the praying mantis, which has been used in Chinese medicine for over a thousand years as a kidney-tonifying, bladder-strengthening herb. Combined with cistanche (a warming kidney tonic), yi zhi ren (bitter cardamom, associated with warming the kidneys and reducing incontinence) and goji berries, this soup addresses the root pattern of kidney yang deficiency.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suited to older adults experiencing urinary incontinence, frequent nighttime urination, or difficulty holding urine, where the pattern is kidney yang deficiency (feeling cold, fatigue, lower back weakness)
- Also beneficial for men with kidney deficiency-type nocturnal emissions or premature ejaculation, and women with excessive white vaginal discharge or frequent nighttime urination
- Those who tend to run hot or have yin deficiency should use with caution — these herbs are warming in nature. Adding some northern astragalus (bei qi, 3 qian) can moderate the formula slightly
- Children with bedwetting: this soup can be given (about 1.5 bowls per day), but if bedwetting persists past age 6, medical assessment by a urologist is strongly recommended
- Urinary incontinence in older adults can sometimes indicate neurological conditions — please see a doctor for proper diagnosis first
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Sang piao xiao (mantis egg case): One of the oldest and most specific remedies in Chinese medicine for kidney deficiency urinary issues; classically described as tonifying kidney yang, astringent (holding) in nature, and specifically addressing urinary frequency, enuresis and seminal loss. It is dry-fried (toasted in a dry wok until lightly yellow) before use to prepare it correctly
- Cistanche (rou cong rong): A warming kidney and yang tonic; supports lower back and leg strength as well as urinary function
- Yi zhi ren (Alpinia oxyphylla, “smart seeds”): Despite its English name, this herb’s function here is to warm the kidneys, control urine, and reduce excessive white discharge; the name “yi zhi” in Chinese literally means “beneficial to the will/intelligence,” and it is a key herb in classical formulas for urinary control
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Gentler and nourishing; adds liver and kidney nourishment to balance the more warming herbs
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sang piao xiao (mantis egg case) | 10 pieces | Dry-fry in a wok (no oil) until lightly yellow before use |
| Cistanche (rou cong rong) | ~14 g (4 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Goji berries (gou qi zi) | ~11 g (3 qian) | Rinse |
| Yi zhi ren (Alpinia oxyphylla) | ~11 g (3 qian) | Rinse |
| Water | 5 bowls (~1 L) | Reduce to 2 bowls |
Method
- Dry-fry the sang piao xiao in a clean wok (no oil) over medium heat, stirring frequently, until lightly browned and fragrant. Set aside.
- Rinse the cistanche and yi zhi ren; soak briefly in cold water.
- Rinse the goji berries.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for about 45 minutes, until the liquid has reduced to 2 bowls.
- Drink in portions throughout the day.
Bro Niu’s tips
- For those who tend to be internally hot (fire constitution), add 3 qian of northern astragalus (bei qi) when cooking — this helps to moderate the formula and adds qi-supplementing benefit.
- For children with bedwetting who are school age (6+): this soup can be given 3 times a week. However, if the bedwetting does not improve, a urologist assessment is important for the child’s psychological development as well as physical health.
- An alternative formula for urinary incontinence with some improvement: use white ginkgo nuts (bai guo) 15 pieces (remove the core — the core is mildly toxic), euryale seeds (qian shi) 1 liang, ripe raspberries (fu pen zi), and Cherokee rose hips (jin ying zi) 3 qian each, simmered with lean pork. This is a broader formula that also helps with white vaginal discharge.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (wc): My son is 6 years old and still wets the bed every night. Can he drink this soup? Bro Niu: At 6 years old, if bedwetting is not improving, he really should be seen by a government urologist — continuing to wet the bed at that age can affect a child’s psychological development. In the meantime, this soup can be given 3 times a week.
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Q (Jason): I am 42 years old and tend to run hot (easily prone to heatiness). Can I still take this soup? I also feel mentally drained and don’t feel like talking. Bro Niu: Try adding 3 qian of northern astragalus (bei qi) to the recipe — it should not be too heating with that addition. Try 3 doses and see.
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Q (odilia): Is fu pen zi (the raspberry used in this context) the same as regular red berries? Where can I find it? Bro Niu: Fu pen zi is a type of dried Chinese raspberry, available in Chinese herbal medicine shops. Even the sugar-preserved dried raspberries sold as snacks in supermarkets have some beneficial effect — about 1 tablespoon a day helps with nighttime urination.
Published February 25, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
