Soybean Sprout and Dace Fish Paste Stir-Fry

Why people make this dish

Common warts are caused by a viral infection and can appear anywhere on the body — most often on the face, hands and feet. Western dermatology uses liquid nitrogen cryotherapy to remove them quickly. But for those with only a few small warts who prefer a natural approach, Chinese food therapy offers an old folk remedy: eating soybean sprouts.

Nourilo shares his own experience: years ago he noticed two small warts on his face — not painful, but bothersome. He consulted his food-therapy books and found a simple remedy: eat nothing but blanched soybean sprouts for three consecutive days, unseasoned, as many as you can manage. He made it through two days, found it nearly impossible to continue, but a few days after stopping, both warts had completely disappeared without a trace. Traditional reasoning holds that soybean sprouts — particularly the sprouted form with fine root fibres — can help dispel wind and resolve accumulations associated with wart formation. For those with a colder constitution, cooking the sprouts with ginger, garlic or warm-natured dace fish paste makes the dish much more palatable and more suitable.