Soups
Fresh Chinese Yam and Mung Bean Damp-Clearing Soup
traditionally associated with clearing heat, strengthening the spleen and relieving body dampness
Why people make this soup
In early summer, the weather alternates between muggy heat and cool rainy spells — the kind of unsettled conditions that, in traditional Chinese medicine thinking, invite “dampness” into the body. Add in a habit of eating cold foods and iced drinks, and that external dampness joins forces with internal dampness from a weakened spleen. The result is a body that feels inexplicably heavy and tired, a mind that seems foggy, limbs that feel waterlogged, and in children, an increased likelihood of eczema or loose stools. This soup addresses exactly that pattern. The combination of five ingredients — each classically associated with spleen support and dampness drainage — works gently and steadily, making it a good soup to come back to whenever the weather or the body calls for it.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for adults and children; the whole family can drink it together
- Particularly useful during humid seasons, or for those experiencing fatigue, heavy limbs, loose stools or early-stage eczema associated with spleen-damp patterns
- Pregnant women: replace raw coix seeds (sheng yi mi) with dried hyacinth bean (bian dou)
- Those during menstruation or with gout: replace mung beans (lv dou) with adzuki beans (chi xiao dou), which are better suited for those conditions
- Can be made vegetarian (without meat) or with pork, chicken or other protein added to taste
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh Chinese yam (xian huai shan): Tonifies the spleen, stomach and kidneys; the mucilage is associated with protecting the gut lining and supporting stable digestion
- Mung beans (lv dou): Clear heat and support detoxification; one of the most versatile cooling legumes in Cantonese food therapy
- Raw coix seeds (sheng yi mi): The premier dampness-draining grain in Chinese food therapy; the raw (untoasted) form is considered more effective for clearing heat alongside dampness
- Gordon euryale seeds (qian shi): Tonify the spleen and stabilise the kidney; add a slightly floury texture that makes the soup more satisfying
- Dried lily bulbs (bai he): Moisten the lungs and calm the mind; balance the drying action of the coix seeds
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh Chinese yam (xian huai shan) | 1 piece, ~300 g | Peel and cut into chunks; wear gloves if skin-sensitive |
| Mung beans | ~38 g (1 liang) | Rinse and soak 30 min; replace with adzuki beans for gout/menstruation |
| Raw coix seeds (sheng yi mi) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Rinse and soak 30 min; replace with bian dou for pregnancy |
| Gordon euryale seeds (qian shi) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Rinse |
| Dried lily bulbs (bai he) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Rinse |
| Water | 8 bowls (~2 L) | |
| Meat (optional) | to taste | Pork, chicken or other protein; blanch first |
Method
- Peel the fresh Chinese yam and cut into chunks. (Wearing gloves is recommended as the skin can cause mild itching.)
- Rinse and soak the mung beans and coix seeds for about 30 minutes, then drain.
- Rinse the euryale seeds and lily bulbs.
- If adding meat, blanch first and drain.
- Place all ingredients into a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1.5 hours until reduced to 3–4 bowls.
- Serve warm. Eat the soup and the solid ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
Meat can be added to this soup — it will improve the flavour without reducing the therapeutic effect. The soup is naturally mild and lightly sweet. Pregnant women should simply swap out the coix seeds for dried hyacinth bean (bian dou). Those with gout or who are menstruating should replace the mung beans with adzuki beans (chi xiao dou), which are the only bean type traditionally considered suitable for gout as they are associated with reducing uric acid levels.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Yy, reader in North America): My 5-year-old son has chronic constipation with sticky stools, difficulty clearing phlegm after colds, frequent nosebleeds and bad breath. Is this a damp-heat pattern? Is this soup suitable? Bro Niu: Replace the euryale seeds (qian shi) with poria mushroom (fu ling) and the soup will suit your son better for that pattern. Give him three servings a week until the symptoms improve.
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Q (吴老太): Can I drink this soup during my period? A family member has gout — can they drink it? Bro Niu: For menstruation and gout, just replace the mung beans with adzuki beans (chi xiao dou). Adzuki beans are the one legume that helps control uric acid, making them the preferred bean for people with gout.
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Q (May): My son has heavy dampness and also sleeps poorly and sweats a lot. Bro Niu: For heavy sweating and poor sleep alongside dampness, try a separate formula: astragalus root (bei qi, 3 qian), poria (fu ling, 3 qian), white atractylodes (bai zhu, 3 qian), hyacinth bean skin (bian dou yi, 3 qian), floating wheat (fu xiao mai, 5 qian) and honey dates (mi zao, 2 pieces). Use 5 bowls of water, cook to 2 bowls, drink in one day. Try three consecutive servings and see if it helps.
Published May 1, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
