Soups
Five-Finger Grass, Old Mulberry Twig & Double-Vine Soup
Traditionally supports circulation and eases tendon or joint discomfort associated with repetitive strain
Why people make this soup
Most of us live with a phone in one hand and a mouse in the other — and our wrists and thumbs are paying the price. In Chinese, the condition known as “mama’s hand” (De Quervain’s tenosynovitis) has spread well beyond new mothers: it now affects anyone who spends long hours swiping, clicking, or doing repetitive hand work. Traditional Cantonese food therapy turns to vine-family herbs for these kinds of complaints, because vines are flexible, sprawling things that travel along channels — and in the logic of Chinese medicine, they are thought to do the same thing inside the body, moving qi and blood through the sinews. This soup brings together two such vine herbs alongside mulberry twig (the classic upper-limb herb) and five-finger grass for a broth that, at minimum, is warm, nourishing, and comforting when your hands are aching.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suited for adults experiencing wrist, thumb, or upper-arm discomfort from repetitive strain, as well as those with general rheumatic joint soreness
- Pregnant women must not use this soup — the herbs are contraindicated in pregnancy
- If a joint shows active inflammation (redness, warmth, swelling), consult a doctor before using herbal food therapy
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Five-finger grass (wu zhi mao tao): Fragrant and tonifying; traditionally used to support qi and ease general muscle fatigue
- Old mulberry twig (lao sang zhi): In Chinese medicine, mulberry twig is considered to act primarily on the upper limbs — it is the classic herb for shoulder, elbow, and wrist discomfort; traditionally associated with clearing wind-damp and relaxing sinews
- Broad-leaved cissus (kuan gen teng): A vine herb; traditionally associated with relaxing tendons and promoting circulation in the joints
- Spatholobus stem (ji xue teng): One of the most widely used blood-invigorating herbs in Cantonese cooking; traditionally associated with nourishing blood and promoting flow through the channels; note that Bro Niu mentions vine herbs for the lower limbs (e.g. cyathula root / niu xi) act downward, while mulberry twig acts upward
- Chestnuts: A warming, nourishing food associated in Chinese tradition with supporting the kidney and strengthening the lower back and joints
- South dates (nan zao): Mellow and sweet; support the spleen and moderate the more bitter flavors in the soup
- Pork shin (zhu zhan): Rich in collagen; a common protein base in Cantonese soups for joint-related recipes
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Five-finger grass root (wu zhi mao tao) | 37 g (1 liang) | Rinse and soak |
| Old mulberry twig (lao sang zhi) | 19 g (5 qian) | Available at Chinese herb shops |
| Broad-leaved cissus (kuan gen teng) | 19 g (5 qian) | Available at Chinese herb shops |
| Spatholobus stem (ji xue teng) | 19 g (5 qian) | Available at Chinese herb shops |
| Chestnuts | 75 g (2 liang) | Shelled |
| South dates (nan zao) | 5 pieces | Whole |
| Pork shin / shank | 1 piece (~300 g) | Blanched before use |
Method
- Rinse all herbs and soak briefly.
- Blanch the pork shin: cut into chunks, place in cold water, bring to a boil, drain, and rinse.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady medium simmer for 1.5 hours, until the liquid reduces to about 4 bowls.
- Serve warm. The pork and chestnuts are good to eat alongside the broth.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup has a mild herbal note and is quite pleasant to drink — it also benefits those with rheumatic bone pain. Take 3 consecutive servings (every other day) and see if your discomfort improves. Remember: the herbs can only do so much. Resting the affected hand, reducing phone scrolling, and avoiding the repetitive posture that caused the problem in the first place is the essential first step. For pregnancy: this soup is not suitable — please skip it.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Su Tai): My 65-year-old friend suddenly had severe pain in her left shoulder, neck, and arm at night. The doctor said it was overuse strain. Can she drink this soup? Bro Niu: Yes, your friend can drink this soup — take 3 servings. If the pain doesn’t improve, try a follow-up soup with tienchi root (tian qi), spatholobus, cinnamon twig, and red dates with chicken breast — that combination is specifically helpful for pain relief.
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Q (Hing): My 65-year-old grandmother has recurring pain through her whole left arm from old workplace injuries. What soup can she take, and is there a daily tea? Bro Niu: Try morinda root (ba ji) and eucommia bark (du zhong) — 5 qian each — with cinnamon twig, ginger, black beans, and red dates in a pork shin soup. Simmer 8 bowls down to 4. Grandmother can have 2 bowls a day; the whole family can drink it. Three servings should help ease the arm pain.
Published July 31, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
