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Tofu Skin, Ginkgo, Barley, and Water Chestnut Sweet Soup

Traditionally used to help reduce excessive vaginal discharge and support digestive dampness

In short: Tofu Skin, Ginkgo, Barley, and Water Chestnut Sweet Soup is a soup that Traditionally used to help reduce excessive vaginal discharge and support digestive dampness. It is most often made for digestive wellness, cooling & summer heat, women's wellness. Total time about 1 hr 15 min. Key ingredients: ginkgo nuts, water chestnuts, rock sugar.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
15 min
Cook
1 hr
Total
1 hr 15 min
Makes
900 ml
Digestive WellnessCooling & Summer HeatWomen's WellnessSkin & Natural BeautyEveryday Balance
Tofu Skin, Ginkgo, Barley, and Water Chestnut Sweet Soup

Why people make this soup

A little vaginal discharge in the middle of the menstrual cycle is completely normal physiology. But when the discharge becomes continuous, unusually heavy, or accompanied by an unpleasant odour, it can be a sign that the body is struggling with what traditional Chinese medicine describes as an excess of “dampness” in the lower body. This light, refreshing sweet soup has been used for generations in Cantonese food therapy for exactly that purpose. Barley drains dampness from the digestive system; ginkgo nuts traditionally help reduce and consolidate excessive discharge; fresh tofu skin nourishes and moistens without being heavy; and water chestnuts cool and clear heat. Together they make a surprisingly delicious dessert soup that is genuinely pleasant to drink rather than feeling like medicine.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Job's tears (coix) · Randomized controlled trial · 2024
    Myeloperoxidase activity rose significantly in the placebo group after 8 weeks but showed no significant change in the adlay tea group. Vascular endothelial function improved in the adlay group, especially in those over 40.Limitation: Participants were healthy adults and the outcomes were surrogate markers, so the results say little about clinical disease outcomes. Tea is a polyphenol-rich extract, not whole grain.PubMed 38945894 · 2 more job's tears (coix) studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Ginkgo nuts: Fresh ginkgo seeds are toxic, and serious side effects have occurred after eating roasted seeds. Always cook them thoroughly, keep to the small amount in the recipe, and take extra care when serving children. Source: NIH NCCIH — Ginkgo

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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