Soups
White Atractylodes and Sharpleaf Galangal Fruit Soup
Traditionally used to support spleen function and reduce excessive salivation in young children
Why people make this soup
A little drooling is perfectly normal in babies — they produce more saliva from about three to four months old and simply haven’t learned to swallow it all yet, especially when teeth are coming in. But if a child past the age of two still drools persistently, traditional Chinese food therapy looks for a pattern in the saliva itself: if it is thick and the corners of the mouth are sore and reddened, the approach is to clear heat from the spleen; if the saliva is clear and watery and the child also tends toward loose stools and a pale complexion, the cause is more likely spleen-qi deficiency, and that is where this simple three-ingredient soup comes in. Bro Niu describes it as a gentle, practical formula that parents can prepare easily at home while the child is being monitored.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Young children past age two with persistent, clear, watery drooling — particularly those who also have poor digestion, loose stools, or look a little pale and lethargic
- Not the right formula if the saliva is thick and sticky or the mouth corners are cracked and sore (that pattern calls for heat-clearing foods instead, such as green bean and coix congee)
- Children with G6PD (favism) can safely drink this soup (Bro Niu confirmed)
- If the child has a fever or active cold, address that first before giving tonifying soups
- Always get a medical check-up if excessive drooling persists past age two, as some causes require specialist attention
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- White atractylodes (bai zhu): One of the most fundamental spleen-tonifying herbs in Chinese food therapy; traditionally used to strengthen the spleen, dry dampness, and support healthy fluid metabolism — excess clear saliva is seen as a dampness manifestation in this pattern
- Sharpleaf galangal fruit (yi zhi ren): Warm and slightly spicy; traditionally used to warm and tonify spleen and kidney yang, reduce excessive secretions, and support urinary control; has a mild, pleasant pungency
- Red dates (hong zao): Tonify the spleen and stomach; naturally sweet and gentle; help balance the formula and make the soup more palatable for children
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White atractylodes (bai zhu) | ~19 g (5 qian) | Rinse before use |
| Sharpleaf galangal fruit (yi zhi ren) | ~19 g (5 qian) | Rinse before use; has a mild spicy-warm flavour — reduce to 3 qian if child dislikes the taste |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 6 pieces | Pitted |
| Water | 5 bowls (~1 L) | — |
Method
- Rinse the white atractylodes and sharpleaf galangal fruit.
- Remove the pits from the red dates.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 5 bowls (about 1 L) of water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 1 hour until reduced to 2 bowls.
- Allow to cool to a comfortable drinking temperature and give to the child throughout the day.
Variation — congee:
If the child has started eating congee or soft foods, cook this soup with lean pork and a small amount of rice to make a nourishing savoury congee. Bro Niu notes the congee version is even more effective.
Bro Niu’s tips
If the child finds the soup a little spicy (from the yi zhi ren), reduce the amount to 3 qian next time. For children already eating soft foods, cooking this as a congee with a small amount of lean pork is even better — the congee form is gentler on the stomach and more nourishing overall. Bro Niu also notes that adding Chinese yam (huai shan) and euryale seeds (qian shi) to the basic formula further strengthens the spleen and kidney, which is useful for children who also have frequent urination alongside the drooling.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Amber): My 7-year-old son occasionally has a lot of saliva pooling in his mouth — clear, bubbly, not drooling out, and it tends to be worse in the mornings and in damp weather. He also has nasal allergies. Is this soup suitable? Bro Niu: Yes, you can use this bai zhu yi zhi ren soup and also add Chinese yam (huai shan) and euryale seeds (qian shi) — these further strengthen the spleen and kidney. Try three times a week for two weeks and see if there is improvement.
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Q (MICKEY): My son is almost 6 and still wets the bed at night — he goes to the toilet before sleep and doesn’t drink water, but still wets. Is there a soup for this? Bro Niu: Bedwetting at 6 years old should be assessed by a family doctor and referred to a paediatric urologist — it may be a bladder sphincter issue that needs specialist care, not just food therapy. As a complement, you can use gingko nuts (10 pieces, core removed), yi zhi ren, fu pen zi (Chinese raspberry), and euryale seeds with red dates and lean pork — 8 bowls of water simmered to 4 bowls, divided over 2 days, twice a week. But please get the medical check first.
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Q (苏太): My grandson is 7 months old and has been drooling since about 5 months. I thought it was teething. Should I be worried? Bro Niu: Drooling at 5–7 months is very normal for teething babies — as long as it is not excessively heavy, there is nothing to worry about. Check if the back of the neck feels warm: if it does, the baby’s core temperature is fine. Don’t worry about the drooling at this age.
Published April 14, 2013 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
