White Peony and Ophiopogon Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Modern life is busy at every age. Adults push through late nights and deadlines; children face cramming schedules that leave little time for proper sleep. In traditional Chinese food therapy, this kind of chronic overwork and poor sleep is understood to stir up “liver heat” and “heart fire,” which can show up as easy irritation, short temper, restlessness, and difficulty calming down — in both grown-ups and young children. Nourilo recommends this White Peony and Ophiopogon soup as a gentle everyday remedy, equally suited to a grumpy child and a stressed parent. The flavour is mildly sweet and easy to drink, so even picky children tend to accept it.

Method

1. Rinse the white peony root and ophiopogon root; soak in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain.
2. Slice the lean pork and blanch in boiling water for 1–2 minutes to remove impurities; rinse and set aside.
3. Place all ingredients — herbs, honey dates, and pork — into a pot with 1.8 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 1 hour until the broth reduces to about 900 ml.
5. Strain (or leave the dates and pork in for eating) and serve warm.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup is gentle enough for the whole family, from children to the elderly. If heart fire feels particularly strong — mouth ulcers, vivid dreams, or difficulty falling asleep — add 30 g of lotus seeds with their green cores still in (you xin lian zi) and cook together. The core is slightly bitter but carries the best heat-clearing effect. You can also add one carrot for colour and extra sweetness without changing the therapeutic direction. For a basic formula for calming children’s nighttime restlessness, Nourilo suggests adding lotus seeds, lily bulb (bai he), and lamp-wick herb (deng xin cao) to plain water.