Tonic Drinks & Waters
Winter Melon, Coix Seed and Corn Silk Water
Traditionally used to clear heat-dampness and support skin comfort in children
Why people make this soup-water
Eczema in babies and young children can be puzzling — many parents assume it is always triggered by food, yet research suggests that fewer than one in five childhood eczema cases are actually food-allergy related, with around 70% linked to family history of allergic conditions. Heat, dry air, synthetic fabrics, and sweating can all trigger flare-ups, especially on the face and head where heat rises. This simple, three-ingredient brew uses whole foods rather than strong medicinal herbs, making it gentle enough to offer even to infants as a mild daily drink. It can also be used externally as a wash for affected skin.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits babies (as a supplementary drink in addition to breast milk or formula), children, and adults with heat-related skin irritation, mild oedema, or gout
- Also helpful for those managing blood sugar or urinary health
- People with a cold or weak stomach-spleen constitution should avoid
- Pregnant women should avoid
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Winter melon (dong gua) with skin: The skin is considered more potent than the flesh for clearing water retention and heat; together they are associated with cooling, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory actions
- Raw coix seed (sheng yi mi): A gentle grain-herb widely used to drain dampness, reduce swelling, and support the skin; raw form is used rather than toasted, as raw coix is more cooling
- Fresh corn silk (xian su mi xu): The silky threads from fresh corn cobs are traditionally associated with promoting urination, clearing heat, and supporting kidney and blood-sugar balance
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Winter melon with skin (dong gua) | 600 g | Wash well; do not peel — the skin is part of the remedy |
| Raw coix seeds (sheng yi mi) | ~37 g (1 liang) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Fresh corn silk (xian su mi xu) | ~75 g (2 liang) | Rinse; dried corn silk can substitute — use 1 liang; or use 1–2 whole corn cobs including silk |
Method
- Scrub the winter melon skin clean; cut into chunks, keeping the skin on.
- Rinse and briefly soak the coix seeds.
- Rinse the corn silk well.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot with 7 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 40 minutes until reduced to 3–4 bowls.
- Strain and serve the liquid warm. For toddlers, offer half to one bowl per serving, up to twice a day.
Bro Niu’s tips
This drink is gentle enough for the whole family — it works as a mild supplementary drink for infants and a refreshing daily brew for adults. You can also apply the cooled liquid externally to irritated skin using a cotton pad. It is equally beneficial for people managing gout, water retention, or blood sugar. If fresh corn silk is hard to find, use 1–2 whole corn cobs including the silk, or substitute dried corn silk. Do not give to pregnant women or those with a constitutionally cold, weak digestion.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Jess): For a baby with eczema aged 3 months, can I make an herbal baby formula water to help clear heat? Bro Niu: You can use 5 qian poria (fu ling) and 1 liang coix seed simmered as a water — it strengthens the spleen and drains dampness, and is suitable for babies.
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Q (Christine): My daughter is breastfeeding — can she drink this soup and pass the benefit to the baby? The baby has G6PD deficiency. What can be used for bathing the baby’s eczema patches? Bro Niu: Yes, the breastfeeding mother can drink this. For bathing a baby with G6PD, use 4–5 sprigs of coriander (yan sui / yuan sui) simmered in water for 10 minutes as a wash — it is safe and helpful for skin rashes.
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Q (Bobby): Can I use the whole corn cob instead of just the silk? And can dried tu fu ling be used instead of fresh? Bro Niu: Yes, use 1 whole corn cob including the silk. Dried tu fu ling (smilax root) works too — use 5 qian, no need to add meat, and simmer for 2 hours. A green bean, raw coix, and lily bulb sugar water is also helpful for eczema.
Published February 29, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
