Nourilo

Soups

Fresh Chinese Yam, Snow Fungus, Water Chestnut and Pork Shin Soup

traditionally used to clear internal heat, moisten the lungs, and nourish the skin

In short: Fresh Chinese Yam, Snow Fungus, Water Chestnut and Pork Shin Soup is a soup that traditionally used to clear internal heat, moisten the lungs, and nourish the skin. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, skin & natural beauty, everyday balance. Total time about 2 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: chinese yam, goji berries, ophiopogon root, water chestnuts.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
20 min
Cook
2 hr
Total
2 hr 20 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Respiratory & Lung WellnessSkin & Natural BeautyEveryday Balance
Fresh Chinese Yam, Snow Fungus, Water Chestnut and Pork Shin Soup

Why people make this soup

In Cantonese food-therapy thinking, a “yin-deficient” constitution is one that tends toward dryness and internal warmth. People in this category often notice dry mouth, restless sleep, a feeling of heat in the palms and soles, or skin and hair that feel parched. Rather than reaching for cooling medications, grandmothers across southern China have long simmered soups like this one — combining moistening vegetables and herbs to gently replenish what the body feels it is lacking. This soup is also lovely for anyone who simply wants something soothing and hydrating on a dry winter day.

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.

  • Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
    Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies
  • Snow fungus · Randomized controlled trial · 2018
    The Tremella fuciformis groups showed greater improvements than placebo in subjective memory complaint scores, short-term memory and executive function tests. Adverse event frequency was similar across high-dose, low-dose and placebo groups.Limitation: Small sample with only 15 people in the placebo group and a short 8-week duration; the brain imaging findings were exploratory.PubMed 29319408

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

  • Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium

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

Members only

Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips

One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,344 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.

  • Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,344 recipes
  • Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
  • One-time payment · card, Apple Pay or Google Pay · no subscription, no renewals

Checking your access…

Spot an error? Report a correction

You might also like

Related recipes

More soups →

Comments

Loading comments…