Solomon's Seal and Brain-Tonic Soup (Yu Zhu Yi Zhi Tang)

Why people make this soup

Children with attention difficulties often settle somewhat as they move through adolescence, but the journey there can be exhausting for the whole family. While food therapy is not a substitute for professional care, many parents in Chinese households use nourishing soups alongside other support to help calm a busy mind and build up a child’s vitality. This soup — combining Solomon’s seal with longan, goji berries, and red dates — is one such gentle recipe. It is thought to benefit children who seem scattered, pale, easily fatigued, or forgetful, and who struggle to settle. For a heartier version, a quail can be added to the pot: quail is known as the “animal ginseng” and is mild enough for virtually any constitution.