Astragalus, Black Bean and Southern Jujube Soup (Bei Qi Hei Dou Nan Zao Tang)

Why people make this soup

Sweating in the heat is completely normal. But some people sweat heavily throughout the day with little exertion, or wake at night with their clothes damp — and these experiences are genuinely draining. In Chinese medicine, the first pattern (sweating during the day, often accompanied by fatigue, breathlessness, and easy colds) is called zi han or “spontaneous sweating,” and is linked to qi deficiency. The second (sweating during sleep, stopping on waking) is called dao han or “night sweating,” and is linked to yin deficiency. Both are treated as signs that the body’s surface is not holding securely. This three-ingredient soup has been Bro Niu’s standard recommendation for both: astragalus to strengthen the wei qi and close the surface, black beans to consolidate essence, and southern jujubes to nourish and settle.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for those who sweat excessively without exertion during the day (qi deficiency / spontaneous sweating), or who wake at night with damp clothing (yin deficiency / night sweating)
• Also useful after illness, surgery, or during periods of overwork when the body feels depleted
• Adding floating wheat (fu xiao mai, 5 qian) to this soup enhances its astringent, sweat-stopping quality and is recommended by Bro Niu for daytime sweating
• Those with an excess-heat pattern (e.g. currently running a fever, or with active external illness) should not use this soup — wait until the acute condition resolves
• If you experience some internal warmth or feeling of “heat rising” after drinking this soup, reduce the astragalus and black bean quantities by half and take a 2–3 day break before resuming
• During menstruation: safe to continue

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Astragalus root (bei qi / huang qi): The principal herb in this formula. Considered sweet and slightly warm; classically associated with supplementing the middle qi, lifting the body’s vital energy, consolidating the external surface (wei qi), and stopping spontaneous sweating. One of the most widely researched Chinese tonic herbs in modern phytotherapy.
• Black beans (hei dou): In Chinese food therapy, black foods are associated with the kidney channel. Black beans are traditionally considered to consolidate essence, nourish yin, and help the body “hold” fluids rather than losing them as sweat.
• Southern jujube (nan zao): A high-quality variety of Chinese date, darker and chewier than the common red date. Traditionally used to nourish the blood, calm the spirit, and strengthen the spleen. When selecting southern jujubes, look for firm, dry, glossy dark-red fruit with fine, clear skin markings and a sweet (not sour) taste — sour-tasting dates sold cheaply are often inferior “horse-tooth dates” (ma ya zao) and lack the same nourishing qualities.

Ingredients (2 bowls / 2 portions)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Astragalus root (bei qi)	1 liang (~37 g)
Southern jujube (nan zao)	10 pieces
Black beans	2 liang (~75 g)	Soak, then discard soaking water

Method

1. Soak the black beans in cold water for 1–2 hours, then discard the soaking water. (The soaking water is discarded because it contains germination enzymes that are not beneficial — most of the beneficial anthocyanins remain in the bean skins.)
2. Rinse the astragalus root and southern jujubes.
3. Place all ingredients in a pot with 6 bowls of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for about 1 hour until approximately 2 bowls of liquid remain.
5. Divide into 2 servings. Drink one portion, and keep the second for later in the day or the following morning.
6. Repeat for 3–5 consecutive days.

Bro Niu’s tips

For best results, drink this soup consistently for 3–5 days in a row. Adding floating wheat (fu xiao mai, 1 liang) to the formula is especially helpful for daytime spontaneous sweating. If the soup feels slightly heating after a few days, reduce the astragalus and black bean quantities by half and take a short break. For a family of four, scale up proportionally: approximately 2.5 liang of astragalus, 15 southern jujubes, and 3 liang of black beans.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (anonymous, 2020): My husband works outdoors in heavy physical labour and sweats enormously. At night he also has night sweats. Can he drink this soup? Bro Niu: Yes, brew this soup for him and have him drink it continuously for 3 days. If it helps, he can have another 3-day course. Adding 5 qian of floating wheat (fu xiao mai) is particularly beneficial for heavy daytime sweating.

• Q (Marco): I wake up sweating in the morning — not during sleep but on waking — and my hands and feet are very cold. What food therapy suits this? Bro Niu: Try this combination: astragalus 5 qian, black beans 1 liang, floating wheat 5 qian, red dates 6 pieces, cinnamon twig (gui zhi) 3 qian. Use 5 bowls of water and simmer to 2 bowls. Drink three times a week.

• Q (Coby): My child sweats heavily all over their head while sleeping. Is this soup appropriate? Can they drink it when they have a cold? Bro Niu: For sleep sweating, use black beans 1 liang, floating wheat 5 qian, and southern jujubes 5 pieces — simmer in 5 bowls of water down to 2 bowls. Drink for 3 days. Do not use this soup during an active cold — wait until recovered, then use it to strengthen the constitution.

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Published March 6, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.