Soups
Carrot, Water Chestnut and Lophatherum (Bamboo Leaf) Soup
Traditionally clears heat and supports urination during a feverish childhood cold
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu wrote this for the season when half the kindergarten seems to be down with a cold and parents are fretting. During a feverish spell, little ones often have dark urine, no appetite, and that cranky, restless mood. This soup is naturally sweet — kids rarely refuse it — and is traditionally given to clear heat and gently encourage urination while the fever runs its course.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Children with a cold who are feverish, off their food, fussy, or passing dark urine; the source also mentions it for cough and irritated urination.
- A baby of about 11 months can take half a bowl at a time, up to one bowl a day (per Bro Niu’s reply below).
- Watch the fever closely. If it is high or won’t come down, please see a doctor — soup is supportive, not a substitute for medical care.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Carrot (gan sun): Naturally sweet and gentle, it makes the soup palatable for children.
- Water chestnut (ma ti): Traditionally clears heat and nourishes the fluids; cooling and sweet.
- Lophatherum / bland bamboo leaf (dan zhu ye): A classic clearing herb traditionally used to clear heat and promote urination.
- Rock sugar (bing tang): Rounds the flavour so children drink it happily.
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrot (gan sun) | 1 | Peel, slice thinly |
| Water chestnut (ma ti) | 8 | Peel, slice |
| Lophatherum (dan zhu ye) | ~11 g (3 qian) | Rinse |
| Rock sugar | to taste | Added at the end |
Method
- Peel the carrot and slice it thinly. Peel and slice the water chestnuts. Rinse the lophatherum.
- Put everything in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
- Simmer about 1 hour until reduced to 2 bowls.
- Stir in rock sugar until dissolved, then serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
The soup is clear and sweet, so children won’t resist it. It also suits those with a cough, dark urine or irritated urination.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (reader): Can an 11-month-old drink this carrot, water chestnut and lophatherum soup? Bro Niu: Yes — half a bowl at a time, up to one bowl a day.
-
Q (Yi): Can it be taken with a slight fever and a sore throat? Bro Niu: For a mild fever and throat discomfort, add about 11 g (5 qian) of reed root (lu gen) and cook it together.
-
Q (Tracy): My son catches a cold every month or two. Is there anything to strengthen his immunity? Bro Niu: You can buy “Yu Ping Feng San” granules — its main herbs are astragalus, siler and atractylodes, traditionally used to support a child’s defences and reduce colds. About 3–4 doses a week for a month should help. (For supportive, non-medical use; if illness persists, see a doctor.)
Published February 27, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
