Soups
Clearing-Heat Diuretic Soup
Traditionally used to support fluid balance and ease summer-heat swelling
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu reaches for this clear, refreshing soup in the heat of summer. It is the kind of pot you can drink without worry — even healthy folks enjoy it. The ingredients are all everyday finds available at Chinese or Asian grocers, and together they make a light, faintly sweet broth that feels cooling and clean on a sticky day. Bro Niu stresses that if anyone shows real signs of swelling or kidney trouble, this soup is only a gentle helper alongside proper medical care.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people feeling heavy, puffy or weighed down by damp summer heat, and those wanting a light, cooling soup.
- Often enjoyed by people managing weight or the “three highs” (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol).
- If you have genuine swelling, scant urine or protein in the urine, see a doctor — do not rely on soup alone.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh imperata root (mao gen): Traditionally used to cool the blood and support healthy urination.
- Corn silk (yu mi xu): Long used in folk practice to support fluid balance and ease puffiness.
- Adzuki / rice beans (chi xiao dou): Traditionally used to support the spleen-stomach and help drain dampness.
- Winter melon (dong gua): Cooling and watery; traditionally enjoyed to clear summer heat and support fluid balance.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh imperata root (mao gen) | 1 bundle | Rinse, cut into sections |
| Fresh corn silk (yu mi xu) | ~75 g | Rinse |
| Winter melon (dong gua) | ~600 g | Keep skin on, cut into chunks |
| Adzuki / rice beans (chi xiao dou) | ~75 g | Soak and rinse |
Method
- Rinse the imperata root and cut into sections; rinse the corn silk.
- Soak and rinse the rice beans; rinse the winter melon (skin on) and cut into chunks.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water and simmer for about 1.5 hours, reducing to 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is light, smooth and pleasant — perfect for hot summer days. It is also traditionally enjoyed by those who feel heavy and tired from dampness, and by people watching the “three highs.”
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Ada): Can women drink this soup? I also have frequent urination. Bro Niu: Yes, this soup suits both men and women. For frequent urination you can also steep fresh imperata root, fresh corn silk and Job’s tears (each ~40 g) as a tea, about 3 servings a week; add 2 honey dates if you find it too cooling.
- Q (Joy): My elderly parent has frequent urination and prostate issues; the doctor says no medication is needed. Can corn-silk tea be used for general wellness? Bro Niu: Older people prone to frequent urination can also cook rice with 1 peeled tomato daily — eat the tomato with the rice, 1–2 a day, which traditionally supports the prostate. Plantain (che qian cao) is quite cooling, so you can use fresh imperata root, fresh corn silk and Job’s tears alone as a tea, 3 servings a week; add 2 honey dates if it feels too cold.
- Q (wing): I have long-term dampness that won’t clear, heat above and cold below, bloating, eczema and weak immunity. I’ve cut out raw and cold foods. How can I better regulate my digestion? Bro Niu: It’s best to see a Chinese medicine practitioner for proper regulation. For heat-above-cold-below you can steep astragalus (bei qi), dang shen and red dates as a tea; add aged tangerine peel (chen pi) for bloating. Address one thing first, then the rest.
Published May 18, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
