Soups
Pagoda Tree Flower, Dried Mussel, Black Bean and Fig Soup
Traditionally associated with cooling the blood and helping guard against hemorrhoid flare-ups
Why people make this soup
A friend developed bleeding hemorrhoids from postpartum constipation and called Bro Niu for a simple remedy — pagoda tree flower tea is traditionally enjoyed to help settle bowel and hemorrhoid bleeding. Pagoda tree flower is a classic blood-cooling ingredient. Bro Niu turns it into this clear, savory soup with dried mussel, black bean and fig, traditionally enjoyed to help guard against hemorrhoid flare-ups and bleeding. The everyday habits matter too: regular bowel movements, less sitting or standing too long, less spicy “heating” food, more movement, more water and more fiber.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people prone to hemorrhoid flare-ups; nursing mothers can drink it too (and dried figs are traditionally said to help milk — add a few more)
- The whole family can enjoy it as a gentle, blood-supporting soup
- If bleeding is significant or persistent, please see a doctor to rule out other causes
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Pagoda tree flower (huai hua): a classic blood-cooling ingredient, traditionally associated with settling bowel and hemorrhoid bleeding and clearing liver heat
- Dried mussel (dan cai): rich in protein and minerals, traditionally associated with supporting the kidneys, blood and essence
- Green-kernel black beans (qing ren hei dou): traditionally associated with nourishing the blood
- Dried figs (wu hua guo): add natural sweetness and are traditionally said to support milk in nursing mothers
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pagoda tree flower (huai hua) | 1 tbsp | In a tea bag |
| Dried mussel (dan cai) | ~75 g (2 liang) | Soaked, rinsed, blanched |
| Green-kernel black beans (qing ren hei dou) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Dried figs (wu hua guo) | 4 | Halved |
Method
- Put the pagoda tree flower into a tea bag.
- Soak and rinse the black beans.
- Soak and rinse the dried mussel, then blanch.
- Halve the dried figs.
- Put everything in a pot with 7 bowls of water and simmer 1 hour down to 3–4 bowls; serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear and gentle, suiting young and old. Dried mussel (also called “wang cai”) is rich in protein and minerals and traditionally associated with supporting the blood. Even healthy people can enjoy this soup for its blood-supporting, calming and liver-heat-clearing qualities.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (kk): Can a nursing mother drink the simple pagoda-flower-licorice tea for hemorrhoids? Bro Niu: Yes — a nursing mother with hemorrhoids can drink this tea.
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Q (Xiao Ling): I have daily, soft bowel movements but these days my hemorrhoids are swollen and painful (no bleeding), with stinging at the anus — can I drink this tea? And during my period, won’t it be too cooling? Bro Niu: You can drink this tea; it is traditionally enjoyed to ease hemorrhoid flare-up discomfort. It’s fine during your period too — not too cooling.
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Q (mei ling): I’m four and a half months pregnant, feeling very “heaty,” with mouth ulcers and constipation, but I daren’t drink cooling herbal teas — what can I make? Bro Niu: You may have a touch of yin-deficiency heat; gentle cooling drinks are fine — for example sugarcane-carrot-water-chestnut water, or snow-fungus-almond-lotus-seed sweet soup. An apple morning and night on an empty stomach, fresh prunes, and more spinach all help with bowels.
Published September 6, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
