Soups
Green Papaya & Si Shen (Four-Herb) Soup
Traditionally supports digestion and a comfortable stomach
Why people make this soup
The firm green, unripe papaya is the one Bro Niu reaches for when making soup, rather than the sweet ripe yellow variety. It carries about twice the fiber of ripe papaya, and its natural enzymes are traditionally said to help break down beans and meats. When your meals sit heavy and your stomach bloats easily, a pot of this is a comforting choice.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for those with weak digestion, poor appetite, or a tendency to bloat after eating
- Pregnant women should avoid papaya (traditionally thought to stimulate the uterus); nursing mothers, however, suit it well as papaya is associated with supporting milk flow
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green papaya (qing mu gua): high in fiber; its enzymes are traditionally said to aid the digestion of protein-rich foods and protect the stomach lining
- Chinese yam (huai shan): traditionally nourishes the spleen and stomach
- Poria (fu ling): traditionally helps drain dampness and calm the middle
- Lotus seeds (lian zi): traditionally support the spleen and steady the stomach
- Euryale seeds (qian shi): traditionally strengthen the spleen and consolidate
- Dried figs (wu hua guo): traditionally moisten the gut and benefit the stomach
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green papaya | 1 | Peel, deseed, cut into chunks |
| Chinese yam (huai shan) | ~40 g | Rinse |
| Poria (fu ling) | ~40 g | Rinse |
| Lotus seeds (lian zi) | ~40 g | Rinse |
| Euryale seeds (qian shi) | ~40 g | Rinse |
| Dried figs | 4 | Halve |
Method
- Peel and deseed the green papaya, then cut into chunks.
- Halve the figs; rinse and briefly soak the remaining herbs.
- Add everything to 8 bowls of water and simmer about 1.5 hours, down to 4–5 bowls.
Bro Niu’s tips
You can add some meat to the pot for a richer, sweeter broth — the whole family can enjoy it. Remember: skip the papaya if you are pregnant, but it is a fine choice for nursing mothers.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Yan): I had a Caesarean and now have spontaneous sweating and night sweats — what soup should I use? My lochia had cleared but there is a little again; what can I drink? Bro Niu: This sounds like a deficiency of both qi and yin, which brings on the sweating, and lingering lochia also comes from being run-down. Try bei qi (astragalus) 5 qian, floating wheat (fu xiao mai) 5 qian, schisandra (wu wei zi) 3 qian, and southern jujube (nan zao) 6 pieces, simmered in 5 bowls of water down to 2 bowls. Take for 3–4 days.
Published May 2, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
