Soups
Three-Seed, Eucommia and Sea Cucumber Soup (San Zi Du Zhong Dun Hai Shen)
Traditionally used to nourish the kidneys and support fertility in both men and women
Why people make this soup
In Chinese medicine, the kidneys are considered the root of reproductive energy — they store what is called “jing” (essence), which underpins healthy hormonal function, sperm quality, and egg health in modern biomedical terms. When this reserve is depleted — through overwork, stress, or simply ageing — fertility can be affected in both men and women. Bro Niu recommends this double-boiled soup as a sustained, gentle approach to kidney nourishment. The three seeds — dodder, mulberry, and goji — each contribute from a slightly different angle; eucommia bark strengthens the yang side of kidney function; and sea cucumber is one of the rare ingredients that supports both yin and yang simultaneously, without the one-sided “heating” effect of many tonic herbs. Together they form a balanced, practical soup that couples can share and take weekly over one to two months as part of a broader fertility wellness plan.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Both men and women trying to conceive; particularly helpful where there are signs of kidney deficiency (fatigue, low back weakness, poor sleep, frequent urination)
- Also associated with supporting erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, general physical weakness, and frequent urination
- Can be taken during menstruation
- Sea cucumber can be replaced with fresh abalone — though the therapeutic profile differs
- Can be enriched with female cypress seed (nu zhen zi) and raspberry (fu pen zi) for added support
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Dodder seeds (tu si zi): Considered one of the primary herbs for tonifying kidney yang and stabilising the essence; associated with supporting reproductive function in both sexes
- Mulberry fruit (sang shen zi): Nourishes the liver and kidneys, enriches the blood, and moistens the intestines; provides yin-nourishing balance to the warmer kidney-yang herbs in the formula
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Nourishes liver and kidney yin; supports vision, sperm quality, and general vitality; one of the most studied Chinese tonic berries
- Eucommia bark (du zhong): A key herb for tonifying kidney yang and supporting the lower back; associated with strengthening ligaments and bones, and with supporting the uterus
- Sea cucumber (hai shen): Uniquely considered both yin- and yang-nourishing in Chinese medicine; contains no cholesterol and is associated with supporting sperm production and quality; both men and women benefit
Ingredients (2 servings — for a couple)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dodder seeds (tu si zi) | 19 g (5 qian) | Place in a tea bag before adding to pot |
| Mulberry fruit (sang shen zi) | 19 g (5 qian) | Place in a tea bag before adding to pot |
| Goji berries (gou qi zi) | 19 g (5 qian) | Rinse briefly; placed directly in pot |
| Eucommia bark (du zhong) | 11 g (3 qian) | |
| Rehydrated sea cucumber | 1–2 pieces | Blanch with ginger to remove any odour; cut into pieces |
| Lean pork | 100–150 g | Blanch briefly |
| Water | 3–4 bowls boiling water | For double-boiling |
Method
- Place the dodder seeds and mulberry fruit into a tea bag or muslin pouch (they are fine seeds that would otherwise cloud the broth).
- Blanch the sea cucumber and lean pork briefly in ginger-infused water; drain.
- Place the goji berries, eucommia bark, sea cucumber, and lean pork into a double-boiling pot (zhun zhong / ceramic soup pot with lid).
- Add the tea bag with dodder and mulberry seeds.
- Pour in 3–4 bowls of freshly boiled water.
- Place the pot inside a larger pot of boiling water; double-boil for about 3 hours.
- Drink the soup; eat the sea cucumber and goji berries.
- Recommended frequency: 1–2 doses per week for two months.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is beneficial for both sexes. For those with yang deficiency — erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, frequent urination, general weakness — it provides warm, sustained support. Sea cucumber can also be replaced by fresh abalone for variety, though the two have different nutritional profiles. Red-skinned peanuts, red dates, or goji berries can also be added to the formula for added blood-nourishing effects.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Winnie): How often should couples drink this soup when trying to conceive? Bro Niu: Twice a week is ideal. Take it for about two months and see how you feel.
-
Q (Mei): My friend’s husband has low sperm count and poor morphology. What food therapy is helpful? Bro Niu: He can try a soup with Chinese yam (huai shan, 1 liang), gordon euryale seeds (qian shi, 1 liang), lotus seeds (lian zi, 1 liang), red dates (6 pieces), and fresh ginger (3 slices), cooked with dried oysters (hao chi) for 2 hours. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients; take 3 doses per week. This helps strengthen the sperm, tonify the spleen, and stop loose stools.
-
Q (AT): My uterine lining is thin and my husband’s sperm motility is poor. Does this soup help? Can sea cucumber be replaced with fish maw? Bro Niu: Yes, fish maw can be used — but sea cucumber and fish maw have different therapeutic properties, so the effect will differ. The soup does support both issues. For very thin uterine lining, I would recommend also seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, as it is difficult to address with food therapy alone. Sea horse (hai ma) is also worth adding — it is rich in androgens and is suitable for both men and women, as female estrogen is partly converted from androgens.
Published June 6, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
