Soups
Longan, American Ginseng and Fu Shen Sweet Soup
Traditionally used to nourish the heart and calm the mind
Why people make this soup
We all know someone who frets, broods and replays worries that may never come true. In traditional thinking this points to the heart and spleen being depleted, leaving the mind unsettled. This soup is traditionally used to support qi and blood, nourish the heart and calm the mind, and it is often chosen by people who feel tired and dizzy and cannot settle into restful sleep. It is a gentle, supportive everyday helper — for anything serious, food therapy is a companion to, not a replacement for, proper medical care.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People feeling run-down, dizzy or unable to rest well, and those troubled by nervous exhaustion or light sleep.
- Do not take if you have internal heat or an unresolved cold or flu.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Longan flesh (gui yuan rou): traditionally nourishes blood and calms the heart and mind.
- American ginseng (hua qi shen): associated with boosting qi and nourishing yin without being heating.
- Fu shen (fu shen): the inner part of Poria around the pine root, traditionally used to calm the mind.
- Sour jujube seed (suan zao ren): a classic ingredient traditionally used to support restful sleep.
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried longan flesh (gui yuan rou) | ~19 g | |
| American ginseng (hua qi shen) | ~11 g | Added near the end |
| Fu shen (fu shen) | ~15 g | Can substitute or alternate with fu ling |
| Sour jujube seed (suan zao ren) | ~19 g | |
| White / rock / slab sugar | To taste |
Method
- Put the longan flesh, fu shen and sour jujube seed in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
- Simmer down to about 2 bowls.
- Add the American ginseng slices and sugar.
- Boil briefly until dissolved, then serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is sweet and pleasant, and traditionally helpful for nervous exhaustion and poor sleep. But do not take it if you have internal heat or an unresolved cold. You may use rock sugar or slab sugar in place of white sugar for an even better result.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (scy): Are fu ling and fu shen the same? Is fu shen better? Can soups calling for one use the other? Bro Niu: Fu shen is the middle part of the Poria mushroom and has a calming, mind-settling action. You can use fu shen in place of fu ling, or alternate between them.
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Q (Ju): Can I use rock sugar or slab sugar instead of white sugar? Bro Niu: Yes — rock sugar or slab sugar works, and the effect is even better.
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Q (Serenade): Should I use only raw Job’s tears, or a mix of raw and roasted? (re a related dampness soup) Bro Niu: Raw Job’s tears alone is fine.
Published June 21, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
