Soups
Fresh Millettia, Tu Fu Ling, Five-Finger Fig & Chestnut Soup
Traditionally strengthens the spleen, drains dampness and eases aching joints and limbs
Why people make this soup
Fresh millettia root, smilax (tu fu ling), five-finger fig, rice bean and Job’s tears make a soup traditionally valued for strengthening the spleen, draining dampness, and easing rheumatic aches and a weak, sore back and legs — and it tastes good even without meat. Many root vegetables are traditionally associated with loosening the sinews and easing the joints, and these particular herbs are mild and not strongly medicinal in flavour, which is why home cooks love them. Bro Niu combines fresh millettia with a classic dampness-clearing blend of smilax, five-finger fig, rice bean and Job’s tears, and adds chestnuts for natural sweetness.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with an aching back, tired legs, or rheumatic-type joint discomfort
- Also traditionally suitable for those with damp skin issues such as eczema
- Pregnant women should not use this soup
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Millettia root / niu da li (xian niu da li): also called “mountain lotus root”; traditionally strengthens the spleen and lung and limbers the sinews.
- Smilax / tu fu ling (xian tu fu ling): traditionally clears dampness and is associated with easing the joints.
- Five-finger fig (wu zhi mao tao): traditionally strengthens the spleen and lung, moves qi and dampness, and loosens the sinews.
- Rice bean (chi xiao dou) & Job’s tears (yi mi): classic pair for draining dampness.
- Chestnut (li zi): lends gentle, warming sweetness.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh millettia root (niu da li) | ~75 g | rinsed |
| Fresh smilax (tu fu ling) | ~38 g | rinsed |
| Five-finger fig (wu zhi mao tao) | ~19 g | rinsed |
| Rice bean (chi xiao dou) | ~38 g | rinsed |
| Job’s tears (yi mi) | ~38 g | rinsed |
| Chestnuts (li zi) | ~150 g | skins removed |
Method
- Rinse and soak all the ingredients.
- Dip the chestnuts briefly in boiling water and peel off the skins.
- Add everything to 8–9 bowls of water and simmer for about 1.5 hours down to 4–5 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear and sweet. For the whole family, you can add pork ribs or pork shin and cook together. It’s also suitable for people with skin eczema — but pregnant women should not use it. If you use dried millettia and dried smilax instead of fresh, just halve the amounts.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (anonymous): Evening, Bro Niu. My 4-year-old has had red eyes for a week. The doctor says it’s not conjunctivitis but allergic redness, and that it won’t fully resolve until they’re older. What soup can I make? Bro Niu: You can boil a water of imperata root (mao gen), sugarcane, carrot and water chestnut, or a mung bean and kelp sweet soup, which both help eye redness. You can also steep mulberry leaf and chrysanthemum in a tea bag; once steeped, the warm (not hot) bag can be laid over the eyes.
- Q (Lili): Hello Bro Niu, if I switch to dried millettia and dried smilax, how much of each should I use? Bro Niu: Halve the amount for dried ingredients.
- Q (Ckl): I bought rockfish (shi chong yu) for the first time; while cleaning it this morning my thumb touched a head spine and bled a little — I rinsed it at once. I heard rockfish stings are venomous and very painful. Is that right? Bro Niu: Rockfish fins are venomous and a sting can be very painful, but if you squeeze the blood out at once, rinse, and dab with iodine, it should be fine. In future, ask the fishmonger to cut off the fins for you.
Published October 10, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
