Dried Persimmon and Black Wood Ear Fungus Sweet Soup

Why people make this soup

Hemorrhoids are far more common than most people admit — and they are not actually sores or wounds. They are swollen, dilated veins in the rectal area that can cause bleeding, discomfort, a feeling of fullness, or prolapse. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies them into types, and this soup is suited to what is called the “damp-heat and blood stagnation” type — the kind that tends to come with early-stage hemorrhoid flare-ups, a sense of irritation or heat around the anal area, some bleeding or mucus, and sometimes a bitter taste in the mouth. This soup uses dried persimmon to cool and moisten the intestines, and black wood ear fungus for its traditional blood-vitalising properties. Bro Niu stumbled upon some wild rock ear fungus (a close relative of black wood ear), and this recipe was born from combining it with persimmon and brown sugar — a gentle, tasty, and accessible home remedy.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Best suited for the damp-heat type hemorrhoid: early-stage flare-ups with mucus, burning sensation, or mild bleeding
• Generally suitable for most people for general bowel health and cardiovascular support
• Those who tend toward cold constitutions may prefer to add a slice of ginger
• Pregnant women with hemorrhoids should consult a doctor; the soup itself is relatively mild, but serious symptoms require medical attention

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Dried persimmon (shi bing): Considered cooling and moistening in nature; traditionally associated with lubricating the intestines, clearing heat, and supporting bowel regularity; drying reduces some of its cooling properties compared to fresh persimmon
• Black wood ear / rock ear fungus (hei mu er / yan er): Highly valued in Chinese food therapy for its traditionally blood-vitalising properties; associated with improving circulation, reducing blood stagnation, and supporting cardiovascular health; also considered helpful for lubricating the intestines
• Brown sugar (hong tang): Warms mildly and harmonises; balances the cooling ingredients

Ingredients (2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried persimmon	2 pieces	Cut into chunks; persimmon frost (white powder) is beneficial — just rinse lightly
Black wood ear or rock ear fungus	7 g (2 qian)	Soak until soft; remove the tough base
Brown sugar	To taste	Add at the end
Water	5 bowls (~1.25 L)

Method

1. Cut the dried persimmon into chunks; the white powder (persimmon frost) on the surface is beneficial and does not need to be scrubbed off — a light rinse is sufficient.
2. Soak the black wood ear fungus until soft; remove the tough root base and tear into pieces.
3. Combine persimmon and wood ear fungus in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 1 hour until reduced to 2 bowls.
5. Add brown sugar to taste, stir to dissolve. Drink the soup and eat the solids.

Bro Niu’s tips

This soup is also associated with supporting cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of intestinal inflammation — the benefits extend beyond hemorrhoids. Choose dried persimmon that is round, heavy, and has a good layer of white frost for best quality. If you cannot find dried persimmon, 4–5 dried figs (wu hua guo) make a reasonable substitute and are also bowel-lubricating. Black wood ear fungus is generally considered safe and not overly cooling — it can be used regularly. For rectal bleeding, a separate soup of sophora japonica flower buds (huai hua, 11 g), dried mussels (dan cai, 75 g), and figs (4 pieces) simmered with lean pork is traditionally associated with stopping rectal bleeding; it complements this recipe well.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Wai lam): My husband has had hemorrhoids since his teens with occasional rectal bleeding. He has noticed that eating ginger-containing food or mango triggers it the next day. After drinking your persimmon and wood ear soup, the bleeding stopped. What dietary precautions should he take? Can he eat sesame paste daily? Bro Niu: The most important thing for hemorrhoids is keeping the bowels regular and avoiding fried, spicy, or excessively heating foods. Spicy and warming foods like ginger and mango can trigger flare-ups, so these are best kept to small amounts. Sesame paste is bowel-lubricating but is also quite heating from the roasting process. Dried figs are a better daily option for lubricating the bowels. Pine nuts are also helpful. If there is rectal bleeding, try brewing sophora flower buds (huai hua mi, 11 g) as a tea.

• Q (m): I caught a cold and now have a large external hemorrhoid and difficulty passing stools. What can I drink? Bro Niu: You can cook sophora flower buds (huai hua, 11 g in a tea bag) with dried mussels (75 g) and black soybean (37 g) in a lean pork broth. This is associated with preventing hemorrhoid flare-ups. For constipation, try buying prune juice from the supermarket — one bottle can help move things along.

• Q (kayi456): I am 8 months pregnant with severe external hemorrhoids causing a lot of pain. Is this soup safe for me? Bro Niu: Yes, this soup is suitable for you. Drink for 3 days in a row. Make sure to drink plenty of water and eat bowel-lubricating foods like figs, sweet potato congee, and ripe plantain banana to prevent constipation.

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Published June 8, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.