Soups
Astragalus, Longan, Schisandra and Silkie Egg Soup
Traditionally used to nourish the heart and calm the spirit
Why people make this soup
Times feel uneasy, and many people find their minds restless — anxious, low, with palpitations and broken sleep. When the symptoms are mild, Bro Niu believes a little self-care through mood and diet can do real good. For those who are both heart- and spleen-deficient — short of breath, tired, forgetful, sleeping poorly — a gentle qi-and-blood-nourishing, spirit-calming soup is just the thing. This one is mild in flavour and genuinely soothing.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for heart-and-spleen-deficient types: low energy, breathlessness, poor sleep, forgetfulness, palpitations.
- The silkie egg is traditionally valued for recovery — good after illness, surgery, or childbirth.
- If anxiety, palpitations or insomnia are persistent or severe, please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Astragalus (bei qi) and codonopsis (dang shen): traditionally support the qi and strengthen the spleen.
- Longan (yuan rou): traditionally nourishes the heart, calms the spirit and supports the blood.
- Schisandra (wu wei zi): traditionally gathers the lung qi, supports the kidney and quiets the heart; often used for frazzled nerves and poor sleep, and pairs especially well with red dates and longan.
- Silkie egg (zhu si ji dan): traditionally nourishes yin, moistens dryness and supports the blood — prized for recovery.
Ingredients (3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Astragalus | ~11 g | soaked, washed |
| Codonopsis | ~11 g | soaked, washed |
| Schisandra | ~11 g | soaked, washed |
| Dried longan | ~19 g | rinsed |
| Red dates | 5 | pitted |
| Silkie chicken eggs | 3 | hard-boiled, peeled |
Method
- Hard-boil the silkie eggs, peel and set aside.
- Soak and wash the other ingredients; pit the red dates.
- Bring everything (except the eggs) to a hard boil in 7–8 bowls of water, then simmer on low 1 hour down to 3 bowls.
- Place one egg in each bowl and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
The silkie egg traditionally nourishes yin and the blood — ideal after illness, surgery or childbirth. The soup is mild in herbal taste; if you want it tastier, add a little rock sugar or brown sugar.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Mrs Xu): My husband had knee surgery on both legs today, sweats a lot, has the “three highs” and a pacemaker fitted in July. When after surgery can he have stonefish or eel soup, fish-maw soup, or sea-cucumber soup? Bro Niu: Stonefish or eel soup from the 4th day after surgery. Fish-maw or sea-cucumber soups only once he has an appetite, as they are harder to digest. Any braised meat such as chicken should be skinned — best to use skinless chicken breast or lean pork.
- Q (TT): My 70-year-old mother has full knee-replacement and meniscus surgery this Saturday. What soups can she have? Bro Niu: After surgery, once she can drink, make radish and tangerine-peel water to help clear the anaesthetic; then a congee with 3 slices of bei qi, dried scallop and tangerine peel. For pain, tian qi 3 qian, ji xue teng 5 qian and 5 red dates in a lean-pork or chicken-breast soup helps move blood and ease pain.
Published November 12, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
