Soups
Clearing-Heat Diuretic Soup
Traditionally used to support fluid balance and ease summer-heat swelling
Why people make this soup
Nourilo reaches for this clear, refreshing soup in the heat of summer. It is the kind of pot you can drink without worry — even healthy folks enjoy it. The ingredients are all everyday finds available at Chinese or Asian grocers, and together they make a light, faintly sweet broth that feels cooling and clean on a sticky day. Nourilo stresses that if anyone shows real signs of swelling or kidney trouble, this soup is only a gentle helper alongside proper medical care.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people feeling heavy, puffy or weighed down by damp summer heat, and those wanting a light, cooling soup.
- Often enjoyed by people managing weight or the “three highs” (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol).
- If you have genuine swelling, scant urine or protein in the urine, see a doctor — do not rely on soup alone.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh imperata root (mao gen): Traditionally used to cool the blood and support healthy urination.
- Corn silk (yu mi xu): Long used in folk practice to support fluid balance and ease puffiness.
- Adzuki / rice beans (chi xiao dou): Traditionally used to support the spleen-stomach and help drain dampness.
- Winter melon (dong gua): Cooling and watery; traditionally enjoyed to clear summer heat and support fluid balance.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh imperata root (mao gen) | 1 bundle | Rinse, cut into sections |
| Fresh corn silk (yu mi xu) | ~75 g | Rinse |
| Winter melon (dong gua) | ~600 g | Keep skin on, cut into chunks |
| Adzuki / rice beans (chi xiao dou) | ~75 g | Soak and rinse |
Method
- Rinse the imperata root and cut into sections; rinse the corn silk.
- Soak and rinse the rice beans; rinse the winter melon (skin on) and cut into chunks.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water and simmer for about 1.5 hours, reducing to 4 bowls. Serve.
Nourilo’s Tips
This soup is light, smooth and pleasant — perfect for hot summer days. It is also traditionally enjoyed by those who feel heavy and tired from dampness, and by people watching the “three highs.”
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Ada): Can women drink this soup? I also have frequent urination. Nourilo: Yes, this soup suits both men and women. For frequent urination you can also steep fresh imperata root, fresh corn silk and Job’s tears (each ~40 g) as a tea, about 3 servings a week; add 2 honey dates if you find it too cooling.
- Q (Joy): My elderly parent has frequent urination and prostate issues; the doctor says no medication is needed. Can corn-silk tea be used for general wellness? Nourilo: Older people prone to frequent urination can also cook rice with 1 peeled tomato daily — eat the tomato with the rice, 1–2 a day, which traditionally supports the prostate. Plantain (che qian cao) is quite cooling, so you can use fresh imperata root, fresh corn silk and Job’s tears alone as a tea, 3 servings a week; add 2 honey dates if it feels too cold.
- Q (wing): I have long-term dampness that won’t clear, heat above and cold below, bloating, eczema and weak immunity. I’ve cut out raw and cold foods. How can I better regulate my digestion? Nourilo: It’s best to see a Chinese medicine practitioner for proper regulation. For heat-above-cold-below you can steep astragalus (bei qi), dang shen and red dates as a tea; add aged tangerine peel (chen pi) for bloating. Address one thing first, then the rest.
Published May 18, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
