Soups
Bei Qi, Hawthorn, Adzuki Bean & Job's-Tears Soup
Traditionally helps drain dampness and support uric-acid balance
Why people make this soup
High uric acid is often blamed on rich, high-purine foods — organ meats, shellfish, seafood, beans, beer — that tax the kidneys, while research also points to a family tendency. Either way, experts agree the basics help most: balanced eating, managing weight, plenty of vegetables and fruit, enough water, and going easy on salt, sugar and alcohol. Alongside that sensible diet, Nourilo offers this mild, balanced soup as a supportive companion.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for those carrying extra weight or mindful of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol; gentle enough for both warm and cold constitutions
- Pregnant women should not take this
- For diagnosed gout or ongoing symptoms, please see a doctor
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Astragalus (bei qi): traditionally tonifies qi and supports healthy fluid metabolism
- Hawthorn (shan zha): traditionally aids digestion and moves stagnation
- Adzuki beans (chi xiao dou): traditionally help drain dampness and water
- Job’s-tears (yi mi): traditionally strengthen the spleen and clear dampness
Ingredients (3 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Astragalus (bei qi) | ~19 g | Rinse |
| Hawthorn (shan zha) | ~19 g | Rinse |
| Adzuki beans | ~40 g | Rinse and soak |
| Job’s-tears | ~40 g | Rinse and soak |
Method
- Rinse and briefly soak all the ingredients.
- Simmer in 6 bowls of water for 40 minutes, down to 3 bowls.
Nourilo’s Tips
This brew is mild, with only a faint sourness, and suits those who are overweight or mindful of the “three highs” (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol). Pregnant women, however, should not take it.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Zhen): I’m 36; after every period I easily feel dizzy. How can I support my qi and blood? I tend to run hot and break out — how do I combine red dates, dang gui and dang shen as a tea? Can nan zao be brewed as a tea too? Nourilo: You can use a “four-reds” soup — red beans, red-skin peanuts, goji berries and red dates in equal amounts — simmered as a soup; drink it and eat some of the contents to nourish blood and complexion in a gentle way. For breakouts, drink something cooling like mulberry-leaf or imperatae-and-sugarcane-and-water-chestnut water to clear heat. Save the dang shen and nan zao water until the breakouts have cleared.
- Q (Ckl): Can I brew dried longan + goji berries + chrysanthemum together as a tea? Nourilo: Longan nourishes blood but is slightly warming; generally goji berries and chrysanthemum pair better with American ginseng slices.
Published May 16, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
