Shi Chang Pu Bai He Hai Ma Soup: Calm Spirit, Boost Kidney Yang

Introduction to Medicinal Diet

A classic medicinal soup highly regarded in Lingnan region and TCM wellness circles is *Shi Chang Pu Bai He Bao Hai Ma* (Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome, Lily Bulb, and Seahorse Stew). This dish skillfully combines the fresh fragrance of herbal ingredients with the warm, moistening qualities of seahorse. Not only is it delicious, but it also embodies profound principles for calming the spirit, benefiting intellect, tonifying the Kidneys, and strengthening the body. Originating from the traditional TCM concept of “medicinal and food homology,” this soup achieves the goal of nourishing the body and preventing disease through the rational compatibility of ingredients and medicinals.

The unique feature of this soup lies in its ability to simultaneously nourish and regulate the Heart, Lung, and Kidney. *Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma* (Grassleaf Sweetflag Rhizome), with its aromatic properties for opening the orifices, is renowned as the “key herb for unblocking the heart orifices.” *Lilii Bulbus* (Lily Bulb) moistens the Lung, clears the Heart, and calms restless emotions. *Hippocampus* (Seahorse), a precious Chinese medicinal material, is warm in nature and sweet in flavor, specializing in warming the Kidney and strengthening Yang, as well as regulating Qi and activating Blood. The combination of these three ingredients makes this soup an excellent choice for urban dwellers to regulate body and mind and relieve fatigue. The soup has a clear, bright broth, with a light herbal sweetness and the rich savor of meat—a wise embodiment of integrating health preservation into daily diet.

Efficacy of Medicinal Diet

The primary effects of *Shi Chang Pu* (Acorus tatarinowii), *Bai He* (Lilium brownii), and *Hai Ma* (Hippocampus, sea horse) decoction lie in calming the spirit (ān shén), settling the mind (dìng zhì), boosting intelligence (yì zhì), and nourishing the brain (jiàn nǎo). It offers significant improvement for symptoms such as memory decline, poor concentration, insomnia with excessive dreaming, and other conditions resulting from prolonged high stress and mental overexertion. By utilizing the aromatic orifices-opening action of *Shi Chang Pu*, it helps clear the “phlegm-turbidity” (tán zhuó) that disturbs the heart-spirit (xīn shén), allowing the mind to become clearer and sharper. At the same time, it leverages the heart-calming and spirit-settling properties of *Bai He* to create a calm and stable internal environment.

Secondly, this decoction also has the effect of warmly tonifying Kidney Yang and cultivating and supplementing Primordial Qi. Sea Horse (Hippocampus) is an excellent herb for tonifying the Kidneys and strengthening Yang, providing good dietary therapeutic effects for symptoms such as soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, fear of cold and chilliness, lack of vitality, and even frequent nocturia caused by Kidney Yang insufficiency. Meanwhile, the nourishing and moisturizing action of Lily Bulb (Lilium brownii) effectively balances the warm-drying nature of Sea Horse, making the entire formula warm without being drying, tonifying without being cloying. It is suitable for periodic conditioning during autumn and winter seasons or for those with a deficient-cold constitution, comprehensively enhancing the body’s immunity and anti-fatigue ability.

Functions of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acorus tatarinowii (Grassleaf Sweetflag Rhizome): Transforms phlegm and opens the orifices, awakens the spirit and benefits the intellect.

In TCM theory, Acorus tatarinowii (Sweetflag) is slightly warm in nature with acrid and bitter flavors, and enters the Heart (HT) and Stomach (ST) meridians. Its main actions are to transform dampness and open the Stomach, open the orifices and expel phlegm, awaken the spirit and benefit wisdom. It is especially effective for treating symptoms such as mental confusion, poor memory, tinnitus, or hearing loss caused by phlegm-dampness clouding the Heart orifice. It acts like a key that opens the door of wisdom blocked by “phlegm turbidity,” allowing qi and blood to ascend and nourish the brain, thereby improving brain function. At the same time, it can aromatically transform dampness, alleviating stomach distension and poor appetite due to dampness obstructing the Middle Jiao.

Bulbus Lilii (Lily bulb): Nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, clears heart fire, and calms the spirit.

Lily Bulb (Bai He; *Lilium brownii* var. *viridulum* / *Lilium lancifolium*) is slightly cold in nature and sweet in flavor. It enters the Heart (HT) and Lung (LU) meridians. It is able to both clear the heart and relieve vexation, as well as moisten the lungs and stop cough. For insomnia, palpitations, and excessive dreaming due to Heart yin insufficiency with deficient fire harassing upward, as well as dry cough with scant sputum, dry throat, and nasal dryness caused by lung dryness, it has excellent therapeutic effects. In medicinal cuisine, the “calming” quality of Lily Bulb can neutralize the “agitation” arising from modern people’s high stress, providing a gentle, moistening force to the entire soup. It serves as a key link in maintaining the balance between the Heart and Kidney (HT–KI).

Hippocampus (Sea Horse): Warms the kidney and strengthens yang, dissipates masses and reduces swelling.

Sea horse (Hippocampus) is warm in nature, sweet and salty in flavor, and enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It is a potent herb for tonifying the kidneys and fortifying Yang, commonly used in treating kidney deficiency impotence (kidney Yang deficiency pattern), enuresis, dyspnea due to kidney deficiency, and abdominal masses (Zheng Jia Ji Ju, i.e., abnormal masses within the body). When used in medicinal cuisine, sea horse can substantially elevate the body’s Yang Qi, activate kidney Qi, and enhance vitality and immune function. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidneys govern the bones and produce marrow, while the brain is the sea of marrow; therefore, tonifying the kidneys also benefits intellect. Through the synergistic action of these three herbs—Shi Chang Pu (Acorus tatarinowii, Grassleaf Sweetflag Rhizome) opening the Upper Jiao pathway, Bai He (Lilium brownii, Lily Bulb) harmonizing the Middle Jiao, and Hai Ma (Hippocampus, Sea Horse) warming and supplementing the Lower Jiao’s primordial Qi—they together construct a pathway to regulate the body’s Essence (Jing), Qi, and Spirit (Shen), achieving holistic harmonization from top to bottom.

Indications

1. Mental workers and students: Suitable for those experiencing brain fatigue, slow reaction, declining memory, difficulty falling asleep, or poor sleep quality due to prolonged study or work. This decoction effectively alleviates brain fatigue and enhances learning and work efficiency.

2. For middle-aged and elderly individuals and those with kidney deficiency and frail constitution: suitable for soreness and pain in the lower back and legs, frequent nocturia, lack of vitality, low immunity due to Kidney qi deficiency, and for the prevention and adjunctive regulation of senile dementia (referred to as “dementia” and “forgetfulness” in TCM). It can warm and nourish the Lower Origin and delay aging.

3. Postpartum and post-illness recovery individuals: Suitable for those who have recently given birth or are recovering from a major illness, presenting with dual deficiency of qi and blood, mental fatigue, insomnia and forgetfulness, aversion to cold, and other symptoms. It helps accelerate the restoration of bodily functions and replenish depleted yang qi and yin blood.

4. Sub-healthy individuals with high stress and emotional anxiety: For modern urbanites who are under great work and life pressure, in a long-term state of anxiety and tension, accompanied by insomnia, palpitations, poor memory, and other symptoms of the “Heart and Kidney Disharmony” pattern, it has an excellent regulating effect.

Contraindicated Populations

1. For those with Yin deficiency with effulgent fire (Yin Xu Huo Wang) and excess heat patterns (Shi Re Zheng): This decoction is warm and tonic in nature. For individuals presenting with dry mouth and tongue, sore throat, dry stools, dark yellow urine, heat in the palms and soles, and night sweats—symptoms of Yin deficiency or excess heat—taking it will aggravate “fire pathogen” (Huo Qi), akin to adding fuel to the fire, thereby worsening the condition.

2. Pregnant women and infants: Sea Horse (Hippocampus) has the effect of activating blood and dissipating masses. Consumption by pregnant women carries the risk of disturbing the fetal qi, and it should be strictly prohibited. The organs of infants are delicate and their physiological functions are not yet fully developed. Therefore, they should not consume such strongly tonifying substances to avoid interfering with normal growth and development.

3. For those allergic to seafood: Sea Horse (Hippocampus) is classified as a seafood medicinal substance. Individuals with allergies to shrimp, crab, shellfish, and other seafood may also experience allergic reactions to Sea Horse. After consumption, symptoms such as skin rashes, pruritus, or even dyspnea may occur. Strict caution is advised, and it is best to avoid use.

4. During the period of common cold with fever: When the body is being invaded by external pathogenic factors (such as Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat common cold, fever, copious phlegm with cough), supplementation should be avoided to prevent “closing the door to trap the bandit” (i.e., trapping the pathogen inside the body). This would hinder the expulsion of the disease pathogen, thereby prolonging the disease course or aggravating the condition.

Ingredient ratio in the formula

Precise proportions are key to ensuring both the therapeutic efficacy and palatability of a medicinal diet. Below is a recommended formula suitable for a two-day supply for one person or a single-meal serving for two persons (note: sea horse must be used in its dried form).

Main ingredients: One pair of Sea Horses (Hippocampus, approximately 10–15 g, preferably one male and one female for better effect), 8 g of Acorus tatarinowii (Sweet Flag), 25 g of dried Lilium brownii (Lily Bulb).

Supplementary ingredients: 200g lean pork (or chicken breast) to enhance flavor and neutralize the medicinal taste; 3 slices of fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) to warm the stomach, remove fishy odor, and counteract the fishy taste of seahorse; 2 red dates (Ziziphus jujuba, split and pitted) to harmonize the medicinal properties and add sweetness.

Water volume: It is recommended to add approximately 1000-1200 ml of purified water, resulting in a concentrated decoction of about 500-600 ml.

Preparation method

Step 1: Preparation. Rinse the seahorse (Hippocampus) under clean water; if time permits, soak in warm water for 30 minutes until slightly softened. Quickly rinse the grassleaf sweetflag rhizome (Acorus tatarinowii) and lily bulb (Lilii Bulbus). Cut the pork into 2 cm cubes, place in a pot with cold water, bring to a boil, skim off any foam, then remove and drain. Set aside.

Step Two: Herbal Processing. *Acorus tatarinowii* (Shi Chang Pu, Grassleaf Sweetflag Rhizome) is light in weight and tends to float during decoction. It is recommended to wrap the herb in a clean gauze bag and tie the opening tightly. This will keep the soup clearer in color and make it easier to remove the herbal residue when drinking.

Step 3: Stewing in a double-boiler or clay pot. Place the prepared seahorse, lily bulb, the gauze bag containing Acorus tatarinowii (grassleaf sweetflag rhizome), pork pieces, ginger slices, and red dates together into a double-boiler or clay pot for stewing. Add sufficient clean water (about 1000 ml). If using a double-boiler, cover the pot with its lid.

Step 4: Control the heat. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer. If using a clay pot, simmer on low heat for 1.5–2 hours; if using a double-boil pot, steam for 2–2.5 hours, until the seahorse and meat become tender and the medicinal aroma is fully infused into the soup.

Step Five: Season and serve. Once the braising is complete, remove the lid and take out the Acorus tatarinowii (Shi Chang Pu) herb sachet. Add a small amount of salt to taste. This soup aims to preserve its natural flavors and the delicate aroma of the medicinal ingredients, so heavy seasonings such as soy sauce, MSG, or chicken bouillon should not be added, as they may interfere with the therapeutic effects. Stir well, then ladle into bowls and serve warm.

Tips for Consumption

1. Frequency and Duration: Medicinal diet therapy follows a gradual and progressive approach. It is recommended to consume it 1–2 times per week, with continuous use not exceeding 4 weeks. For long-term regulation to improve chronic conditions, it is advised to pause for 1–2 weeks after 4 weeks of use, or consult a professional TCM practitioner for personalized guidance.

2. Optimal Consumption Timing: It is recommended to take it warm 1 hour after dinner or 1.5–2 hours before bedtime. During this period, the circulation of qi and blood in the body tends to be more relaxed, enhancing absorption capacity. Additionally, the calming effect of the decoction helps improve sleep quality, achieving a restful outcome where “the medicine leverages the power of food, and the food amplifies the efficacy of the medicine.”

3. Dietary Compatibility and Contraindications: During the course of taking this medicinal diet, the diet should be light and bland. Avoid simultaneously consuming raw and cold, greasy, or pungent-spicy foods, as well as those that strongly promote qi movement (such as white radish and strong tea) or disperse qi, as these may interfere with the absorption of the medicinal effects and the generation of qi and blood.

4. Utensil Selection Recommendations: For preparing this medicinal diet, the preferred vessels are ceramic or purple clay stewing pots or earthenware casseroles, followed by glass pots. The use of iron or aluminum pots should be avoided as much as possible, because metal ions may react with the active ingredients in the medicinal herbs, affecting the color and efficacy of the soup.