Introduction to Medicinal Diet
Hemerocallis Brain-Nourishing Soup is a traditional medicated diet originating from folk custom and widely cherished by the public. Hemerocallis citrina (daylily bud), also known as golden needle vegetable or forget-me-not grass, has been regarded in Traditional Chinese Medicine since ancient times as an excellent substance for calming the spirit (an shen) and nourishing the brain (jian nao). The Tang dynasty *Shi Liao Ben Cao* (Dietary Materia Medica) records its effect of “benefiting the heart-mind and promoting joy.” This soup uses dried daylily buds as the main ingredient, combined with *Juglans regia* (walnut), chicken egg, lean pork, and other ingredients. Through slow simmering, the essence of the ingredients is infused into the broth, resulting in a golden, clear soup with a sweet, mellow taste and pleasant aroma.
This dish is not only suitable for everyday home cooking but is also frequently used as a nourishing dietary supplement during students’ exam preparation periods or when mental workers are working overtime. Its name, “Brain-Boosting Soup,” directly indicates its core functions—enhancing intelligence, nourishing the brain, and improving memory and concentration. Unlike Western-style thick soups or medicinal meals with a strong herbal taste, Day Lily Brain-Boosting Soup (Hemerocallis citrina) has a mild flavor suitable for all ages, truly embody the daily dietary therapy concept of “medicine and food share the same origin.”
Efficacy of Medicinal Diet
The primary functions of Daylily Brain-Boosting Soup (黄花菜健脑汤) focus on nourishing the brain and enhancing intellect, as well as calming the spirit and settling the mind. Modern research indicates that daylily (Hemerocallis citrina) is rich in lecithin, B vitamins, and minerals—essential nutrients for cerebral nerve cell metabolism. These compounds promote cerebral blood circulation, improve memory, and enhance learning efficiency. When combined with the omega-3 fatty acids and protein found in walnut kernels (Juglans regia), the formulation further strengthens nervous system function and alleviates mental fatigue caused by prolonged cognitive exertion.
Furthermore, this soup also has the effects of clearing heat and moistening dryness, as well as soothing constraint and relieving stagnation. For symptoms such as insomnia, excessive dreaming, and poor memory caused by excessive thinking and irritability, regular consumption of this soup can provide a gentle calming effect, helping to restore a peaceful emotional state. At the same time, the lean meat and eggs in the soup provide high-quality protein, which can replenish vitality and enhance immunity, making the nourishment more comprehensive and balanced.
Improve sleep and regulate emotions
Hemerocallis citrina (Daylily), known as the “Forget-Sorrow Herb,” has extracts with antidepressant-like sedative effects that regulate central nervous system excitability. For individuals who have difficulty falling asleep or experience light sleep due to high stress, drinking a warm bowl of Daylily Brain-Nourishing Soup before bed can help relax the nerves and improve sleep quality.
The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine in terms of nature, flavor, and meridian tropism, Hemerocallis citrina (daylily) has a cool nature and sweet flavor, entering the Heart (HT), Liver (LR), and Spleen (SP) meridians. Its cool nature clears heat, and its sweet flavor relieves urgency; therefore, it is especially adept at clearing and resolving stagnant heat in the Heart and Liver, and at calming the spirit (Shen). The Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) states that daylily “benefits the chest and diaphragm, and stabilizes the five viscera,” and it can be used to treat restlessness and insomnia, as well as red eyes and dizziness due to exuberant Liver fire. Juglans regia (walnut kernel) has a warm nature and sweet flavor, returning to the Kidney (KI), Lung (LU), and Large Intestine (LI) meridians. It has the effects of tonifying the Kidney and replenishing essence, and of benefiting intellect and nourishing the brain. It is particularly suitable for memory decline and soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees due to Kidney essence deficiency.
In Chinese medicine, eggs are known as “jizi huang” (egg yolk), which are neutral in nature and can nourish yin, moisten dryness, nourish the heart, and calm the spirit. Lean pork nourishes yin, supplements blood, and moistens dryness. In terms of overall medicinal property compatibility, the combination balances cool and warm, tonifies without causing greasiness, simultaneously clears heat from the heart and liver, and supplements the deficiency of kidney essence, attending to both “clearing” and “tonifying”. Ginger, used as an adjuvant and guiding herb, warms the middle, dispels cold, and harmonizes all the ingredients, making the nature and flavor of the whole soup more balanced and preventing the cool nature from damaging the stomach.
Target Population
This dietary supplement is particularly suitable for the following groups: first, individuals engaged in prolonged mental work, such as students, programmers, researchers, and copywriters. They use their brains intensively and maintain high levels of concentration, often experiencing symptoms like memory decline, dizziness, and head fullness—commonly referred to as “brain fatigue.” Regular consumption can effectively enhance mental clarity and improve work efficiency.
Secondly, for middle-aged and elderly individuals, particularly those showing signs of mild cognitive impairment such as memory decline and slow reaction, the Daylily Brain-Nourishing Soup (Hemerocallis citrina) can help delay brain aging and nourish the Sea of Marrow. Thirdly, for sub-healthy individuals experiencing emotional tension, anxiety, insomnia, and excessive dreaming, the soup’s spirit-calming (An Shen) effect aids in restoring inner peace. Fourthly, for those with postpartum or post-illness Qi and Blood Deficiency (qi xue bu zu), manifesting as mental fatigue and weakness, this soup accelerates recovery by supplementing nutrition and soothing the nerves.
Contraindicated Populations
Although the Daylily Brain-Nourishing Soup (Hemerocallis citrina) has a neutral and mild medicinal nature, certain individuals should still use it with caution or avoid it altogether. First, those with Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold (Pi Wei Xu Han), presenting symptoms such as frequent stomach pain, aversion to cold, diarrhea, and loose stools, should not consume it in large amounts. Because daylily is cool in nature, it may aggravate Cold-Dampness Stagnation (Han Shi Ting Zhi), leading to abdominal discomfort or even loose stools. If consumption is still desired, it is recommended to increase the amount of fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) to 5–6 slices and add a small amount of red dates (Ziziphus jujuba) to warm the Middle Jiao.
Secondly, patients with dermatosis or allergic constitution should consume cautiously during flare-ups. Daylily (Hemerocallis citrina) contains colchicine, especially in fresh form, which may trigger allergic reactions such as skin redness, swelling, and pruritus in sensitive individuals. Furthermore, patients with gout should not consume the soup excessively, as it has high purine content (from meat and lecithin), which may induce elevated uric acid. Pregnant and lactating women are advised to consume in moderation under physician guidance, and avoid fresh daylily (must be thoroughly cooked to remove toxins).
Ingredient Formula Proportion
Dried daylily buds (Hemerocallis citrina, “golden needles”): 30 g. Walnut kernels (Juglans regia, with or without the skin): 15 g. Fresh lean pork (tenderloin or front leg): 100 g. Eggs: 2. Fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale): 3 slices (about 10 g). Water: 1500 ml (about 3 bowls). Seasonings: 1–2 g salt (about half a teaspoon), or add a small amount of white pepper powder or sesame oil to taste.
The above is the recommended proportion for one serving. When preparing, increase the quantity proportionally according to the number of people. Dried daylily buds (Hemerocallis citrina) need to be soaked in warm water for half an hour in advance until fully softened. Walnut kernels (Juglans regia) can be lightly toasted in an oven or dry pan (about 5 minutes until slightly fragrant) to enhance aroma and medicinal effect. Pork lean meat should be pure lean meat without any fat to avoid greasy soup.
Preparation method
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients. Place the dried day lily buds (Hemerocallis citrina) in a bowl, add enough warm water (about 40°C) to soak for 30 minutes, then squeeze out the water, cut off the hard stem at the root, and rinse twice with clean water. Slice the lean pork into thin pieces about 0.5 cm thick, mix with a little cooking wine and cornstarch, and marinate for 10 minutes to remove any fishy odor. Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat them well, set aside. Break the walnut kernels (Juglans regia) into small pieces.
Step 2: Blanch the meat. Bring an appropriate amount of water to a boil in a pot, add the meat slices and blanch for about 1 minute. Once the meat changes color and scum rises to the surface, remove and rinse off any remaining scum with warm water. This step effectively removes blood and impurities, resulting in a clear soup. The walnut kernels (Juglans regia) can also be briefly blanched (about 30 seconds) to remove astringency, but avoid over-blanching to prevent loss of oils.
Step 3: Formal soup-making. Take a clean clay pot or stainless steel soup pot, put the prepared daylily buds (Hemerocallis citrina, golden needle vegetables), blanched lean pork, walnut kernels (Juglans regia), and ginger slices (Zingiber officinale) into the pot, and add 1500 ml of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat, cover, and simmer for 30–40 minutes until the soup turns slightly yellow and fragrant.
Step 4: Add the beaten eggs and seasoning. Remove the lid and turn to medium heat. Slowly pour the beaten eggs into the soup along a chopstick, while gently stirring with the chopstick to form egg flowers. As soon as the egg flowers rise to the surface, immediately turn off the heat. Finally, add salt (1–2 grams) according to taste and stir well. After ladling into bowls, drizzle a few drops of sesame oil to enhance the aroma.
Tips for Consumption
1. Optimal time of administration: It is advised to take it warm between 16:00–17:00 (Shen hour) or half an hour before dinner. During the Shen hour, the Bladder Meridian (BL) is in command; at this time, the body’s qi and blood are at their peak, resulting in high absorption efficiency. If used to improve sleep, drink half a bowl 1–2 hours before bedtime; avoid overconsumption to prevent interfering with sleep.
2. Frequency and Duration of Consumption: For daily health maintenance, consume 2–3 times per week, with 4 consecutive weeks as one course of regulation. During exam preparation or periods of high-intensity mental work, frequency can be increased to every other day. Note that each intake of walnut kernels (Juglandis Semen) should not exceed 20 g to avoid excessive fat burden on digestion.
3. Compatibility and Contraindications: During consumption, it is advisable to reduce pungent and greasy foods, as greasiness can burden the Spleen and Stomach functions and diminish the absorption of medicinal preparations. Daylily buds (Hemerocallis fulva) should not be consumed together with river snails (Viviparidae) or coriander (Coriandrum sativum), as this may cause diarrhea or counteract the medicinal effects. Fresh daylily buds contain colchicine; therefore, only dried forms or thoroughly blanched fresh ones must be used. This product uniformly uses dried daylily buds, ensuring safety and reliability. For diabetic patients who need to control blood sugar, red dates (Ziziphus jujuba) or rock sugar may be omitted, relying solely on the natural flavor of the ingredients.
4. Storage and Reheating: If a larger batch is prepared, the soup base (without added egg liquid) can be sealed and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat before serving and make fresh egg drops; do not repeatedly reheat egg drop soup to avoid forming undesirable substances. Long-term freezing is not recommended, as it may impair texture and nutrient quality.