Medicinal Diet: Old Duck Soup with Hairy Gourd and Lotus Seeds

Medicinal Diet: Stewed Old Duck with Hairy Gourd and Lotus Seeds

Introduction to Medicinal Diet

Stewed Old Duck with Hairy Gourd and Lotus Seed is a traditional nourishing medicinal dish originating from the Lingnan region. It features old duck as the main ingredient, combined with hairy gourd, lotus seed, and other food-medicine homologous ingredients, slowly simmered over low heat. Hairy gourd (also known as *Benincasa hispida* var. *chieh-qua*), a variety of wax gourd, has a sweet and bland nature and is commonly used in Guangdong folk cuisine as a soup ingredient to clear heat and drain dampness. Lotus seed (*Nelumbo nucifera*) nourishes the heart and calms the spirit, while fortifying the spleen and stopping diarrhea. Old duck is excellent for nourishing yin. Together, the three produce a clear soup with a rich, mellow flavor, making it an ideal choice for clear nourishing in summer or for countering autumn dryness.

This soup is extensively recorded in *Lingnan Medicinal Diet Culture* and is revered by the people as the “First Clear-Moistening Soup”. Its preparation emphasizes precise heat control and the release of the ingredients’ natural flavors. The resulting broth is neither greasy nor heavy, effectively replenishing fluids depleted by summer heat or deficiency fire, without burdening the spleen and stomach. Modern nutritional science also indicates that duck meat is rich in high-quality protein and B vitamins; combined with the dietary fiber in chieh-qua and the various minerals in lotus seeds, it synergistically enhances the body’s metabolism and repair capacity.

Efficacy of Medicinal Diet

The core effect of the soup made from Jie Gua (hairy gourd, Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua), lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera), and old duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica) lies in “simultaneously clearing and supplementing.” Jie Gua (hairy gourd) clears heat, resolves summerheat, promotes urination, and reduces edema. Lotus seed nourishes the heart, calms the spirit, benefits the kidneys, and secures essence. Old duck excels at nourishing yin, nourishing the stomach, promoting urination, and reducing edema. When cooked together, they effectively clear deficient fire and damp-heat from the body, while simultaneously replenishing the yin fluids lost due to sweating, staying up late, or chronic consumption, thereby maintaining the balance of water-fluid metabolism in the body.

In clinical observations and folk experience, this decoction effectively alleviates common summer symptoms such as irritability and thirst with heat, scanty dark urine, and insomnia due to deficiency, as well as autumn manifestations like dry skin and throat discomfort. With regular moderate consumption, it also ameliorates fire-related conditions arising from yin deficiency with effulgent fire, such as oral ulcers and swollen painful gums, helping the body achieve a balanced state of yin and yang (yin ping yang mi).

—— Core Regulation Focus ——

This medicinal diet primarily exerts its regulating effects through three aspects: first, through the synergistic action of hairy gourd (Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua) and duck meat, it promotes the discharge of excess bodily fluids and reduces edema; second, by leveraging the mind-calming property of lotus seed (Nelumbinis semen), it regulates sleep disorders caused by heart-kidney disharmony; third, utilizing the yin-nourishing quality of mature duck, it repairs yin fluid depletion resulting from heat, staying up late, or aging, thereby restoring physical strength and immunity.

Functions of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Based on the theory of TCM properties, flavors, and meridian tropism, Jiegua (Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua, hairy melon) has a sweet and bland flavor, slightly cold nature, and enters the Spleen (SP), Stomach (ST), and Bladder (BL) meridians. It excels at clearing heat and promoting urination, relieving restlessness and quenching thirst. Lianzi (Nelumbinis semen, lotus seed) has a sweet and astringent flavor, neutral nature, and enters the Heart (HT), Spleen (SP), and Kidney (KI) meridians. It can tonify the Spleen to stop diarrhea, benefit the Kidney to secure essence, and nourish the Heart to calm the spirit. Lao ya (old duck, Anas platyrhynchos domestica) has a sweet and salty flavor, cool nature, and enters the Lung (LU), Spleen (SP), and Kidney (KI) meridians. Its actions are to nourish Yin and nourish the Stomach, promote urination to reduce edema, and clear heat while tonifying deficiency. When used together, these three ingredients harmonize cold and warm, tonify without causing stagnation, and clear without damaging.

On the level of formulation compatibility, hairy gourd (Jie Gua, Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua) and old duck are both cold in nature, but the neutral nature of lotus seed (Lian Zi, Nelumbinis Semen) can moderate their coldness, making them more suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency. The yin-nourishing power of old duck guides the heat-clearing effect of hairy gourd directly to the lower jiao, while lotus seed secures the middle jiao and upper jiao, forming a three-dimensional regulatory pattern of “clearing heart fire in the upper, transporting spleen dampness in the middle, and promoting the discharge of kidney turbidity in the lower.” It is especially suitable for regulating complex constitutions such as “upper heat and lower cold” or “yin deficiency with dampness,” reflecting the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s “holistic view” and “pattern-based dietary therapy.”

Indications

This medicinal diet is particularly suitable for the following four categories of people: First, those who spend long periods in air-conditioned environments or work in high temperatures, who often present with dry mouth and tongue, dry and itchy skin, and scanty dark urine due to external heat damaging yin fluids and causing internal dryness. Second, individuals with a Yin deficiency constitution, manifesting as a thin body build, heat in the palms and soles, irritability and insomnia, and dry stools. Third, those recovering from chronic diseases or with postoperative deficiency who require gentle tonification but cannot tolerate strong tonification (deficiency unable to accept tonification). Fourth, people prone to eczema, urticaria, or skin pruritus in summer and autumn, as this medicinal diet can internally improve symptoms by clearing heat and draining dampness.

Furthermore, for adolescents with heavy academic workloads and significant stress, as well as menopausal women presenting with tidal fever, night sweats, and irritability, consuming this soup 2–3 times per week can effectively pacify deficient fire and soothe the emotions. In elderly individuals with mild hypertension and hyperlipidemia accompanied by Yin deficiency with dryness-heat, this can also serve as an adjunctive dietary therapy under medical guidance as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Contraindicated Populations

Although the soup of hairy gourd (Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua) and lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera) stewed with old duck is relatively balanced in nature, certain individuals should use it with caution or avoid it entirely. First, those with severe Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold—characterized by chronic epigastric cold pain, loose stools, diarrhea upon exposure to cold, aversion to cold, and cold extremities—should be cautious because both the hairy gourd and old duck in the soup are relatively cooling, potentially aggravating deficiency-cold symptoms. It is recommended to add 3–5 slices of fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) and 10 white peppercorns (Piper nigrum) to counteract the cold nature before consuming in small amounts.

Second, during an exterior excess pattern due to external pathogens: if suffering from wind-cold common cold (aversion to cold, fever, headache, body pain, profuse clear nasal discharge) or acute gastroenteritis (violent vomiting, watery diarrhea), tonification should be avoided to prevent “shutting the door and detaining the robber,” making it difficult for pathogenic factors to be expelled. Third, during hyperuricemia and acute gout attack: old duck is a moderate-purine food and should be avoided during the acute gout phase; during remission, it can be consumed in small amounts after removing the fat. Fourth, for those allergic to duck meat or lotus seeds (Lianzi, Semen Nelumbinis), and for pregnant women with special constitutions, it is recommended to consult a TCM practitioner or nutritionist to determine suitability.

Ingredient formula ratio

Standard serving for 4 persons: 600g old duck (ma duck or white duck), skinned and cut into pieces; 500g fuzzy melon (Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua), peeled, halved, seeds removed, and cut into 3 cm cubes; 30g (about one small handful) dried lotus seeds (Nelumbo nucifera), cores removed and pre-soaked in clean water for 1 hour; 2 honey jujubes (Ziziphus jujuba, about 15g total), to harmonize the soup flavor and add sweetness; 4 slices fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale rhizome, about 8g), peeled and sliced; 1 segment dried tangerine peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, about 2g), softened in warm water then scraped of inner pith.

Seasonings: only 3–4 grams of salt, added at the final seasoning; also prepare a small amount of white pepper powder (about 0.5 grams) to enhance freshness and balance the cooling nature. If a richer flavor is preferred, 100 grams of lean pork can be added after blanching and simmering, but attention should be paid to the total purine content. In the above ratio, the proportion of Chieh-qua (hairy gourd) to old duck is approximately 5:6, and lotus seed (Nelumbinis Semen) accounts for about 5% of the weight of the old duck. The overall medicinal-food ratio follows the Lingnan medicinal cuisine tradition of “food as the mainstay, herbs as the supplement.”

Cooking method

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients. Place the old duck pieces into cold water, add 2 slices of fresh ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and 1 tablespoon (about 10 ml) of cooking wine. Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off any foam, then remove and rinse thoroughly with warm water. Drain and set aside. Peel and remove the seeds from the winter melon (Benincasae Fructus), then cut into chunks. Rehydrate the lotus seeds (Nelumbinis Semen) and check whether the bitter core has been removed (if intact, the seeds will taste bitter). Wash the honeyed jujubes (Ziziphi Jujubae Fructus). Soften the aged tangerine peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) in water, then scrape off the inner pith.

Step 2: Start simmering. Use a 3–4 liter ceramic pot or sand pot. Place the blanched old duck pieces into the pot and add about 2000 ml of fresh water, ensuring the water level is 3–4 cm above the ingredients. Add the remaining ginger slices, lotus seeds (Nelumbinis Semen), honey dates, and tangerine peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). Cover with the lid, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer slowly.

Step 3: Hairy gourd and seasoning. After simmering over low heat for 60 minutes, remove the lid and add the cut hairy gourd pieces. Continue to simmer with the lid on for 20–30 minutes, until the duck meat is tender and the hairy gourd becomes translucent and soft. Five minutes before turning off the heat, add salt and ground white pepper to taste, stir well, and then turn off the heat. If a clearer soup is desired, skim off excess surface oil with a fine-mesh strainer before seasoning.

Tips for Consumption

1. Optimal Administration Time: It is recommended to take it warm between 9:00–11:00 AM (during the Spleen Meridian [SP] period) or 5:00–7:00 PM (during the Kidney Meridian [KI] period). During these times, the body’s ability to transform and absorb is at its peak, ensuring the highest utilization of medicinal effects. Consume 2–3 times per week, with a continuous 3-week treatment cycle.

2. Principle of Consuming Both Soup and Ingredients: This medicinal diet emphasizes “consuming both soup and ingredients”; do not only drink the soup and discard the hairy gourd (Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua) or duck meat. The dietary fiber and polysaccharides in hairy gourd and lotus seed (Nelumbinis semen) require thorough chewing to be fully released; only when taken together with the soup can the complete effects of strengthening the Spleen and draining Dampness, as well as nourishing the Heart and calming the Spirit, be achieved.

3. Seasonal Adjustment Recommendations: This soup is most suitable during the period of summer heat and dampness from “Xiaoman” (Grain Buds) to “Chushu” (End of Heat), as well as the warm-dry season around “Qiufen” (Autumnal Equinox). If consumed in winter, it is recommended to increase the dosage of Shengjiang (Zingiber officinale, Fresh Ginger) to 10g and add 5g of Huangqi (Astragalus membranaceus, Milkvetch Root) to enhance cold resistance, thereby adapting to the health preservation needs of “winter storage” (Dongcang).

4. Storage and Reheating: If a larger batch is prepared, separate the solid ingredients from the broth. Store the broth in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 1 month. Before serving, bring the broth to a boil again and add fresh diced hairy gourd (Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua), cooking for 3 minutes to restore a fresh and clear flavor. Avoid repeated reheating to prevent excessive nutrient loss and flavor degradation.