Adzuki, Winter Melon & Crucian Carp Soup
Ingredients
- Crucian carp 1
- Adzuki beans (chixiaodou) 50 g
- Winter melon with peel 300 g
- Ginger 3 slices
Principle
Adzuki drains damp and reduces swelling; winter melon with peel clears heat and promotes urination; crucian carp tonifies the spleen and resolves damp. Together they tonify the spleen, drain water, and reduce swelling—suited to the acute effusion phase when swelling is prominent (syndrome differentiation required).
Effects & uses
Adjunct soup when joint effusion is in the acute phase and swelling is the main complaint. Aligns with popular-science staging for joint injury (acute phase, water-drain and reduce swelling). Effusion is a symptom; treat synovitis and the underlying cause medically.
Method
- Lightly fry carp until slightly golden; simmer with adzuki, melon (with peel), and ginger about 1 hour; season lightly with salt.
How to use
- Drink the broth and eat the fish, 2–3 times per week.
Caution
Use sparingly if frequent urination or yin-fluid deficiency. During the acute phase, limit fatty meat, rich white bone broth, lamb, chili, strong alcohol, and sticky sweet glutinous foods—they may hinder qi and blood and prolong swelling. Infection, acute gout, and other causes need standard care; food care alone is not enough.
Source
Popular Science China joint-injury diet by phase (acute adzuki–melon–carp soup). Pending manual verification.