Kit Li
After a long working day combined with humid weather and lingering low heat, I felt completely worn out on my journey home. In TCM, late afternoon fatigue can often reflect dampness obstructing the body, particularly when the Spleen's transforming function is burdened. In humid conditions, feelings of heaviness and late afternoon fatigue may suggest dampness affecting the Spleen, especially when accompanied by sluggish digestion, bloating, or a heavy body sensation.
Without hesitation, I prepared a modified BianQueYin for myself to ease this heaviness and restore energy.
BianQueYin (San Dou Yin) (1) is a classic formula traditionally composed of Mung Beans (Vigna radiata) (2), Black Beans (3), Chi Xiao Dou (Red adzuki beans), and raw Gan Cao. Its primary functions are to clear heat, relieve toxicity, promote urination, guide Qi from the Middle-Jiao to the Lower-Jiao, and help resolve damp-heat.
Because the original formula is quite cooling, I modified the ingredients and preparation to better suit dampness with underlying deficiency. In this version, Fu Ling (Poria) (4) replaces Chi Xiao Dou, while Mung Beans and Yiyiren (Coix Seed) are dry-roasted for about 10 minutes before cooking. This helps reduce excessive coldness, protect the Spleen and Stomach, gently support the Middle-Jiao, and improve dampness transformation without overly cooling or weakening Yang-Qi.
This TCM-inspired daily wellness drink is designed to support digestion, reduce dampness, clear heat, detoxify, and promote healthy fluid balance, making it especially suitable for humid weather, summer, or periods of fatigue, bloating, heaviness, and sluggish digestion.
Made with Chenpi (aged tangerine peel), roasted Yiyiren, roasted Mung Beans, Black Beans, and Fu Ling, this balanced formula helps strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, support digestion, reduce water retention, and ease damp-heat while remaining gentler and more suitable for regular use.
Benefits for:
Strengthens digestion and reduces dampness: Roasted Yiyiren helps drain excess moisture and support digestive function, while Chenpi regulates Qi and helps with bloating, fatigue, poor appetite, and heaviness caused by dampness affecting the Spleen.
Clears heat and detoxifies: Mung Beans are traditionally used to cool the body, reduce summer heat, and ease internal heat symptoms. In this modified version, roasting helps reduce their cooling nature, making the formula gentler on digestion.
Supports Kidneys and circulation: Black Beans are considered nourishing for Kidney energy and blood circulation, and when combined with Yiyiren and Mung Beans may help with edema related to water retention or deficiency.
Dries dampness and transforms phlegm: Chenpi promotes fluid metabolism and can help reduce mucus, damp accumulation, or sluggish digestion.
For optimal results, twice weekly during humid or heavy seasons is often a balanced rhythm.
Ingredients:
- Roasted Mung Beans: 30g
- Roasted Yiyiren: 30g
- Fu Ling: 15g
- Black Beans: 30g (soaked for 1 hour before cooking)
- Chenpi: 1 small piece
Preparation:
- Roast Mung Beans and Yiyiren in a dry hot pan for about 10 minutes, then allow them to cool before cooking.
- Soak Chenpi until soft, then scrape off some of the white inner pith.
Cooking:
- Add all ingredients to a pot with water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat and skim off foam.
- Reduce to low heat and simmer for about 45 minutes until the beans soften.
- Allow it to cool slightly before drinking.
Cautions:
- Frequent cold limbs or Yang-deficiency
- Chronic loose stools or very weak digestion
- Pregnancy (especially medicinal-dose herbs without practitioner guidance)
- Kidney disease or prescribed fluid restrictions
- Yin-deficiency with dryness
Conclusion:
In essence, this modified Bian Que Yin became more than just a drink after a draining day, it served as a gentle way to lighten dampness, restore clarity, and support the body’s natural rhythm without overcooling or depletion. Thoughtfully adapted, it can be a practical seasonal wellness formula for navigating humid, heavy days with greater balance, energy, and digestive ease.
References:
2) Mung Beans (Vigna radiata): https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/21/3427
4) Fuling (Poria): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34911003
