This is one of my mother's favorite soups because she can make it for the family year-round. Neither too yin or too yang, it can be served either before or after a meal. It invigorates the spleen and kidney, clears any heart-burn, tranquilizes the mind, and improves visual acuity. The herbs listed below are inexpensive and can be readily purchased in Chinese herbal shops.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. rhizona dioscoreae
• 1 oz. fructus lycii
• 1 oz. dried lotus seeds
• 1 oz. bulbus lilii
• 1 oz. dried longan
• 6 pcs. dried red dates
• 1 lb. lean pork

Preparation:

In a medium sized pot, boil nine cups of water. Bring it to a boil and add pork, skimming the surface to remove any foam. Add remaining ingredients. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Serves two.