Agaricus Mushroom (Ji Song Rong), Asparagus and Goji Berry Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Nourilo formulated this soup specifically for people going through chemotherapy or radiotherapy — a period when appetite drops, fatigue is constant and the body is under enormous stress. The ingredients in this soup were chosen because each has a distinct traditional food-therapy rationale, and increasingly, preliminary scientific research has begun to validate some of these traditional uses.

Agaricus blazei mushroom (ji song rong) is prized in Asia for its polysaccharide content. Its beta-glucan concentration is reported to be significantly higher than that of lingzhi (reishi) — it may help support the immune system’s ability to recognise and respond to abnormal cells, and there is some preliminary research into its effects on immune function during cancer treatment. Asparagus has long been a prized vegetable in Chinese food therapy: it is rich in selenium, asparagine and other compounds associated with cell regulation. Goji berries (gou qi zi) are associated in traditional medicine with supporting white blood cell production and protecting bone marrow function during treatment.

This is not a difficult or exotic soup to make — it is quick, mild and genuinely delicious as a lunch broth.

Method

1. Rinse the agaricus mushrooms. Rinse the goji berries.
2. Rinse the asparagus and cut into sections.
3. Slice the lean pork and briefly blanch in boiling water to remove impurities. Drain.
4. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 1.8 L of water.
5. Bring to the boil over high heat, then reduce to a medium simmer for 30 minutes until reduced to 600–900 ml.
6. Serve; drink the soup and eat the asparagus, mushrooms and goji berries — these contain the most beneficial compounds.

Nourilo’s Tips

Fresh asparagus quality is not about size — bigger is not better. What matters is that the green tips are tightly closed and the spear is firm and crisp. The most concentrated nutrients sit in the top half of the spear, so use the whole stalk but pay particular attention to the tips. Gout sufferers should avoid this soup entirely. For everyone else, this is an easy, tasty and nourishing everyday soup that can also serve as a base for a noodle or rice lunch.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

• Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
  Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies
• Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
  Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
• take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
• have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

• Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

Spot an error? Report a correction

What kind of issue? Factual or research error Safety concern Recipe / ingredient error Wording or translation Account, privacy or refund request Something else Details Your email (optional — only if you'd like a reply) Send to the editors