Soups
Astragalus and Squab Soup
Traditionally associated with strengthening lung qi and reducing nasal sensitivity
Why people make this soup
Allergic rhinitis is extremely common in Hong Kong, especially among children, and it tends to flare up with seasonal changes. Chinese medicine categorises rhinitis into three constitutional patterns: lung-qi deficiency, spleen-qi deficiency, and kidney-qi deficiency. This particular soup is designed specifically for the lung-qi deficiency type — where the sneezing is frequent, the nasal discharge is clear and watery, the symptoms worsen after physical exertion or tiredness, and the person tends to feel easily fatigued.
Rather than simply trying to suppress the symptoms, the food-therapy approach here is to build up the body’s defensive (wei) qi — the energy that, in Chinese medicine, is thought to protect the surface of the body from wind and cold. Astragalus is the primary ingredient for this, paired with longan for nourishment, cinnamon bark for warming, and squab as a protein-rich base with a long history in Cantonese tonic cooking.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suited to people (adults and children) with the lung-qi deficiency pattern of rhinitis: frequent sneezing, clear watery discharge, nasal congestion, and symptoms that worsen with tiredness.
- Can be taken regularly as a preventive tonic during allergy-prone seasons.
- Squab can be substituted with partridge (zhe gu) or quail (an chun) — or lean pork if neither is available.
- Cinnamon bark (rou gui) is strongly warming. Not suitable for those with yin-deficiency heat (persistent internal heat sensation, night sweats, dry mouth), active fever or infection, or during pregnancy.
- Cocklebur fruit (cang er zi) has a mild toxicity — it is safe in the quantities used here when cooked, but should not be used continuously for long periods. For long-term maintenance, Bro Niu recommends using magnolia flower (xin yi hua) tea or the prepared formula Yu Ping Feng San instead.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cocklebur fruit (cang er zi): Traditionally used to open the nasal passages, dispel wind-damp and relieve nasal congestion. Mild toxicity — use in cooked soup at the stated amount only.
- Astragalus root (bei qi): The classic qi-tonifying herb; traditionally considered to strengthen the lung’s defensive energy and reduce susceptibility to wind-cold.
- Longan flesh (gui yuan rou): Nourishes the blood and calms the mind; supports the overall tonic effect of the soup.
- Cinnamon bark (rou gui): Strongly warming; traditionally used to warm the kidney yang and dispel cold from the interior.
- Squab (ru ge): Considered deeply nourishing in Cantonese tradition; tonifies the kidney and liver, supports recovery from fatigue.
Ingredients (~3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cocklebur fruit (cang er zi) | 9 g (3 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Astragalus root (bei qi) | 18 g (5 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Longan flesh | 18 g (5 qian) | Rinse |
| Cinnamon bark | 1 short piece | Rinse |
| Squab (young pigeon) | 1 bird | Cleaned and blanched |
| Water | 6 bowls (~1.5 L) |
Method
- Clean the squab thoroughly and blanch briefly in boiling water; drain.
- Rinse and soak the remaining ingredients briefly in cold water; drain.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 6 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 1 hour until the liquid reduces to approximately 3 bowls.
- Drink the broth; this soup can be taken regularly.
Bro Niu’s tips
Cocklebur fruit (cang er zi) has a mild toxicity and is traditionally considered safe when cooked at the amounts specified. However, it should not be taken continuously over long periods. If you want a gentler, longer-term option for nasal allergy, steep 6–8 crushed magnolia flower buds (xin yi hua) in hot water as a tea — add a little honey to taste — and drink once a day. The prepared formula Yu Ping Feng San (available from Chinese herbal pharmacies) taken alongside the magnolia tea is also helpful for building resistance over time, especially for children.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Daisy): My granddaughter is two and a half. She sneezes a lot from nasal allergy. After drinking magnolia flower tea for three days her sneezing improved, but she had loose stools. What should I do? Bro Niu: Magnolia flower tea generally does not cause diarrhoea. If there is no foul smell it is probably not a bacterial infection. You can give her stir-fried white bean (chao bian dou) 1 liang and gordon euryale seeds (qian shi) 1 liang cooked in a lean pork congee — this will help to firm up the stools.
-
Q (Annie): If I cannot get squab, can I use partridge, quail or lean pork? Bro Niu: Partridge or quail are the best substitutes. Lean pork will also work.
-
Q (Mandy): My son is 8 and has nasal allergy — sometimes the nasal drip causes a cough. What soup can I make? Bro Niu: Try: 1 dried tangerine peel (ju bing), chopped; 3 qian of magnolia flower buds (xin yi hua); 1 qian of liquorice root (gan cao); simmered in 4 bowls of water down to 2 bowls. Take 3–4 doses. This helps settle the nasal drip.
Published May 3, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
