Soups

Astragalus Codonopsis Snakehead Fish Soup

Traditionally used to support qi, strengthen the spleen and aid recovery

In short: Astragalus Codonopsis Snakehead Fish Soup is a soup that Traditionally used to support qi, strengthen the spleen and aid recovery. It is most often made for digestive wellness, energy & vitality. Total time about 1 hr 45 min. Key ingredients: astragalus root, codonopsis root, red dates, ginger.

Prep
15 min
Cook
90 min
Total
1 hr 45 min
Makes
900 ml
Astragalus Codonopsis Snakehead Fish Soup

Why people make this soup

In Chinese tradition there’s a saying that “long illness brings depletion” — when an illness drags on, it tends to wear at the spleen and stomach, leaving a person tired and listless, sallow, eating little, thin and weary. The traditional approach is to support recovery by strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi. This Astragalus, Codonopsis and Snakehead Fish Soup is traditionally regarded as supporting qi and the spleen and strengthening the body, making it a well-loved choice for those feeling weak and depleted after illness.

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.

  • Astragalus root · Meta-analysis, 8 studies, 750 participants · 2025
    TA-65 was associated with longer leukocyte telomeres compared with controls, but the meta-analysis found no significant improvement in frailty measures or inflammatory markers (CRP/IL-6). Mild gastrointestinal effects were reported.Limitation: Industry-funded trials reported larger effects than others, and the compound is a purified extract at doses not comparable to eating Astragalus root.PubMed 41286474 · 3 more astragalus root studies
  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates 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

  • Astragalus: May interact with medicines that suppress the immune system. A thorough safety evaluation has not been done, and little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Astragalus

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

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