Astragalus Codonopsis Calming Soup

Why people make this soup

Big-city life is stressful, and more and more people — especially those over 60 — struggle with sleep as their bodies change. Nourilo often sees older folks who find it hard to drop off, can’t sleep deeply, or wake early and can’t settle again. In traditional thinking this often goes with a “heart and spleen” that are run down and qi and blood that have grown thin. This warm soup is meant to nourish qi and blood while strengthening the spleen and calming the heart — a comforting bowl to support a good night’s sleep.

Method

1. Soak and rinse all the ingredients. Rinse the fresh dendrobium and cut into segments; pit the red dates.
2. Place everything into a pot with 2.4 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 1.5 hours until reduced to about 1.2 L. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

This is a nourishing soup, especially suited to those who feel short of breath and tired, have a weak spleen and stomach, or struggle with sleep and palpitations. If you can’t find fresh dendrobium, use 11 g of the dried form instead.