Soups
Astragalus Codonopsis Goji Soup
traditionally tonifies qi and blood to support the immune system and the body's natural resistance
In short: Astragalus Codonopsis Goji Soup is a soup that traditionally tonifies qi and blood to support the immune system and the body's natural resistance. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, energy & vitality, immune support. Total time about 100 min. Key ingredients: astragalus root, codonopsis root, goji berries, red dates.
Why people make this soup
Flu seasons in Hong Kong can be intense — hospitals fill up, and even those who receive their flu vaccination can still get sick, because influenza strains shift and multiply. Beyond basic hygiene and vaccination, one practical approach is to keep the body in the strongest possible baseline state. This four-ingredient tonic has been a household favourite for exactly that. The combination of astragalus and codonopsis has been used for generations to replenish qi and energise the immune system’s cells. Goji berries and red dates round out the formula with blood nourishment and spleen support. The soup is deliberately flexible — you can add lean pork or quail for a savoury main, or a touch of rock sugar for a sweet version. Pregnant women and children can both enjoy it, making it one of those rare family soups that truly suits everyone at the table.
Optional additions
- For a savoury soup: add 1 quail or 150 g lean pork
- For a sweeter version: add a small piece of rock sugar
- To make it more moistening: add 15 g (15 g) ophiopogon root (mai dong) or dendrobium (shi hu)
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
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 - Goji berries
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 - Red dates
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
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
- 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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