Bai Ji, Snow Fungus and Apricot Kernel Sweet Soup

Why people make this soup

A persistent, long-lasting cough deserves attention. In traditional Chinese medicine, the five organs are each associated with different types of cough — but lung diseases, from chronic bronchitis to tuberculosis, are among the most common causes of a lingering cough. When a chronic cough comes with phlegm that occasionally contains blood, it points to damage or weakness in the lung’s blood vessels or tissue.

The classical Chinese herb for this situation is bai ji (Bletilla striata), a starchy, sticky rhizome that has been used for centuries specifically to halt bleeding in the lungs and stop haemoptysis (coughing blood). Nourilo pairs it here with snow fungus for its deeply moistening, collagen-like effect on the respiratory tract, and with north-south apricot kernels, which soothe the airways and ease coughing. The result is a mild, gently sweet, clear soup that is easy to take regularly. Nourilo notes it has no strong herbal flavour — just a clean, soothing quality.

Method

1. Soak the bai ji and snow fungus separately until softened. Remove the tough base stem from the snow fungus and break into smaller pieces; rinse gently.
2. Rinse the apricot kernels.
3. Place bai ji, snow fungus, and apricot kernels in a pot with 1.8 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 45 minutes until the liquid reduces to about 900 ml.
5. Add rock sugar to taste and stir to dissolve.
6. Serve warm; drink the broth and eat the snow fungus and apricot kernels.

Nourilo’s Tips

• The flavour is mild and pleasant — no strong medicinal taste.
• Since bai ji is a medicinal herb, keep usage to around 2 doses per week. Do not use it daily over extended periods without guidance.
• If meat is preferred to a sweet soup, Nourilo confirms that lean pork can be added — simply omit the rock sugar in that case.
• For lung tuberculosis patients who are also experiencing poor appetite and weight loss, a complementary soup of Chinese yam (huai shan), lily bulb (bai he), lotus seeds (lian zi), snow fungus, and apricot kernels with partridge or quail is recommended separately to strengthen spleen and lung function.