Ginkgo, Walnut and Apricot Kernel Pork Lung Soup

This soup is traditionally made during the quieter periods between asthma episodes — not during an acute flare. Traditional Cantonese food therapy uses this remission time to focus on rebuilding the strength of the lungs, spleen, and kidneys, rather than addressing the acute episode, which remains a job for the doctor.

The soup is suitable for all ages. It is also appropriate for adults with chronic cough, weak lung qi, or those recovering from respiratory illness, and the recipe notes that the whole family can share one pot.

The recipe specifically instructs that the green inner germ must be removed from each ginkgo nut before cooking. This step is highlighted as important in both the method and the tips sections.

The recipe notes that if pork lung is something you or your family prefer not to eat, you can substitute pork rib bones or omit the pork entirely. According to the recipe, the main value comes from the other ingredients — ginkgo nuts, walnuts, apricot kernels, dried figs, and dried scallops.

During remission, the recipe notes that shrimp, crab, goose meat, and raw bamboo shoots are traditionally considered "reactive foods" that may aggravate an asthmatic constitution and are best limited.