Soups
Ginkgo Nut, Walnut, Euryale and Almond Chicken Soup
Traditionally associated with strengthening lung, spleen and kidney function to reduce asthma frequency
In short: Ginkgo Nut, Walnut, Euryale and Almond Chicken Soup is a soup that Traditionally associated with strengthening lung, spleen and kidney function to reduce asthma frequency. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, digestive wellness, children's wellness. Total time about 140 min. Key ingredients: ginkgo nuts, walnuts, red dates, tangerine peel.
Why people make this soup
Asthma tends to run in families and can be triggered throughout the year, with spring and autumn being the most common seasons for flare-ups. Chinese medicine sees asthma as involving three organ systems: the lungs (which govern the airways), the spleen (which is considered the source of phlegm production), and the kidneys (which are thought to anchor the breath and provide the body’s foundational energy). During an active episode, medical treatment comes first. But during the quiet period between episodes — when the child feels well and lung function is stable — food therapy has a supportive role in traditionally building up these three systems and aiming to reduce how often attacks occur.
This soup uses ginkgo nuts to help reduce phlegm and stabilise the airways; walnuts to warm and support kidney yang; euryale seeds to strengthen the spleen and reduce phlegm; and the almond combination to gently open the chest and support breathing. The result is a soup that is warming and nourishing without being too rich or stimulating.
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.
- Walnuts
Office systolic BP changed by -4.61 mm Hg with walnuts versus -0.59 mm Hg in controls (P=0.051); 24-hour ambulatory systolic BP difference was not significant (P=0.111). No diastolic BP changes were observed.Limitation: Only 236 of 305 participants (75%) completed the study, and the main between-group differences did not reach conventional significance.PubMed 30879358 · 2 more walnuts 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 - Tangerine peel
The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325
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
- Ginkgo nuts: Fresh ginkgo seeds are toxic, and serious side effects have occurred after eating roasted seeds. Always cook them thoroughly, keep to the small amount in the recipe, and take extra care when serving children. Source: NIH NCCIH — Ginkgo
- Apricot kernels: Raw apricot kernels contain amygdalin, which turns into cyanide after eating. EFSA estimates that half of one small raw kernel can exceed the safe level for a toddler. Use no more than the recipe states, never eat them raw, and do not serve them to young children. Source: European Food Safety Authority
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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