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Sweet Almond, Ginkgo Nut, Lily Bulb & Pork Lung Soup

traditionally used to moisten the lungs, ease coughs, reduce phlegm, and support respiratory health

In short: Sweet Almond, Ginkgo Nut, Lily Bulb & Pork Lung Soup is a soup that traditionally used to moisten the lungs, ease coughs, reduce phlegm, and support respiratory health. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness. Total time about 140 min. Key ingredients: lily bulb, ginkgo nuts, figs, ginger.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
20 min
Cook
120 min
Total
140 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Respiratory & Lung Wellness
Sweet Almond, Ginkgo Nut, Lily Bulb & Pork Lung Soup

Why people make this soup

Traditional Chinese dietetics has long followed the principle of “like nourishes like” — using the organ of an animal to gently support the same organ in the human body. Pork lung, properly cleaned and blanched, makes a nutritious soup base that is especially associated with respiratory conditions. For people dealing with chronic bronchitis — whether from long-term smoking, weakened lung qi, or repeated respiratory infections — Nourilo combines it with classic phlegm-resolving, cough-calming ingredients: ginkgo nuts to ease wheezing, sweet apricot kernels to moisten and descend lung qi, lily bulbs to nourish and cool the lungs, and figs for their gentle clearing sweetness. This soup is suitable for the whole family and works particularly well during dry autumn and winter months.

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.

  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger 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

  • 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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