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Chrysanthemum Greens (Tong Ho) and Fish Head Soup

traditionally used to warm the stomach, support digestion, and relieve cold-type nausea

In short: Chrysanthemum Greens (Tong Ho) and Fish Head Soup is a soup that traditionally used to warm the stomach, support digestion, and relieve cold-type nausea. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, digestive wellness. Total time about 50 min. Key ingredients: large fish head, ginger, salt and seasoning.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
10 min
Cook
40 min
Total
50 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Respiratory & Lung WellnessDigestive Wellness
Chrysanthemum Greens (Tong Ho) and Fish Head Soup

Why people make this soup

Some people habitually drink large glasses of ice-cold drinks with every meal. Over time, this can deplete the warmth the digestive system needs to function well — in traditional Chinese medicine terms, cold contracts and obstructs, causing stomach qi to rebel upward rather than descend. The result: a dull, persistent ache in the stomach, a watery tastelessness in the mouth, little appetite, and occasional waves of nausea. This soup is a gentle, everyday response to that pattern.

Chrysanthemum greens (tong ho) have a distinctively fragrant, slightly warming character that is traditionally associated with settling the stomach. The fish head contributes a rich, nourishing broth and is considered in Chinese food therapy to support kidney and spleen function. Ginger and white pepper amplify the warming effect and help lift the fishy smell — the result is a beautifully flavoured, milky-white broth.

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.

  • Chrysanthemum · Randomized controlled trial, 37 participants · 2023
    Compared with the high-fat meal alone, the extract group had lower postprandial glucose at 1 hour and higher antioxidant markers (T-AOC, SOD, GSH), with lower MDA. Incremental area under the curve did not differ significantly between groups.Limitation: Small sample of healthy young adults given a single high-fat meal, so longer-term effects and effects in people with metabolic conditions are unknown.PubMed 36677639 · 1 more chrysanthemum study
  • 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.

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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