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Codonopsis, Cinnamon Twig & Squab Soup

Traditionally used to tonify heart qi, warm the channels, and support energy in those with fatigue and cold sensitivity

In short: Codonopsis, Cinnamon Twig & Squab Soup is a soup that Traditionally used to tonify heart qi, warm the channels, and support energy in those with fatigue and cold sensitivity. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, heart & circulation, energy & vitality. Total time about 135 min. Key ingredients: codonopsis root, ginger, red dates.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
15 min
Cook
120 min
Total
135 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Respiratory & Lung WellnessHeart & CirculationEnergy & VitalityEveryday Balance
Codonopsis, Cinnamon Twig & Squab Soup

Why people make this soup

Those dealing with hypothyroidism — underactive thyroid — often live with a particular kind of low-energy fog: heart palpitations, breathlessness from the slightest exertion, a voice that feels softer than it used to, slow thinking, poor appetite, and a persistent sense of cold that does not match the room temperature. Traditional Chinese food therapy associates these patterns with “insufficient heart qi” and “spleen-stomach deficiency,” and recommends warming, tonifying foods. Nourilo’s soup here uses three main actors: codonopsis root as a gentle qi tonic, cinnamon twig to warm and open the channels, and squab (young pigeon), which is considered a more tonifying protein than regular chicken. The ginger and dates round it out. This is a soup families can make for someone who is convalescing or feeling chronically worn down.

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
  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    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

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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