Codonopsis Poria Angelica Longan Soup

Why people make this soup

Thyroid conditions — especially hypothyroidism — seem to be on the rise, and Nourilo has noticed more and more friends and acquaintances being diagnosed. Among women, an underactive thyroid can affect the menstrual cycle, cause prolonged or heavy bleeding, and lead to persistent tiredness, poor memory, and a general sense of being run-down over time. This soup draws on a classic traditional formula for what Chinese medicine calls “heart-spleen deficiency” — a pattern characterised by worry, poor sleep, palpitations, low energy, and poor appetite. The combination of codonopsis, poria, white atractylodes, angelica, longan, and red dates builds up both qi (vital energy) and blood in a gentle, sustained way. Adding chicken or lamb when cooking turns it from a tea-like broth into a more substantial one-pot meal.