Soups
Astragalus, Scallion and Fermented Soybean Soup
Traditionally used to support recovery from colds in constitutionally weak individuals by tonifying qi and dispersing surface pathogens
In short: Astragalus, Scallion and Fermented Soybean Soup is a soup that Traditionally used to support recovery from colds in constitutionally weak individuals by tonifying qi and dispersing surface pathogens. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, energy & vitality, immune support. Total time about 30 min. Key ingredients: astragalus root, lean pork.
Why people make this soup
Most people associate colds with an excess of pathogenic energy invading the body. But some people — particularly those who are chronically tired, pale, short of breath, or prone to catching every bug that goes around — experience colds differently: their immune system simply has too little energy to mount a proper response, so they get sick easily and recover slowly. TCM refers to these individuals as “xu ren” (deficient person), and their colds require a different approach. Rather than just clearing the pathogen, you also need to prop up the body’s qi at the same time.
This is where astragalus (bei qi / huang qi) comes in. It is one of the most studied and respected qi-tonifying herbs in Chinese medicine, with modern research also investigating its effects on immune modulation. Paired with fermented black soybean (dan dou chi), which is traditionally used to release the surface of the body and ease feverishness, and scallion white (cong bai), which helps open the nasal passages and promote circulation, this simple soup covers both fronts.
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.
- Astragalus root
TA-65 was associated with longer leukocyte telomeres compared with controls, but the meta-analysis found no significant improvement in frailty measures or inflammatory markers (CRP/IL-6). Mild gastrointestinal effects were reported.Limitation: Industry-funded trials reported larger effects than others, and the compound is a purified extract at doses not comparable to eating Astragalus root.PubMed 41286474 · 3 more astragalus root studies - Black soybeans
Systolic blood pressure fell more in the black soy peptide group (-9.69 mm Hg) than in the placebo group (-2.91 mm Hg) after baseline adjustment. Plasma malondialdehyde decreased and superoxide dismutase activity increased compared with placebo.Limitation: Used an isolated peptide supplement rather than whole black soybeans, and followed participants for only 8 weeks, so the results may not apply to food intake.PubMed 23924691
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
- Astragalus: May interact with medicines that suppress the immune system. A thorough safety evaluation has not been done, and little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Astragalus
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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