Soups

Cordyceps Flower and Fresh Chinese Yam Soup

traditionally used to support immune function, nourish the lungs and kidneys, and strengthen resistance to seasonal illness

In short: Cordyceps Flower and Fresh Chinese Yam Soup is a soup that traditionally used to support immune function, nourish the lungs and kidneys, and strengthen resistance to seasonal illness. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, children's wellness, kidney & urinary wellness. Total time about 105 min. Key ingredients: cordyceps flower, chinese yam, red dates, lean pork.

Prep
15 min
Cook
90 min
Total
105 min
Makes
1.2 L
Cordyceps Flower and Fresh Chinese Yam Soup

Why people make this soup

With viral illnesses circulating and the immune systems of children and elderly particularly vulnerable, Nourilo turns to Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua) as an accessible, affordable everyday tonic. While it does not carry the same potency as the wild Cordyceps sinensis caterpillar fungus — which can cost a small fortune — Cordyceps flower is cultivated from the same fungal family, is mild in nature (neither cooling nor warming), has a pleasant, slightly sweet fragrance, and works beautifully in both soups and stir-fries.

Modern research has explored Cordyceps flower for its cordycepic acid and cordycepin content, which are associated with supporting the activity of macrophages — key cells in the immune response. Combined with fresh Chinese yam (which supports the spleen, lung, and kidney simultaneously), fox nuts (a gentle digestive and tonic ingredient), and red dates, this soup is a reliable family staple for the flu season and beyond.

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.

  • Cordyceps flower · Randomized controlled trial · 2015
    Compared with placebo capsules, the C. militaris group had greater increases from baseline in NK cell activity, lymphocyte proliferation, IL-2 and IFN-γ. No statistically significant adverse reactions were reported.Limitation: Only healthy men were studied, for 4 weeks, with 39 and 40 per group. Findings are immune-marker changes rather than clinical outcomes, and the capsules were an ethanol-treated preparation.PubMed 26284906 · 2 more cordyceps flower 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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