Soups

Five-Finger Fig Root, Chinese Yam and Free-Range Chicken Soup

A gentle, qi-boosting soup traditionally used to strengthen the spleen and energy

In short: Five-Finger Fig Root, Chinese Yam and Free-Range Chicken Soup is a soup that A gentle, qi-boosting soup traditionally used to strengthen the spleen and energy. It is most often made for digestive wellness, energy & vitality, everyday balance. Total time about 3 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: chinese yam, red dates, free-range chicken, ginger.

Prep
20 min
Cook
3 hr
Total
3 hr 20 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Five-Finger Fig Root, Chinese Yam and Free-Range Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

Five-finger fig root, nicknamed “southern astragalus” (nan qi), is traditionally associated with strengthening the spleen and boosting qi. When the fresh root is available it smells wonderfully of coconut once simmered — a naturally fragrant pot that needs little else. It carries some of astragalus’s reputation in a milder, gentler form, which makes it a good choice for people who feel weak or “can’t take strong tonics.” Paired with Chinese yam, red dates, and a free-range chicken, it comes together into an accessible, nourishing everyday soup.

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.

  • 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
  • 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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