Soups
Astragalus Root, Cimicifuga and Silkie Chicken Soup
traditionally used to lift sinking qi and support recovery from organ prolapse conditions
In short: Astragalus Root, Cimicifuga and Silkie Chicken Soup is a soup that traditionally used to lift sinking qi and support recovery from organ prolapse conditions. It is most often made for digestive wellness, energy & vitality. Total time about 1 hr 50 min. Key ingredients: astragalus root, tangerine peel, red dates / jujubes, pitted, silkie chicken (black chicken).
Why people make this soup
Gastroptosis — where the stomach drops lower than its normal position — is more common than many people realise, and it often goes undiagnosed for years. The pattern that leads to it is familiar: work stress, irregular eating, binge-and-fast cycles, and not enough rest. Common signs include a persistent feeling of fullness or pressure after meals, bloating, fatigue, irritability, and, in some cases, actual stomach pain or visible sagging of the abdomen. Traditional Chinese food therapy addresses this under the concept of “sinking qi” — the body’s upward-holding energy is insufficient, and the internal organs lose their proper tone and position. The classic remedy is to supplement and raise qi using astragalus (bei qi) paired with cimicifuga (sheng ma), a combination that appears repeatedly across classical Chinese medical texts for treating this exact pattern.
Nourilo notes that the same formula was previously featured for uterine prolapse — two very different anatomical locations, but the same underlying pattern of sinking qi. In Chinese medicine, this is described as “treating different diseases by the same method.”
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 - Tangerine peel
The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325 - Red dates
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.
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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