Soups

Ginkgo Nut, Walnut, Almond and Pork Lung Soup

Traditionally supports lung nourishment, calming persistent cough and wheeze

In short: Ginkgo Nut, Walnut, Almond and Pork Lung Soup is a soup that Traditionally supports lung nourishment, calming persistent cough and wheeze. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, children's wellness, sleep & calm. Total time about 150 min. Key ingredients: ginkgo nuts, sweet apricot kernels, figs, red dates.

Prep
30 min
Cook
120 min
Total
150 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Ginkgo Nut, Walnut, Almond and Pork Lung Soup

Why people make this soup

When a child has a weak constitution and catches every cold that comes around — and when each cold turns into a cough that lingers for weeks, sometimes progressing to a wheeze or retching — families look for ways to gently strengthen the lungs over time. This soup is not for the acute phase of illness (especially not when there is fever), but rather as a recovery and maintenance soup once the worst has passed. Ginkgo nuts, walnuts, and pork lung work together in the Chinese food-therapy framework to warm and nourish lung and kidney energy, helping to rebuild the body’s respiratory resilience. The approach also emphasizes good hygiene and frequent handwashing as the first line of defense.

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.

  • Walnuts · Randomized controlled trial, 305 participants · 2019
    Office systolic BP changed by -4.61 mm Hg with walnuts versus -0.59 mm Hg in controls (P=0.051); 24-hour ambulatory systolic BP difference was not significant (P=0.111). No diastolic BP changes were observed.Limitation: Only 236 of 305 participants (75%) completed the study, and the main between-group differences did not reach conventional significance.PubMed 30879358 · 2 more walnuts 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.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Ginkgo nuts: Fresh ginkgo seeds are toxic, and serious side effects have occurred after eating roasted seeds. Always cook them thoroughly, keep to the small amount in the recipe, and take extra care when serving children. Source: NIH NCCIH — Ginkgo
  • Apricot kernels: Raw apricot kernels contain amygdalin, which turns into cyanide after eating. EFSA estimates that half of one small raw kernel can exceed the safe level for a toddler. Use no more than the recipe states, never eat them raw, and do not serve them to young children. Source: European Food Safety Authority

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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