Soups
Huai Yam, Euryale Seed & Crocodile Meat Soup
Traditionally associated with strengthening the spleen, lungs, and kidneys to ease chronic cough and wheezing
In short: Huai Yam, Euryale Seed & Crocodile Meat Soup is a soup that Traditionally associated with strengthening the spleen, lungs, and kidneys to ease chronic cough and wheezing. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, digestive wellness, children's wellness. Total time about 2 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: chinese yam, euryale seeds, tangerine peel, red dates.
Why people make this soup
Some children seem to catch every cold that passes through their classroom, and after each illness they are left weakened and coughing again before they have fully recovered. Some older adults who smoked for years are dealing with a similar pattern — a chronic cough and shortness of breath that never quite go away. In both cases, Chinese food therapy points to a depletion of the spleen, lung, and kidney systems, which in turn creates persistent phlegm and reduced respiratory resilience.
Crocodile meat is an unusual but traditional Cantonese ingredient — dried crocodile meat has been used in soups and stews for generations, specifically valued for its reputation of supporting the lungs and kidneys. Nourilo notes that the flavour of this soup is genuinely delicious, which makes it one of those rare remedies that people actually look forward to drinking. One reader commented that after following this recipe weekly for several months, she no longer heard her family member’s persistent cough — a testimonial Nourilo finds heartening.
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.
- 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
- 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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