Soups
Astragalus, Codonopsis and Lamb Soup
traditionally used to warm and tonify the spleen and kidneys, supporting those with cold, fatigue, and weak constitution
In short: Astragalus, Codonopsis and Lamb Soup is a soup that traditionally used to warm and tonify the spleen and kidneys, supporting those with cold, fatigue, and weak constitution. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, digestive wellness, children's wellness. Total time about 135 min. Key ingredients: astragalus root, codonopsis root, red dates, ginger.
Why people make this soup
The thyroid gland regulates the body’s metabolic rate and overall development, which means an underactive thyroid affects almost every system. In older adults — particularly women — hypothyroidism often goes undetected for years. The signs can be subtle at first: persistent low mood, a vague facial puffiness, swelling around the wrists and ankles, dry and rough skin, a tendency to feel cold, and a general slowing of physical energy. In traditional Chinese medicine, this pattern — fatigue, cold intolerance, slow metabolism, and fluid retention — is often viewed as a deficiency of spleen and kidney yang. This soup addresses that pattern directly. Astragalus is one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine for boosting vital qi and strengthening immune function. Codonopsis is often called “poor man’s ginseng” — a gentler, very accessible root that tonifies the middle and supports digestive absorption. Lamb is the warming meat of choice in Chinese food therapy, associated with strengthening kidney yang and dispelling cold.
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 - 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 - Ginger
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.
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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