Soups

Cordyceps Flower, Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb & Goji Berry Soup

traditionally associated with strengthening the lungs, supporting immunity, protecting the liver, and calming the mind

In short: Cordyceps Flower, Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb & Goji Berry Soup is a soup that traditionally associated with strengthening the lungs, supporting immunity, protecting the liver, and calming the mind. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, liver wellness, sleep & calm. Total time about 60 min. Key ingredients: cordyceps flower, lotus seeds, lily bulb, goji berries.

Prep
15 min
Cook
45 min
Total
60 min
Makes
900 ml
Cordyceps Flower, Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb & Goji Berry Soup

Why people make this soup

Wild cordyceps sinensis — the original “caterpillar fungus” — is extraordinarily expensive, well beyond the reach of everyday households. But Cordyceps militaris, sold dried as “cordyceps flower” (chong cao hua), is a cultivated relative that shares many of the same nutritional characteristics and is widely available at a fraction of the price. Nourilo recommends this soup for any household where children catch colds easily, where adults feel their energy dipping, or where someone is dealing with recurring coughs, poor concentration, or tired eyes. It suits the whole family and can be made savoury (with lean meat or quail) or sweet (with a little rock sugar).

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.

  • Cordyceps flower · Randomized controlled trial · 2015
    Compared with placebo capsules, the C. militaris group had greater increases from baseline in NK cell activity, lymphocyte proliferation, IL-2 and IFN-γ. No statistically significant adverse reactions were reported.Limitation: Only healthy men were studied, for 4 weeks, with 39 and 40 per group. Findings are immune-marker changes rather than clinical outcomes, and the capsules were an ethanol-treated preparation.PubMed 26284906 · 2 more cordyceps flower studies
  • Lotus seeds · Randomized crossover trial, 10 participants · 2019
    Lotus seed meals had a low glycemic index (GI 21–51 across the lotus seed and adzuki bean meals), while several other starchy foods did not differ significantly from rice. Lotus seed's in vitro hydrolysis index was also lower than that of other test foods.Limitation: Only ten healthy participants and acute single-meal tests, so findings may not apply to people with diabetes or to long-term intake.PubMed 30875961
  • Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
    Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries 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

  • Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium
  • 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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