Soups

Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, Dried Scallop, and Silkie Chicken Soup

traditionally associated with nourishing blood, calming the mind, and supporting restful sleep

In short: Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, Dried Scallop, and Silkie Chicken Soup is a soup that traditionally associated with nourishing blood, calming the mind, and supporting restful sleep. It is most often made for women's wellness, sleep & calm, blood nourishment. Total time about 1 hr 50 min. Key ingredients: lotus seeds, lily bulb, dried scallops, ginger.

Prep
20 min
Cook
1 hr 30 min
Total
1 hr 50 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, Dried Scallop, and Silkie Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

Silkie chicken (also called black-bone chicken or wu gu ji in Mandarin) is one of those ingredients that looks unusual but has a well-established reputation in Chinese food-therapy. Unlike ordinary chicken, silkie chicken contains 18 amino acids and meaningful amounts of B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and various trace minerals — yet its fat content is relatively low, which means it makes a deeply nourishing broth without feeling heavy or prone to causing the internal heat that richer meats sometimes produce. Paired with lotus seeds and lily bulb — two herbs associated with calming the mind and supporting heart and blood — and with dried scallops adding a beautiful savoury sweetness, this soup is what Nourilo reaches for when someone needs genuine restoration: students burning through exam periods, new mothers recovering from childbirth, or anyone whose energy and mental clarity have been depleted.

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.

  • 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
  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    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
  • 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.

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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