Monkey Head Mushroom, Chinese Yam, Gorgon Seed and Lily Bulb Soup

Why people make this soup

When young children start attending school or nursery, they are suddenly exposed to a much larger pool of airborne viruses and bacteria. It is not unusual for a child to seem to be perpetually recovering — a runny nose fading into a chesty rattle that never quite goes away. In Chinese medicine, this phlegm-prone tendency in children is often linked to a weakened spleen function, because the spleen (in the traditional sense) governs digestion and the processing of dampness in the body. When the digestive system is not working at full strength, the body tends to produce more phlegm. The remedy, then, is not just to chase the phlegm but to strengthen the foundation — and that is exactly what this gentle, savoury soup aims to do. It is suitable for the whole family, not just children.