Xin Yi and Cang Er Soup

Why people make this soup

When the air turns dry, Nourilo sees a lot of people sneezing, dripping clear mucus and walking around with a permanently blocked nose. Some have caught a cold; most are dealing with a flare-up of allergic rhinitis. This soup brings together magnolia bud, xanthium fruit and bai zhi — herbs traditionally used to disperse wind, open the nasal passages and ease the headache-and-pressure feeling that comes with a congested nose.