Soups
Perilla Seed, Ginkgo and Apricot Kernel Soup
Traditionally used to ease phlegm and calm a cough
In short: Perilla Seed, Ginkgo and Apricot Kernel Soup is a soup that Traditionally used to ease phlegm and calm a cough. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, children's wellness, sleep & calm. Total time about 55 min. Key ingredients: sweet and bitter apricot kernels.
Why people make this soup
Some children have a weaker constitution and a stubborn, phlegmy cough that lingers. When the cough is worse morning and night with thin, watery-white phlegm — a “cold-type” phlegm pattern — ginkgo can be used in moderation, as it is traditionally said to “astringe the lung and calm wheezing.” This folk soup combines perilla seed, ginkgo and apricot kernels and is traditionally used to direct qi downward, ease phlegm and calm a cough, making it a gentle helper for chronic bronchitis or wheezy coughs of the cold-phlegm type — in children and adults alike.
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
- Ginkgo nuts: Fresh ginkgo seeds are toxic, and serious side effects have occurred after eating roasted seeds. Always cook them thoroughly, keep to the small amount in the recipe, and take extra care when serving children. Source: NIH NCCIH — Ginkgo
- 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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