Soups
Cordyceps Flower, Lingzhi, Snow Fungus and Wood Ear Soup
Traditionally used to strengthen the body and support the immune system
Why people make this soup
Chemotherapy and radiation are hard on the body — they can knock down the blood-forming system and leave a person’s defenses low, so a gentle, building soup is welcome during recovery. Bro Niu notes that true cordyceps is wonderful but very expensive; cordyceps flower, which carries cordyceps polysaccharides, is an affordable everyday alternative. Simmered with black lingzhi, wood ear, snow fungus, goji and red dates, this pot is traditionally taken to strengthen a depleted body.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people feeling weak and run-down during recovery from chemotherapy or radiation; gentle enough as an everyday family soup for young and old.
- Lingzhi is warming in nature — Bro Niu advises leaving it out for heat-pattern conditions such as lung cancer.
- This is supportive nourishment only; always follow your medical team and please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua): carries cordyceps polysaccharides; traditionally used as a tonic to support a weakened body.
- Black lingzhi (hei ling zhi): traditionally associated with supporting vitality and the body’s defenses.
- Wood ear and snow fungus (hei mu er, xue er): traditionally said to support the blood-forming function and nourish.
- Goji and red dates (gou qi zi, hong zao): traditionally used to nourish and brighten.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordyceps flower | ~19 g (5 qian) | |
| Black lingzhi | ~11 g (3 qian) | Omit for heat patterns / lung cancer |
| Black wood ear fungus | 2 pieces | Stems removed |
| Snow fungus | 1 piece | Stems removed |
| Goji berries | ~15 g (4 qian) | |
| Red dates | 8 | |
| Lean pork | ~225 g (6 liang) | Blanched |
Method
- Soak and rinse all the ingredients; trim the stems from the wood ear and snow fungus.
- Blanch the lean pork.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Simmer about 2 hours until reduced to 4 bowls.
- Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is strengthening and traditionally taken to support immunity; it’s gentle enough for the whole family. Swapping the lean pork for soft-shelled turtle (shui yu) makes it even more nourishing.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Joanne): My father has lung cancer that spread to the brain and starts radiation tomorrow. Is this cordyceps flower, snow fungus and wood ear soup suitable? Bro Niu: The lingzhi in this soup is warming, and lung cancer is mostly a heat pattern, so just leave the lingzhi out.
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Q (Doris): Can I make this with quail or partridge instead, and will the lingzhi taste bitter? Bro Niu: You can use quail or partridge. Red lingzhi is the most bitter and most potent; purple-black lingzhi is mildly bitter; white lingzhi is mild.
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Q (Ada): Is this soup suitable for stage-four nasopharyngeal cancer before and during chemo and radiation? Bro Niu: Yes, it can be taken during chemo and radiation. You can also simmer half a luo han guo with 8–10 crushed Chinese olives in 6 bowls of water down to 3–4 bowls, sipped through the day, to help soothe a dry throat.
Published October 3, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
