Soups

Cordyceps-Flower, Lily Bulb and Partridge Soup

Traditionally used to support and strengthen the lungs in children prone to coughs

In short: Cordyceps-Flower, Lily Bulb and Partridge Soup is a soup that Traditionally used to support and strengthen the lungs in children prone to coughs. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, children's wellness, energy & vitality. Total time about 2 hr 15 min. Key ingredients: cordyceps flower, lily bulb, sweet and bitter apricot kernels, ginger.

Prep
15 min
Cook
2 hr
Total
2 hr 15 min
Makes
1.2 L
Cordyceps-Flower, Lily Bulb and Partridge Soup

Why people make this soup

Little ones who have just started school often catch a bug and then cough on and on, which worries any parent. For children whose lung “qi” tends to be weak, the old approach is to wait until the cold has fully passed, then use a gentle food-therapy soup to build the lungs back up. Partridge is traditionally said to tonify the centre, benefit the five organs and transform phlegm; paired with cordyceps flower, lily bulb, mai dong and apricot kernels — all classically used to clear the heart, moisten the lungs and nourish — it makes a kind, helpful pot for a child who catches coughs easily.

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.

  • Cordyceps flower · Randomized controlled trial · 2015
    Compared with placebo capsules, the C. militaris group had greater increases from baseline in NK cell activity, lymphocyte proliferation, IL-2 and IFN-γ. No statistically significant adverse reactions were reported.Limitation: Only healthy men were studied, for 4 weeks, with 39 and 40 per group. Findings are immune-marker changes rather than clinical outcomes, and the capsules were an ethanol-treated preparation.PubMed 26284906 · 2 more cordyceps flower studies
  • 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.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • 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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