Ginkgo and Euryale Soup Recipe for Respiratory Comfort

Introduction to Medicinal Diet

The Ginkgo Seed and Fox Nut Wind-Expelling Soup (Bai Guo Qian Shi Qu Feng Tang) is a time-honored traditional Chinese medicinal dietary remedy, embodying the wisdom of the “medicinal and edible homology” principle. This soup features Ginkgo biloba seed and Euryale ferox seed as core ingredients, complemented by a selection of mild herbs, carefully formulated to support the body’s qi mechanism and promote comfort from occasional wind-related discomfort. In folk tradition, it is commonly used as a health-promoting soup during seasonal transitions, particularly favored by those concerned with joint comfort and those experiencing occasional dampness-related sensations.

Bai Guo, also known as the ginkgo seed, is the dried ripe seed of the Ginkgo biloba tree (Ginkgoaceae family), and has been a common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicinal cuisine since ancient times. Qian Shi, often called “water ginseng,” is the dried ripe kernel of the water lily plant Euryale ferox (Euryale fervox). When combined, and with the addition of herbs that support the body’s natural comfort and circulation, these two ingredients together create this soup’s unique wellness benefits. The soup has a clear, slightly white broth, a sweet and mellow taste, and carries the natural aroma of the ingredients. It can be enjoyed as a daily soup while also serving to support the body’s natural balance.

Supportive Benefits of Medicinal Diet

Ginkgo and Euryale Wind-Dispelling Decoction (白果芡实祛风汤) primarily functions to help support the body’s response to wind and dampness, and to promote joint comfort. It may help maintain normal joint function and ease occasional discomfort. This formula helps the body maintain comfort by supporting normal circulation, thereby promoting the smooth flow of qi and blood and alleviating occasional sensations of stiffness.

In addition, this soup also has the auxiliary benefits of supporting spleen and kidney health, as well as promoting normal vaginal and urinary health. Bai Guo (Semen Ginkgo, Ginkgo seed) helps support lung function and promote respiratory comfort, while also supporting normal vaginal health and urinary comfort. Qian Shi (Semen Euryales, Gordon Euryale seed) is known for supporting kidney function and vitality, as well as supporting digestive health. Working synergistically, they can help maintain normal lower back and knee comfort, support normal urinary function, and promote overall vaginal health. Regular consumption helps support the body’s natural defenses (zheng qi) and maintain a balanced state, enhancing the body’s ability to maintain resilience.

From Supporting Comfort to Nourishing Overall Wellness

This decoction not only focuses on supporting the body’s response to occasional wind-related discomfort but also emphasizes fortifying the body’s foundation by nourishing the digestive and renal systems. When the digestive system is robust, occasional dampness sensations may subside; when the renal system is adequately nourished, the sinews and bones maintain their strength and resilience. This combined approach of support and nourishment renders the Bai Guo (Ginkgo biloba) and Qian Shi (Euryale ferox) Wind-Dispelling Decoction particularly gentle and comprehensive, making it suitable for use as part of a balanced wellness routine over a defined period.

The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine

From the perspective of TCM nature, flavor, and meridian tropism, Bai Guo (Ginkgo biloba seed) is sweet, bitter, and astringent in flavor, neutral in nature, slightly toxic, and enters the Lung (LU) and Kidney (KI) meridians. Its primary supportive actions include helping maintain lung function, promoting respiratory comfort, supporting normal vaginal and urinary health, and promoting urinary comfort. In Qu Feng Tang (Wind-Dispelling Decoction), Bai Guo serves a dual role of supporting the body’s natural astringent functions while also promoting comfort and circulation. It helps the body maintain healthy qi and simultaneously supports natural elimination of occasional wind-related discomfort.

Semen Euryales (Gordon Euryale seed) is sweet and astringent in taste, neutral in nature, and enters the Spleen and Kidney meridians. Its core actions are to support spleen health and occasional dampness, and to support kidney function and vitality. The astringent quality of Semen Euryales helps support normal bowel function, while also avoiding the cloying and stomach-obstructing nature of some supporting herbs, making it highly suitable for individuals seeking digestive comfort. When paired with Semen Ginkgo (Ginkgo seed), one helps support lung and kidney function, while the other helps support spleen health and occasional dampness. Together, they construct a supportive network that addresses both comfort and foundational wellness.

Synergistic enhancement in compatibility

The soup is often accompanied by small amounts of ginger and red dates, which are both medicinal and edible herbs. Ginger, pungent and warm, can help promote warmth and comfort, support digestion, and also help the body’s natural processes while supporting comfort from occasional wind and cold. Red dates, sweet and warm, support digestive health, nourish vitality, and promote relaxation, and can harmonize the properties of the other herbs, making the entire soup formula more balanced. Together, these ingredients help support comfort from occasional cold, support spleen health and occasional dampness, and support kidney health, so that occasional discomforts are eased, and overall vitality is nourished.

Individuals Who May Find This Soup Supportive

This soup is particularly suitable for individuals seeking joint comfort and ease of movement, especially those who notice occasional sensations of heaviness or stiffness in rainy or overcast weather. It provides beneficial dietary support for age-related joint comfort in middle-aged and elderly populations, as well as for the sensation of bodily heaviness resulting from prolonged residence in damp environments. Office workers who sit for extended periods with sluggish circulation may also find support for occasional shoulder and neck stiffness by consuming this soup in moderation.

For those seeking to support spleen and kidney function, normal vaginal health, normal urinary function, and overall vitality, as well as individuals looking to support immune health, occasional sweating, and overall resilience, consuming this soup also brings benefits. By nourishing the digestive and renal systems, it supports the body’s natural ability to maintain balance, reducing occasional loss of essential substances. Over time, this helps support a more robust constitution, making it more resilient and less susceptible to occasional external stressors.

Contraindicated Populations

Ginkgo seeds contain small amounts of naturally occurring compounds; therefore, pregnant and breastfeeding women should use with caution or avoid consumption to prevent potential effects on the fetus or infant. Infants and preschool children, whose liver and kidney functions are not yet fully developed, are also not suitable for consuming this soup. Additionally, individuals with allergic reactions to Ginkgo or Gordon Euryale seeds should be prohibited from consumption.

Those with a constitution prone to heat sensations, such as frequent dry mouth and tongue, dry stools, red face and eyes, scanty dark urine, as well as those experiencing occasional damp-heat sensations, should not take this decoction, as its astringent nature may aggravate such sensations. During periods of acute discomfort such as fever or respiratory symptoms, consumption should also be paused until the body returns to balance before considering use. Additionally, the dosage of Ginkgo semen (Bai Guo) should not be excessive; 10–15 grams per dose is appropriate to support safety.

Proportion of ingredients in the formula.

Ginkgo semen (ginkgo seed, dry): 15 g
Euryales semen (Gordon euryale seed, dry): 30 g
Zingiberis rhizoma recens (fresh ginger): 3 slices (approx. 6 g)
Ziziphi jujubae fructus (red date, pitted): 5 pieces (approx. 15 g)
Pork spine or lean pork: 200 g (for vegetarian option, substitute with Dioscoreae rhizoma (Chinese yam) 100 g)
Water: 1500 ml
Salt: appropriate amount (for final seasoning)

The above is the standard proportion for one person consuming over two consecutive days, or for 2-3 people for one day. For Bai Guo (Ginkgo biloba seed), it is recommended to select high-quality dried products with intact shells and plump kernels. For Qian Shi (Euryale ferox seed, also known as Gordon Euryale seed), choose those with uniform granules, white color, and no mold. The proportion of all ingredients can be slightly adjusted according to individual constitution and taste, but the amount of Bai Guo should not be arbitrarily increased.

Cooking Method

Step 1: Preparation. Crack open the shell of the ginkgo seeds, remove the seed coat, and extract the kernels for later use. Carefully remove the green embryo inside the ginkgo kernels to reduce their potential toxicity. Quickly rinse the Gordon Euryale seeds once with clean water to remove any dust, then soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes until slightly softened. Wash and slice the fresh ginger. Wash the Chinese red dates and remove the pits.

Step 2: Ingredient preparation. Cut the pork spine bones or lean pork into small pieces. Place in cold water in a pot, add two slices of fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale). Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off any foam, then remove and rinse with warm water to remove blood and fishy odor. For a vegetarian version, simply peel and cut Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita, Shan Yao) into chunks.

Step 3: Simmer the soup. Place the prepared Ginkgo seeds (Ginkgo biloba semen), softened Fox nuts (Euryale ferox semen), fresh ginger slices (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens), red dates (Fructus Jujubae), and blanched meat together in a soup pot. Add 1500 ml of clear water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 90 minutes, until the ingredients are tender, the soup turns slightly milky white, and a rich aroma is released.

Step 4: Seasoning and finishing. Five minutes before turning off the heat, add an appropriate amount of table salt for seasoning. Note that salt should not be added too early, as it may affect the extraction of active constituents from the ingredients and the flavor of the soup. Finally, remove the ginger slices and any excess floating oil, then ladle into soup bowls and serve warm.

Drinking Tips

1. It is recommended to take it continuously for 3–5 days as a small cycle, then pause for 2–3 days before resuming. There is no need for long-term uninterrupted use; allow the body time for digestion, absorption, and self-regulation. Consuming it 2–3 times per week is sufficient to support general wellness. Excessive intake may be harder to digest.

2. This soup should be consumed warm 1–2 hours after meals. Drinking it on an empty stomach may cause stomach discomfort. Avoid excessive consumption before bedtime to prevent increased nocturia from disturbing sleep. Ginkgo seeds (Bai Guo, Semen Ginkgo) are best consumed during the daytime to support natural digestion.

3. During consumption, one should maintain a light diet and avoid raw, cold, greasy, and spicy-stimulating foods to prevent compromising the absorption and benefits of the decoction. At the same time, it is advisable to engage in moderate warming exercises, such as walking and Baduanjin (Eight Section Brocade), which help promote the circulation of qi and blood and support the body’s natural comfort.

4. If used to support occasional joint discomfort, the decoction residue (Ginkgo seeds and Fox nuts are edible) can be wrapped in gauze. After allowing it to cool slightly, apply it as a warm compress to the areas of occasional stiffness. The combination of external application and internal consumption often yields supportive comfort benefits.