2 TCM soups for stubborn cough
Why Coughs Linger After Illness
After flu or pneumonia, many people struggle with lingering cough, weak energy, or slow recovery. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these issues are often linked to lung, spleen, and kidney deficiency. Supporting qi and yin while clearing phlegm is key.
Signs of Deficiency Related Cough
• Dry cough without phlegm, or sticky phlegm that is hard to expel
• Cough triggered by talking too much or exposure to cold air
• Shortness of breath, chest tightness, or itchy throat
• Night sweats, dry mouth, or fatigue after long illness
Soup 1: Tiger Milk Mushroom Soup
Ingredient: Tiger milk mushroom (tiger milk lingzhi), popular in Southeast Asia for easing coughs, especially in children
Recipe: 10 g tiger milk mushroom, 5 g tangerine peel, 10 g apricot kernels, 50 g lean meat. Stew into soup
Effect: Relieves cough and asthma, regulates qi, and clears phlegm
Soup 2: Niu Dali (Southern Ginseng) Soup
Ingredient: Niu Dali, sweet and neutral, enters the lung, spleen, and kidney meridians. Strengthens tendons, nourishes lungs, and supports recovery
Recipe: 20 g Niu Dali, 20 g dried yam, 3 figs, 200 g pork ribs. Stew into soup
Effect: Strengthens spleen, replenishes qi, moistens lungs, and relieves cough
Final Thoughts
By using these two soups, TCM helps restore strength, ease persistent cough, and support long-term immunity.