photo: Herbal Chicken Soup
In tropical climes, the flu season usually coincides with the onset of the rainy season. During this period, the elderly will cook bowls of steamy savory chicken soup for the young ones. But does it really help?
The widespread faith in the healing properties of the humble chicken broth has led to several studies. A widely cited study was conducted by Dr. Stephen Rennard of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who concluded that chicken soup essentially helps reduce cold symptoms by inhibiting the movement of neutrophils1. A properly cooked chicken soup with additional vegetables and herbs also contain a lot of nutrition; it helps with hydration and is flavorful enough to entice those feeling under the weather to take more than a sip.
And when it comes to the health and tonic soups, the Chinese take them very seriously. They have soup for all occasions and all sorts of ailments.
Basic Chinese Healing Chicken Soup
One of the most basic Chinese healing chicken soup includes simmering a whole chicken with two to three cloves of garlic, some ginger root and turmeric, till the chicken meat is falling off the bones. It is a Chinese belief that garlic can prevent and treat colds and flus. Fresh ginger contains anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that help ease symptoms of flu, while Turmeric is generally considered an immune booster.
Double-boiled Chicken with Silver Ear Fungus and Wolfberries
The best of nourishing Chinese soups is prepared using the double boiling method, characterised by submerging a ceramic pot in an outer pot of boiling water. The heat from the boiling water slowly cooks the ingredients within the ceramic pot. It may take up to five hours to properly cook and extract the flavors from the ingredients, but it does not compromise the texture of the ingredients used. A favored flu prevention recipe using this technique is to double boil the chicken parts with bones paired with silver ear fungus and wolfberries. The Chinese believe that silver ear fungus helps to fortify the lungs while wolfberries have anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.
(1) The Science of Chicken Soup (October 12, 2007), Tara Parker Pope, The New York Times