Huang Qi Power Soup — The Liquid Shield

Huang Qi chicken soup (黄芪鸡汤, pronounced „Huáng Qí Jī Tāng“) is much more than just chicken soup. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is considered to be healing food — as the soup that „strengthens the protective shield and drives away the cold.”.

Unlike Western chicken soups, this power soup is made with Astragalus root (Huang Qi) — one of the most powerful qi tonics in TCM. The long cooking time of at least 90 minutes extracts the valuable active ingredients from bones and herbs and makes them maximally bioavailable.

This soup is not medicine in the traditional sense. It is Food that heals.

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🛡️ Wei–Qi — Your invisible protective shield

In TCM, we refer to this as Wei-Qi: the defensive energy that circulates beneath your skin like an invisible protective layer. It is your first line of defense against cold, wind, and pathogens.

If your Wei Qi is strong, intruders will bounce off. If it is weak, you will find yourself on the sofa with a cold.

This soup was developed to strengthen precisely this Wei-Qi — from the inside out, layer by layer.

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The recipe: Huang Qi energy soup

Ingredients (for 4 servings):

• 500 g chicken legs (with bones, preferably organic—that's where the essence is!)
• 15 g Huang Qi (Astragalus root, dried) — approx. 5–6 slices
• 5–6 red dates (jujubes)
• 3–4 slices of fresh ginger
• 1 small piece of spring onion
• 2 liters of water
• A pinch of salt

Optional for extra power:

• 10 g goji berries (in the last 10 minutes)
• 5 g dang gui (angelica root) — particularly beneficial for women

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Preparation:

1. Prepare the chicken: Briefly place the chicken legs in boiling water (2 minutes), drain, and rinse with cold water. This removes impurities and makes the broth clear and golden.

2. Approach: Place the chicken, Huang Qi, dates, ginger, and spring onion in a large pot. Fill with 2 liters of cold water.

3. Cook slowly: Bring to a boil, then reduce to the lowest heat setting. 90 minutes to 2 hours Simmer gently. Do not stir! The surface should remain calm — this will make the broth clear.

4. Final: Add the goji berries during the last 10 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt — that's all you need. The sweetness of the dates and the depth of the herbs carry the flavor.

5. Serving: Pour the golden broth into bowls. The meat can be eaten or used for other dishes.

🍜 What should I eat with it—and what should I avoid?

A common question! Here is the answer:

✅ MITESSEN:

• Chicken meat — tender, full of nutrients, practically falls off the bone
• The red dates — soft, sweet, delicious
• Goji berries — soft and fruity

❌ DO NOT EAT (remove before serving):

• Huang Qi slices — woody and fibrous, only suitable for boiling
• ginger slices — too intense in flavor
• spring onion — overcooked and mushy

Two variants:

As a complete meal:
Serve the broth with meat, dates, and goji berries in a large bowl. Satisfying and warming—a complete meal.

As a healing potion:
Strain the broth and drink it throughout the day (one cup in the morning before breakfast). Eat the meat separately or use it for other dishes—it's perfect for salads, wraps, or simply with rice.

🧂 Why no pepper? On the subject of seasoning

A question that often comes up: „Can I add more seasoning to the soup?“

The short answer: Please don't.

In TCM, this soup is deliberately minimalist Every ingredient has a purpose — and additional spices would disrupt the finely balanced effect.

✅ Only salt (and not much of it): Salt belongs to the water element and supports the kidneys in small amounts. A pinch at the end is enough.

❌ No pepper: Pepper is very heating and dispersing. It would undermine the restorative, nourishing effect of the soup. The gentle warmth already comes from the ginger—that's enough.

❌ No additional spices: No garlic, no herbs de Provence, no lovage. This soup is not a Western-style chicken soup. It draws its flavor from the depth of TCM herbs and the natural sweetness of dates.

The taste: If you're used to strong seasoning, the soup may taste „mild“ at first. But give it a chance. After a few spoonfuls, you'll discover its depth — the earthy warmth of Huang Qi, the sweetness of dates, the subtle spiciness of ginger. This is flavor that heals.

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🌿 The effect according to TCM

Every ingredient in this soup has a purpose:

Huang Qi (Astragalus) — The „General of Defense“:
Tones the qi, strengthens the Wei qi, and raises the yang. Huang Qi is the most important herb for strengthening the body's surface. It „closes the pores“ and prevents cold and wind from entering.

Chicken meat with bones — The nourishing basis:
Warms the middle, nourishes qi and blood. The long cooking time extracts collagen and minerals from the bones—a natural nutritional supplement.

Red dates (jujubes) — The Harmonizer:
Strengthen the spleen, nourish the blood, harmonize the other ingredients. They bring a natural sweetness that strengthens the center.

Ginger — The heat source:
Warms from within, dispels cold, opens the surface. It helps the Wei-Qi to distribute evenly.

Goji berries — The kidney tonic:
Nourish the liver and kidneys, strengthen the jing (essence). They add a deeper, nourishing component to the soup.

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🔬 What science says

Astragalus, the Latin name for Huang Qi, is one of the most widely researched herbal immune stimulants worldwide.

Studies show:

• Significant increase in natural killer cells
• Increased production of interferon (the body's own virus defense)
• Adaptogenic effect in cases of stress
• Antioxidant properties

The chicken bone broth provides collagen, glycine, and glutamine—amino acids that have been proven to strengthen the intestinal mucosa. And a healthy gut is the basis of a strong immune system.

The red dates are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and circulation-promoting effects.

It's fascinating how 2,000-year-old knowledge and modern research coincide.

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✓ Simple practical tips

✓ Quality counts: If possible, use organic chicken. Free from antibiotics and hormones — and with significantly more nutrients in the bones. TCM says: The essence of the soup is only as good as the essence of the ingredients.

✓ You can get Huang Qi: Available in Asian markets, TCM pharmacies, or online as dried slices. Look for good quality—the slices should be yellowish and firm.

✓ Vegetarian option: Instead of chicken: shiitake mushrooms (8–10 pieces), carrots, yams, and tofu. Simmer for 60 minutes. The mushrooms add umami and also strengthen the immune system.

✓ Meal prep: The soup will keep in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. Warm up a cup in the morning—the perfect start to the day!

✓ The professional trick: Drink a sip BEFORE breakfast. This will give your Wei-Qi a boost before you even leave the house.

✓ Freezing: The broth can be frozen in portions (up to 3 months). Defrost immediately at the first signs of a cold!

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Who is this soup perfect for?

✅ IDEAL for:

• Frequent colds
• Weak immune system
• Fatigue and exhaustion
• sensitivity to cold
• Spontaneous sweating (sign of surface weakness)
• After illness, for regeneration
• Prevention during the cold season

⚠️ CAUTION with:

• Acute cold with fever (first recover, then strengthen!)
• Signs of severe heat exhaustion (red face, constant thirst)
• Acute inflammation

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The recommended intake

Preventive (if you are healthy): One serving 2–3 times a week — ideally from November to March.

If susceptible: Daily for 2–3 weeks, then 2–3 times per week as maintenance.

Best time: In the morning or at lunchtime (yang time). The soup is energizing—it could interfere with sleep in the evening.

As a cure: 3 weeks daily, then 1 week break, then another 3 weeks.

💫 The deeper wisdom

The old masters said: „Wei-Qi is like a city wall. If it is strong, no enemies can penetrate it. If it is weak, the city will fall.“

This soup builds your wall—layer by layer, cup by cup.

But it does even more: it warms you from the inside when it's bitterly cold outside. It gives you strength when the days are short and dark. It is medicine and food in one — just as food should be.

An invitation

Take two hours on a quiet day. Cook this soup. Let it simmer while you read a book or listen to music. The aroma alone is therapeutic.

And then: Sit down. Take a bowl. Inhale the steam. Drink slowly.

This is not wellness. This is wisdom.

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Note: Please consult your doctor or TCM therapist if you have any existing illnesses or are taking medication.