Soups for feeling under the weather

First, which kind of cold? Cantonese cooks split it in two: chilly and sniffly gets warming pots, hot and scratchy gets cooling ones.

Traditional home cooking, not medical advice. Check with your doctor, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, or on medication.

The house rules

Chills, clear runny nose, want a blanket? Ginger and scallion are the traditional warm-up.
Hot, dry, scratchy throat? Pear and other cooling bowls are the go-to, but not if you have chills.
Hold the ginseng and other tonics until you’re better: tradition says they lock the cold in.
High fever, trouble breathing, or not getting better? That’s a doctor, not a soup.