Soups for getting your energy back

Once the fever’s gone, it’s tonic time: ginseng, codonopsis and slow-simmered chicken are the classic pick-me-ups.

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

The house rules

Wait until you’re over it. Tonics during a cold or fever are a traditional no.
Run hot? American ginseng is the cooler cousin. Run cold? Asian ginseng or codonopsis.
Codonopsis is the gentle everyday one; ginseng is the big gun.

Warming and neutral tonics, gentlest first.

The traditional uses on this page, and where we read them.

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