Relieve Long COVID with 5 Chinese Medicine Soup Recipes

Although many people who contracted COVID-19 recovered and the Omicron variant results in milder symptoms, you should not ignore the post-COVID-19 condition or long COVID. They may last longer than you imagine. As shown on news coverage and social media, many experienced different health problems after the recovery, such as shortness of breath, respiratory discomfort, and diarrhea, adversely affecting their daily life.

According to the World Health Organisation, common symptoms of long COVID include fatigue, shortness of breath, deprived sleeping quality, and deteriorated concentration. Recently, a Life Science company and application from the UK published a statistics, called ZOE COVID Symptom Study, showing that 1 in 4 experience memory problems (brain fog) after recovering from Omicron. Brain fog is an occasional cognitive impairment characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, dizziness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity. Apart from lowering one’s ability to work, it may develop into Parkinson’s disease in severe cases. A recent study from the CUHK revealed that over 75% of Hongkongers show post-COVID-19 conditions.

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, long COVID is the consequence of incomplete recovery. ‘Endogenous wind,’ ‘heat,’ and toxins remain in the body, leading to a series of prolonged symptoms, similar to those caught a cold before. Moreover, coronavirus invades the lungs directly and impairs body fluid. Having the right dietary supplement regarding your long COVID symptoms can help condition your body and have better rehabilitation. You can take a look and try making the soup below at home to relieve your discomfort after getting COVID-19.

Hairy Fig, Yam, Corn, and Lentils Soup with Lean Pork

Effect: Strengthen the spleen and ‘qi.’ Relieve shortness of breath. Fight tiredness. It is suitable for those feeling fatigued or lacking energy after the recovery.

Ingredients (Portion for 1-2 persons):
30g of hairy fig, 20g of yam, 15g of corn silk, 15g of fried lentils, and 30g of lean pork

Steps:

1. Boil the lean pork in water.
2. Wash the hairy fig, yam, corn silk, and fried lentils for preparation.
3. Pour 8 bowls of boiled water with all the ingredients together. Boil on low heat for 1.5 hours.

Sherry, Glehnia Root, and Solomonseal Fungus Soup

Effect: Nourish the lungs and clear sputum. For those with respiratory discomfort.

Ingredients (Portion for 1-2 persons):
20g of glehnia root, 20g of solomonseal fungus, 2 sherries with the skin, 12g of apricot kernel, 20g of lily, 25g of lotus seeds, 12 ginkgos, 3-5g black fungus, 1 tangerine peel, 10 Chinese water chestnuts and ½ white turnip (with the skin)

Steps:

1. Wash and soak the tangerine peel for 1.5 hours. Put it aside after peeling.
2. Wash the sherries, scoop the cores, and cut them into four pieces for preparation.
3. Wash the glehnia root, solomonseal fungus, and apricot kernel and soak them for 5mins.
4. Put all the ingredients in boiling water and add more water to cover all the foods. Turn to low heat for another hour after boiling.

Night Blooming Cereus, Polygonatum Macropodum, Apricot Kernel, and Fig Soup with Pork Shoulder

Effect: Clear sputum and stop coughing. Good for those with an itchy throat and respiratory discomfort.

Ingredients (Portion for 1-2 persons):
10g of night-blooming cereus, 10g of polygonatum macropodum, 10g of apricot kernel, 2 figs, and pork shoulder

Steps:

1. Wash and boil the pork shoulder.
2. Wash and soak the other ingredients.
3. Add all the ingredients to boiling water before adding 2.5L of water. Turn to low heat after boiling and heat for another hour.

Pilose Asiabell Root, Astragalus Root and Yam Lung-Nourishing Soup

Effect: Strengthen and nourish the spleen, lungs, and liver. Fight fatigue after recovering from COVID-19.

Ingredients (Portion for 1-2 persons):
30g of pilose asiabell root, 30g of astragalus root, 15g of yam, 60g of chestnut, 1 carrot, 1 corn, 1 tangerine peel, 3 slices of ginger and 5 red dates

Steps:

1. Wash and soak the tangerine peel for 1.5 hours. Put it aside after peeling.
2. Pit the red dates.
3. Wash all the ingredients.
4. Add all the ingredients to boiling water before adding 2.5L of water. Turn to low heat after boiling and heat for another hour.

Kapok and Frangipani Tea

Effect: Clear heat and remove dampness. For those with loss of appetite.

Ingredients (Portion for 1-2 persons):
20g of kapok, 20g of frangipani, and water

Steps:

1. Soak the kapok and frangipani for 5 mins
2. Add the kapok and frangipani into boiling water and then boil with low heat for 10 mins. Filter and add sugar for flavoring.

Besides, Gingko House, a local social enterprise promoting employment for the elderly, also provides the above soup for free to those recovered from COVID-19. Apart from dietary supplementation, you should maintain your personal hygiene, wash your hands, drink more water, and get enough sleep and rest to condition your body after recovery.