Lily Bulb, Ginkgo, and Sesame Soup: A TCM Lung-Nourishing Recipe

Lily Bulb, Ginkgo Seed, and Sesame Seed Soup: An Introduction to Medicinal Diet

Introduction to Medicinal Diet

Lily Bulb, Ginkgo Seed, and Black Sesame Soup is a traditional TCM medicinal diet designed to moisten the Lung and calm the Spirit, with Lily Bulb (Lilium brownii), Ginkgo Seed (Ginkgo biloba), and Black Sesame (Sesamum indicum) as core ingredients. The formula originates from the ancient principle of “Lily Bulb Strengthens Metal” combined with “Ginkgo Seed Astringes the Lung,” and has been refined through folk dietary therapy, offering both moistening and nourishing effects.

The soup has a milky white color and a smooth, creamy texture, with the rich aroma of sesame seeds and the refreshing sweetness of lily bulb. It is a nourishing delicacy ideal for the dry seasons of autumn and winter, as well as the warm-dry periods of spring. Easy to prepare with readily available ingredients, it is highly favored by those who value food-based health cultivation (食疗养生).

The Origin and Evolution of Medicinal Diet

The earliest recorded culinary use of lily bulb (Lilium brownii), ginkgo seed (Ginkgo biloba), and sesame seed (Sesamum indicum) together appears in folk dietary records from the Jiangnan region of China. Subsequently, through the collation of modern nutritionology and Traditional Chinese Medicine, this combination has become a classic soup with medicinal and edible homology. The formula emphasizes the balance of “clearing, moistening, and tonifying,” making it particularly suitable for deficiency-heat vexation caused by staying up late and climatic dryness in modern individuals.

Efficacy of Medicinal Diet

Lily Bulb, Ginkgo Seed, and Sesame Seed Soup has three prominent effects: moistening the Lung to stop cough, nourishing Yin to calm the spirit, and moistening the Intestines to unblock the bowels. Long-term consumption can improve dry cough with scanty sputum and dry, itchy throat due to Lung dryness, and also has a good regulating effect on irritability, insomnia, and constipation due to intestinal dryness.

From a nutritional perspective, Baihe (Lilii Bulbus, Lily Bulb) is rich in mucilage and various alkaloids, which can enhance the defensive function of the respiratory mucosa; Baiguo (Ginkgo Semen, Ginkgo Seed) contains ginkgolides that improve microcirculation; and Heizhima (Sesami Nigrum Semen, Black Sesame) is rich in oils and vitamin E, helping to nourish the skin and delay aging. These three work synergistically to achieve the overall harmonizing effect of “nourishing the internal organs internally and brightening the skin externally.”

Advantages of Seasonal Health Maintenance

This soup is particularly suitable during autumn and spring. In autumn, the dryness pathogen prevails and easily damages the lung fluids; this soup can effectively counteract “autumn dryness.” In spring, wind-warmth tends to invade the lung-defense aspect; moderate consumption can clear and moisten to prevent dryness, avoiding dry mouth and sore throat in the initial stage of warm disease.

Functions of Traditional Chinese Medicine

TCM considers Bai He (Lily Bulb) to be slightly cold in nature and sweet in flavor, entering the Heart (HT) and Lung (LU) meridians. It has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening the Lung, clearing the Heart and calming the mind, making it an essential herb for chronic cough due to Lung yin deficiency and vexation with palpitations from deficiency patterns. The *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) records that Bai He can “calm the Heart and stabilize the Gallbladder, benefit the mind and nourish the five Zang-organs.”

Bai Guo (Ginkgo biloba seed, also known as Ginkgo nut) is neutral in nature, sweet and bitter in taste, slightly toxic, and enters the Lung Meridian (LU). It astringes the Lung to arrest wheezing, stops leucorrhea, and reduces urination. In this decoction, Bai Guo primarily functions to restrain Lung Qi, stop cough, and calm wheezing. Together with Bai He (Lilium brownii, Lily bulb), with one opening and one closing, they jointly regulate the Lung’s dispersing and descending functions.

Black sesame is neutral in nature, sweet in flavor, and enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It tonifies the Liver and Kidney, benefits essence and blood, and moistens intestinal dryness. In this soup, black sesame not only adds a rich, mellow texture to the preparation but also assists in nourishing the Lung by supplementing Kidney essence, reflecting the TCM therapeutic principle of “Metal and Water mutually generating” (Jin Shui Xiang Sheng). When combined with the other two ingredients, the formula collectively moistens the Lung, calms the Heart, and benefits the Kidney.

Target Population

This soup is especially suitable for the following groups: first, office workers who are frequently in air-conditioned environments or dry climates, presenting with dry throat, dry cough, and dry skin; second, women around the perimenopausal period who suffer from vexation, insomnia, tidal fever, and night sweats due to Yin deficiency with effulgent fire; third, middle-aged and elderly individuals experiencing habitual constipation caused by fluid depletion and intestinal dryness.

In addition, for adolescents who experience mental strain due to heavy academic workloads and excessive mental exertion, as well as individuals suffering from persistent cough during the recovery phase of chronic pharyngitis or bronchitis, moderate consumption may also provide beneficial adjunctive support. The soup is mild in nature and can be consumed 2–3 times per week as a daily health maintenance measure.

Recommendations for Special Constitutions

Individuals with Yin deficiency constitution (slim build, dry mouth and throat, red tongue with scant moisture) and Qi stagnation constitution (prone to depression, chest tightness and rib distension) are particularly suitable, as it effectively improves the condition of “upper dryness and lower deficiency”.

Contraindicated Populations

_Ginkgo biloba_ (Bai Guo) contains small amounts of ginkgolic acid and bilobol. Raw or excessive consumption may cause toxicity; therefore, it is absolutely contraindicated in individuals allergic to _Ginkgo biloba_ and in infants. Additionally, this soup is not suitable for those with Wind-Cold Cough (manifested as a heavy, turbid cough with thin, white sputum, nasal congestion, and clear nasal discharge) or those with severe Spleen-Stomach Yang Deficiency (manifested as loose stools, aversion to cold, and cold extremities).

Since the decoction contains a high amount of oils from Sesamum indicum (black sesame) and Lilium brownii (lily bulb) is cool in nature, patients with chronic Spleen and Stomach deficiency prone to diarrhea, or those with Phlegm-Dampness Excess (manifesting as obesity, thick greasy tongue coating, copious sticky phlegm) should reduce the dosage or use with caution. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to consult a TCM practitioner before use. The dosage of Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo seed) must be strictly controlled within a safe range.

Ingredient Formula Ratio

The following is an exact gram ratio for 1-2 servings: 60g of fresh Lilium brownii (lily bulb) or 20g of dried lily bulb, 15g of Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo seed, with shell, approximately 6-8 pieces), 15g of Semen Sesami Nigrum (black sesame seed), and 10g of rock sugar. If using dried lily bulb, it must be soaked in clean water for at least 2 hours in advance.

Supplementary ingredients: 600 ml of clean water. Optionally, add 2 pitted jujubes (Ziziphus jujuba) to harmonize the medicinal properties, or add 5 g of goji berries (Lycium barbarum) to enhance the vision-improving effect. For black sesame (Sesamum indicum), select plump, mold-free, fresh seeds from the current year. Before use, lightly toast over low heat to release more aroma.

Ingredient Proportion Instructions

The ratio of Lily Bulb (Bulbus Lilii) to Ginkgo Seed (Semen Ginkgo) should be maintained at approximately 4:1 (based on fresh Lily Bulb), ensuring a clear-moistening effect while avoiding excessive astringency from the Ginkgo Seed. The amount of Black Sesame Seed (Semen Sesami Nigrum) should not exceed that of Lily Bulb, to prevent an overly greasy taste.

Preparation method

**Step 1: Pre-process the ingredients.** Fresh lily bulbs (Lilium brownii/bulbus lilii) – separate the scales one by one, wash thoroughly, and remove any discolored or withered tips. Ginkgo seeds (Semen Ginkgo) – remove the hard shell, peel off the brown inner seed coat, and use a toothpick to extract the green embryo (core) to eliminate most of the toxicity. Black sesame seeds (Semen Sesami Nigrum) – wash and drain well.

Step 2: Toast the black sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum). Place them in a dry pan (without oil) and stir-fry over low heat until they slightly puff up and release a fragrant aroma (about 2 minutes). Immediately transfer to a blender, add 200 ml of water, and blend into a smooth sesame paste. For a grainier texture, pulse briefly to retain some crushed bits.

Step 3: Prepare the soup base. Place ginkgo seeds (Semen Ginkgo) and lily bulbs (Bulbus Lilii) into a clay pot or stainless steel pot. Add 600 ml of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes until the lily bulbs become soft and the ginkgo seeds become glutinous. Note: The ginkgo seeds must be thoroughly cooked to decompose toxic components.

Step 4: Combine and season. Pour the blended sesame paste into the pot, stir gently to mix evenly, and continue cooking over low heat for 5 minutes to prevent sticking. Finally, add rock sugar and stir until fully dissolved, then turn off the heat. If using red dates (jujube) or goji berries, add them during the last 10 minutes.

Drinking Tips

1. Drinking temperature and rhythm: This soup should be consumed warm. It is best taken in the morning and evening on an empty stomach, one small bowl each time, approximately 200 ml. If too cold, it tends to damage the Spleen and Stomach; if too hot, it injures the esophageal mucosa. It is recommended to drink it one hour after a meal or one hour before bedtime for better absorption.

2. Key points for detoxifying Ginkgo seeds (Ginkgo biloba semen): Ginkgo seeds must be thoroughly cooked, and the daily intake for adults should not exceed 10 seeds (after shelling). Raw consumption is strictly prohibited. Use with caution in children, pregnant women, and those with liver and kidney insufficiency. Cooking with the lid open helps some toxic substances to evaporate with steam.

3. Personalized Modifications: If cough is prominent, add 3g of *Fritillaria cirrhosa* (Chuanbei) during simmering; if constipation is severe, increase black sesame (*Sesamum indicum*) to 20g and stir in a small amount of honey (add only after the soup cools to below 60°C). Additionally, adjust the dosage of *Lilium brownii* (Baihe) according to the season: increase to 80g during dry autumn, reduce to 40g in summer, and supplement with a small amount of *Vigna radiata* (Lü dou) cooked together.

4. Storage and Reheating: This decoction is best prepared and consumed fresh. If a larger quantity is made, it may be refrigerated for no more than 24 hours. When reheating, it must be brought to a full boil; do not use a microwave directly, as this may degrade the medicinal constituents. During storage, avoid metal containers to prevent oxidative discoloration.