Respiratory & Cold

Chicken Soup ('Jewish Penicillin')

Colds, flu, weakness, convalescence

AilmentsColdsFluWeaknessConvalescence

Chicken Soup ('Jewish Penicillin') — traditional remedy ingredients

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Region

Middle East / Mediterranean / China (disputed)

Tradition

Jewish tradition (Maimonides); also Greek, Chinese

Era

2nd century CE–present, codified 12th c. by Maimonides

Science

Yes

Today

Widely Practiced Today

Instructions

Ingredients

Whole chicken or bone-in chicken pieces: 1 whole chicken (3 to 4 lbs), or 2 lbs bone-in thighs/breasts

Water or chicken broth: 8 to 10 cups

Onion: 1 large, chopped

Carrots: 2 to 3, sliced

Celery: 2 to 3 stalks, chopped

Garlic: 3 to 4 cloves, minced

Fresh ginger: 1 tablespoon, grated (optional but traditional for extra cold relief)

Fresh herbs: thyme and parsley

Bay leaf: 1

Salt and black pepper: to taste

Noodles or rice: 1 cup (optional)

Step-by-Step

Start the broth: Place the chicken in a large stockpot and cover with water or broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.

Skim off any foam that rises to the surface for a clearer broth.

Add vegetables: Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, ginger, bay leaf, and herbs.

Simmer uncovered for 45 to 90 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and the broth is flavorful.

Remove and shred chicken: Take the chicken out, let it cool slightly, then remove the meat from the bones and shred it. Discard the bones and skin.

Finish the soup: Return the shredded chicken to the pot. If using noodles or rice, add them now and simmer until tender (about 5 to 10 minutes).

Season and serve: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Tips

Cultural variants: add lemon and beaten egg at the end for a Greek avgolemono-style soup; add lime and coconut milk for a Thai-style version; add matzo balls for the classic Ashkenazi Jewish version.

For extra cold-fighting punch, some modern versions add roasted garlic, cayenne pepper, or turmeric.

Make ahead: the flavor deepens overnight — refrigerate and reheat the next day for an even more comforting bowl.

Traditional logic

Warm broth & nutrients believed to restore strength.
A 2000 University of Nebraska Medical Center study found chicken soup has a mild anti-inflammatory effect, inhibiting movement of certain white blood cells (neutrophils).

Background & history

Cultural variants: Greek adds lemon & egg (avgolemono); Thai uses lime & coconut; Southern U.S. adds dumplings; Ashkenazi Jewish adds matzo balls. 

Where it comes from

Middle East / Mediterranean / China (disputed)

Highlighted on the map: France, Israel, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Iran and 16 more

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This is a historical and cultural reference, not medical advice. Many of these remedies have never been scientifically validated, and folk reasoning (humoral theory, “hot/cold” classifications, spiritual causation) reflects older explanatory traditions rather than modern medicine. Ratings reflect community opinion, not clinical evidence.

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