Bob, as a Chinese, I perfectly understand your recipe but I haven't tried the type of chicken soup you wrote about. For those who love chicken, I think it is necessary to take away the skin before cooking to avoid too much fat in the soup. I prefer using lean meat in the soup. Judging from the ingredients, I don't think you guys in US can get hold of the herbs. For me I eat a lot of different types of fresh fungus, mushrooms and strawmushrooms. Stir fry or boil them in soup with some meat. Very cheap and available in supermarkets.Easy to cook and swallow too!

Karen stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnose in 9/01.