You probably know that even with a healthy diet, you won’t get the nutrition you need if your digestion isn’t working at its optimum.
Many Earth-based medical systems, such as Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, place digestion at the center of health. These systems recognize that high-quality whole foods can be used as medicine to heal the body and mind.
Follow these four tips to boost your digestion and increase your energy using the wisdom of Chinese Medicine (and if you want to take it further, be sure to check out Calm and Renew online, where we dive deep into healing and strengthening digestion).
Your Digestion is Like a Fire
In Eastern medical systems, digestive function is compared to a fire. It’s said that digestion needs to stay warm to function at its best. If you tend toward weak digestion, like bloating or gas, eat more cooked foods, drink warm water throughout the day, and reduce raw and cold foods. These habits will help improve your digestive fire.
You can learn more about the thermal properties of foods here.
Consider the Earth Element and Mental Digestion
In Chinese medicine, digestion is associated with the earth element, symbolizing nourishment and grounding. The earth element refers to physical digestion and the processing of thought and experience. Many Westerners tax the earth’s element system with too many mental tasks and excess worry. When you indulge in repetitive thinking, you weaken your overall digestive Qi. If you’re working on your digestive function, consider what nourishes you and take time away from mental activity.
Learn more with this article: Feeling sluggish, heavy and bloated? Support your Spleen!
Eat Sweet
When preparing food, use a combination of flavours, with the natural sweet flavour being the most prominent. In Chinese Medicine, the sweet flavour supports digestion. Remember that the naturally sweet flavour does not include artificially sugary foods. Instead, it can be found in whole foods such as complex carbs, whole grains, legumes, and many vegetables, like these sweet fries.
Use Healing Herbal Medicine
These two herbal medicines are used in Chinese Medicine for digestion and low energy. These herbs build digestive strength when there is weakness, stress, or fatigue. They’re both very safe herbal medicines that can be used long-term. Always check with your healthcare provider when starting any new herbal medicine regimen.
Huang Qi (Astragalus propinquus) helps build digestive Qi while supporting the immune system. It’s beneficial for weakness and fatigue. It’s a safe herb that can be used long-term to build energy.
Ling Zhi (Reishi mushroom or Ganoderma lucidum) supports longevity and digestion through its strong tonic properties. It calms and soothes the heart, especially when insomnia and forgetfulness due to depletion occur. It also helps build Spleen and Lung Qi.
These are just some things you can do to support your digestion, guided by the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Want to learn more? Be sure to check out my program, Calm and Renew, to heal your digestion once and for all.
