👉🏻 Most of the time in every acupuncture treatment, acupuncturists consider it essential to ask their patients about their digestive system function.
📌 Why is gut health important?
👉🏻 Growing research on the gut microbiome shows it is connected to virtually every organ system in the body. More specifically, the health of the gut microbiome has been linked to emotional and mental health, as well as healthy immune function.
📌 How TCM deal with Digestive System?
👉🏻 From a TCM perspective, the digestive system lies within what we refer to as the “Middle Jiao” or the center of the abdomen. It relates mainly to the Stomach and Spleen meridian and organ systems and includes the Liver, Large Intestines, and Small Intestines.
The proper functioning of these organ systems ensures the transformation of food into energy and nourishment. Any imbalance or disharmony in these organ systems is thought to lead to suboptimal digestion. Since all body organs and channel systems are related to each other in Eastern medicine, healthy digestive function is essential for the part of the other systems as well.
📌 Foods to focus on
👉🏻 If you are currently experiencing digestive distress, choose simpler warm and cooked foods. From a TCM perspective, warm and cooked foods are more accessible for the body to digest. While raw fruits and vegetables are nutritious and valuable, they can be more difficult for the body to break down, leading to possible bloating and discomfort. Try roasting, steaming, or sautéing your vegetables.
📍 Herbs to balance your gut health
⚡️ Ginger root is a well-known stomach aid with high concentrations of gingerol, a phytochemical that helps reduce indigestion, improve nausea, and support the breakdown of food.
⚡️ Chinese Hawthorn Berry helps regulate cholesterol and blood pressure and is rich in prebiotic enzymes that are great for our microbiome.
⚡️ Chinese Licorice Root is rich in glycyrrhizin, an active compound that relieves indigestion, heartburn, and upset stomach.
❤️ Eat healthy, balanced meals and aim to eat as natural and organic as possible to avoid pesticides and other chemicals. Emphasize whole foods over packaged and processed foods. Stay hydrated and drink fluids between meals. Hydration is necessary for proper digestion and elimination.