Got Bloat? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Has Solutions.

If you’ve ever finished a meal only to unbutton your jeans for some relief - or woken up still feeling like you’re carrying a food baby - you’re definitely not alone. The bloat struggle can be very real, and very common, often leaving us uncomfortable in our clothes, and at odds with our digestion.

What can make bloat particularly frustrating is its unpredictability. Some days your favorite foods digest just fine; whereas other days they leave you sluggish and distended. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach to understand and treat bloat - by identifying the root of what’s happening inside your body.

TCM’s Take on Bloat:

In TCM, bloat isn’t just an isolated symptom, it’s seen as a larger part of a deeper imbalance within the body’s organ systems and energy flow or Qi. These imbalances may include:

• Qi Imbalance in the Liver and Spleen: According to TCM, the Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi and Blood, while the Spleen transforms food into the nutrients and energy that your body requires. Bloating can occur when either our Liver Qi becomes stagnant or our Spleen Qi becomes deficient.

• Excess Dampness: Over time, poor eating habits, like overindulging in alcohol, greasy, fried, sugary, or overly rich foods, can overwhelm the Spleen. This can lead to a buildup of “Dampness” or phlegm in the digestive system, which may manifest as bloating, fullness, and sluggish digestion.

• Too Much Cold: In TCM, our digestion is powered by our “digestive fire.” Eating too many cold, raw foods (like salads, smoothies, ice cream or iced drinks) weakens our digestive fire, and over time, can extinguish it entirely. This can result in impaired digestion, nutrient absorption issues, and more bloating.

How to Beat Bloat, the TCM-Way: 

1. Eating to Support Digestion: In TCM, it’s not just about what you eat, it’s about how well your body digests it. To alleviate bloat, it’s important to prioritize foods that are easy to digest, and that can restore internal balance.

Foods to Favor: 

• Warming spices like turmeric, ginger, peppermint, fennel seeds (anti-inflammatory and known to relieve bloat)

• Digestive-supporting fruits like papaya, pineapple and bananas (they contain digestive enzymes and soluble fiber to support proper movement)

• Lightly-cooked vegetables (cooking your vegetables make them more bioavailable and easier to digest)

• Broths, stews, and soups (hydrating + soothe and support the gut lining) 

Foods to Avoid: 

• Too many raw or cold foods (ice cream, salads, juices, smoothies, iced drinks)

• Fried, greasy, or overly sweet foods

• Excess dairy and alcohol

2. Eat Mindfully: Your body digests best when you’re calm and relaxed. TCM encourages practicing mindful eating habits, such as:

• Eating slowly and chewing your food thoroughly

• Stopping when your satiated, not stuffed

• Sitting down to eat in a relaxed environment

• Eating at regular meal times each day 

3. Herbal Support for Daily Digestion: when paired with proper diet and lifestyle, herbal supplements can be extremely beneficial - and fast-acting - in naturally reducing bloat. WTHN’s Daily Digestion supplement is a doctor-formulated blend that features clinically-studied herbs, including:

• Organic Ginger & Licorice: soothe the digestive tract

• Organic Hawthorn, Fennel & Wild Yam: help reduce bloating, support nutrient absorption, and promote regularity

• Organic Codonopsis: to boost metabolism

Why it works: This herbal formula is your everyday ally to assist with bloat, sluggish digestion or that too-full feeling. Daily Digestion works naturally to keep your digestion calm, and in flow. 

4. Acupuncture for Bloating Relief: If dietary changes aren’t quite enough to combat your bloat - or if you’re seeking a deeper level of healing - acupuncture can offer personalized relief.

Benefits of acupuncture: With individual treatment, a licensed acupuncturist can assess your pulse, tongue, and general symptoms to provide personalized insight and treatment. Your healer can then address the root cause of your bloating, and target specific acupuncture points for your needs - whether that’s Qi stagnation or deficiency, excess Dampness, or digestive fire deficiency.

Bloating is common, but it doesn’t have to be:

With a few key habit shifts, plus support from TCM tools like herbs and acupuncture, relief is possible. WTHN is here to help you reclaim your post-meal comfort and feel lighter, energized, and more in tune with your body. Ready to banish bloat for good? Try our Daily Digestion formula or visit us in-studio for a personalized acupuncture session.