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The festive season is upon us, and with it comes the familiar swirl of family gatherings, celebrations, and an abundance of food and drink. For many, this time of year can feel overwhelming—whether you're excited or anxious about the prospect of indulging.
If you're someone who has struggled with disordered eating, the pressure of festive food can be tricky, particularly when festive traditions encourage or reinforce disordered eating for us all. That's why it’s important to approach this time of year with plenty of compassion and self-care.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Spleen is the organ that does the heavy lifting when it comes to digestion. It’s responsible for taking the nutrients from your food and turning them into the vital stuff your body needs—like Qi, Blood, and body fluids. In other words, it’s your digestive powerhouse. But here’s the catch: when we overeat, things can get a tad messy. The Spleen struggles to handle the overload, and food starts to stagnate. This blockage messes with the flow of Qi (your body’s life force energy), which leads to stagnant Qi. And when Qi isn’t flowing freely, you’re looking at bloating, stomach aches, nausea, irregular bowel movements, mood swings, brain fog and a whole lot of discomfort. Not exactly the “holiday glow” we have in mind.
Hawthorn & Rose Tea for Gentle Digestion
If you’re feeling bloated, sluggish, or just generally “off” after overindulging, and/or consuming foods you don’t normally eat, it’s important to remember that your body can heal and rebalance itself with a little care and gentleness. That’s where Hawthorn & Rose Tea comes in. It’s an easy, soothing remedy from Traditional Chinese Medicine that can help ease digestive discomfort.
Ingredients :
10 g Dried Hawthorn
4-5 Dried Rose
2-3g Black tea
How to Make It:
1. Cut up the ingredients and place them in a teapot
2. Let steep for 20 minutes
3. Let it cool down a little before sipping.
Why It’s Helpful:
* Hawthorn is known for its ability to support digestion, especially when it comes to breaking down fatty or rich foods. It has a unique balance of sour and sweet flavours that align with the body's digestive system. The sour taste helps move stagnation and supports digestion, while the sweet taste nurtures and strengthens your Qi.
* Rose Tea offers gentle support to the Liver, which plays a vital role in processing food and emotions. Rose helps increase bile production, which can make digestion feel a bit easier when things feel heavy or sluggish. It also has a calming effect on the mind, which can be comforting if you’re feeling anxious after eating.
* Black Tea, if you choose to add it, can further support digestion and help promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria and immunity.
In addition to gentle abdominal massages, applying acupressure to certain points on the body can help soothe bloating and indigestion. These key acupoints are thought to support the Stomach, Intestines, and other digestive organs, helping to restore balance and ease discomfort in a nurturing, non-invasive way
DIY Acupressure for Abdominal Relief
Applying acupressure to certain points on the body can help soothe bloating and indigestion. One of my favourite acupoints for this is Zhong Wan/CV 12 which helps to restore balance and ease discomfort in a nurturing, non-invasive way.
Location : Approximately 10 cms directly above the umbilicus.
How to Massage:
Using one or two fingers, gently massage the Zhong Wan acupoint in a soft, circular motion. Be sure to apply light pressure—don’t press too hard.
Massage for 2-3 minutes, allowing your body to relax and unwind.
CV 12 or Zhong Wan is known for its ability to support the digestive system by strengthening the Stomach, fortifying the Spleen, and helping to regulate Qi. It’s commonly used to address digestive discomforts like stomach aches, bloating, and indigestion, promoting overall digestive harmony.
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