Good Digestion: A TCM Perspective

How do you feel in every day? Do you have steady energy? Are you able to focus when you need to? Sometimes, it’s hard to know what our body needs, but an excellent first step to understanding your body is to understand digestion.

In TCM, digestion is the foundation of health. When it’s strong, you feel energised, clear headed and balanced. But an imbalanced digestive system is not only uncomfortable but can be emotionally draining. Healthy and balanced digestion helps us to feel at our best and maintain good health.

What is the TCM Digestive process?

The main organs involved with digestion in TCM are the stomach, spleen, small intestines, and large intestines. The TCM process of digestion slightly differs from the Western Medicine concept. Food and liquid first enter the stomach, where they get broken down with moisture (digestive juices) and warmth. The semi-digested food then enters the Spleen where the transportation and transformation (T/T) functions help to separate the pure part of food from the turbid. The pure food essence is transported to the Lungs, Heart and Brain to assist in creating qi, blood circulation and mental activities. The turbid is transported to the small and large intestines for further digestion and elimination. The liver aids the digestive process by ensuring qi is flowing freely and the passages remain unblocked, while the gallbladder releases bile to aid digestion of fatty food. The kidney provides warmth for the digestive process.

We can think of the TCM digestive system as a pot on the stovetop. The stomach is the pot that receives food for digestion. The kidneys are the stove that produces the fire. The fire refers to the yang qi produced by the spleen and kidney. If any of these components are not functioning correctly, then your digestion will be affected. An imbalanced digestive system can lead to symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, reflux, flatulence, diarrhea and more.  

TCM T/T Function

What is good digestion?

In TCM, good digestion occurs when your body can effectively and efficiently extract pure substances from food and expel the turbid or the wastes. For optimal digestion to occur, the stomach requires moisture and warmth, while the spleen requires dryness. If the stomach is too dry or too cold, it will need more energy and qi to break down food. If the spleen has too much moisture or dampness, this will weaken the ability to perform its T/T function. A weakened T/T function means we do not effectively and efficiently digest and absorb nutrients from the food we eat. Undigested food builds up as fat and can block the flow of qi and vital substances. 

Balance is also an essential aspect of digestion. Over-eating can overwhelm our digestive system and lead to symptoms such as frequent or irregular bowel motions, frequent urination, disturbed sleep or weight gain. In contrast, under-eating leads to a lack of energy, as there are not enough nutrients to create vital substances. You may experience symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, poor sleep and loss of appetite. 

Good digestion not only refers to the state of our physical body but also the behaviours we adopt in and around food. For example, if we slump over while we eat, this poor posture can lead to blockages, and food is likely to become stuck. These blockages of food can lead to acid reflux or flatulence. Therefore, it is also vital to create good eating habits before, during, and after eating.

What can I do to aid my digestion?

Limit the consumption of heavy, greasy, fatty or fried foods as this requires more energy to digest. This theory also applies to cold foods such as salads, smoothies or soft drinks. Cold foods tend to require more energy to break down as the stomach needs to heat the contents before breaking them down.

For poor digestion, TCM recommends a “clear and bland” diet of warm/cooked foods that are neutral in flavour, temperature and properties. If you’re feeling bloated after eating, go for a light walk. This gentle movement will help your qi to free flow and aid digestion.

It is also essential to maintain balance. When I was younger, I noticed every meal my mom cooked for us had a few meat dishes (both red and white meat), vegetables and rice. Now that I am older (and cooking for fewer people), I try to incorporate meat and vegetables into every meal and balance them using the colour and flavour of food. You can read more about the properties of food here.

Another simple way to aid digestion is to drink tea! There are so many different types of tea that can help digestion in many different ways. Ginger tea helps warm the centre for bloating after meals, while peppermint tea or green tea has a cooling effect for more heavy, greasy, decadent meals.

Digestion plays a big part in how we feel daily, so listening to what your body is trying to tell you is essential.

If you need support for your digestion, call us on (08) 6285 7529 or book a consultation online.