Have you looked up “how to boost digestion” into Google?
Let me save you the trouble…
Without the word “natural”, you’ll get a bunch of articles for whatever “fantastic new supplement (or diet)” that will apparently solve everybody’s problem.
And with the word natural? Well, you’ll probably get…
Exactly the same thing, but with the word “natural” on it. Real helpful, right?
In Classical Chinese Medicine, there’s a different perspective on how to keep digestive functions working at their most efficient.
Together, the Spleen and Stomach govern digestion.
When both are functioning optimally, the body is able to absorb, transform, and disperse the usable nutrients and energy to the rest of the organs and body.
However, it’s not just the digestion of food that this system is responsible for.
On an emotional and spiritual level, the Spleen and Stomach also absorb and digest the thoughts and emotions that we hold on to.
So, when it comes to properly caring for your digestive organs…
Here’s 4 Tips To Boost Your Digestion
1. Don’t Multitask During Meals
A meal is supposed to be pleasant, right? It’s something that should not only be healthy, but given your full focus and attention.
Because our Spleen and Stomach absorb both nutrients and our thoughts, anything that removes focus from eating to thinking will put extra strain on these organs in particular.
Allow yourself time to truly enjoy the moment, and the food – instead of reading, looking at your phone, watching TV, or working at the same time.
2. Eat Seasonal Ingredients
One central philosophy in Classical Chinese Medicine is being in harmony with nature, and with your own surroundings.
Eating the local and seasonally grown vegetables and taking part in the natural cycle of things in the area that you live is one of the best ways to do just that.
The natural cycle of things has provided every living thing with the correct source of nutrients, and there’s no reason for that to have stopped.
3. Hearty Breakfast, and Light Dinner
Your Qi – along with everybody’s – moves in a cyclical pattern around the body.
What this means is that different organ systems function optimally at different times of the day.
The optimal time for your Spleen and Stomach is between 7:00AM and 11:00AM, so try to eat the majority of food for the day within that window.
Late night snacks are especially stressful on the Spleen and Stomach, and frequently can cause indigestion.
If indigestion is more of a round-the-clock issue for you, I recommend learning more about my Restore the Digestion formula.
4. Consume Cold or Raw Foods in moderation
To transform what we eat into usable nutrients and energy for the body, our digestive organs require heat and warmth.
Cooked foods are much easier to digest because, instead of dampening our “digestive flame,” the flames are nurtured, and stoked by the infused warmth.
Any food that is cold to the touch or raw takes up extra energy, and can slow the digestive process, so it is recommended that you chew these food until they are warm and more easily digestible.
That is why sushi is typically served with the warming wasabi and ginger.
Tonic Herbs That Nourish Qi and Digestion
While these four tips will help to boost digestion for almost any person dealing with some minor symptoms of digestive imbalance, it’s possible for a chronic imbalance to leave lasting energetic damage.
Even completely re-thinking one’s diet and exercise may, at times, need some extra support.
There’s no one pill that’s going to solve everything, but…
Luckily, ancient medical practitioners have discovered and catalogued many herbs and functional foods that could help to balance and replenish the vital energies in the body, restoring balance, flow, and circulation.
These are things like herbs, plants, and other foods that can be included in your diet, to aid in preventing a deficiency, excess, or stagnation of your energy.
What we do here is follow tried and true processes that extract and concentrate these beneficial plants and compounds into something that’s more convenient and easier to consume on a regular basis.
Be well,
Dr. George
