Best Chinese Remedies for Weight Management
TCM views excess weight as accumulation of dampness and phlegm due to spleen qi deficiency. Rather than calorie restriction, treatment strengthens the spleen's transforming function, resolves dampness, and moves stagnant qi.
Recommended Teas
Pu-erh (Ripe/Shou)
普洱熟茶 · Dark
Aids digestion and fat metabolism, Warms the stomach, Lowers cholesterol, Resolves dampness
Pu-erh (Raw/Sheng)
普洱生茶 · Dark
Clears heat (young), Aids digestion, Antioxidant-rich, Improves gut health
Dragon Well (Longjing)
龙井 · Green
Rich in antioxidants, Clears heat, Aids digestion, Brightens the mind
Tieguanyin (Iron Goddess)
铁观音 · Oolong
Aids digestion, Promotes relaxation, Rich in polyphenols, Clears the mind
Recommended Foods
Winter Melon
冬瓜 · Dōng Guā
Promotes urination, Drains dampness
Barley (Job's Tears)
薏米 · Yì Mǐ
Drains dampness, Strengthens spleen
Hawthorn Berry
山楂 · Shān Zhā
Promotes digestion, Resolves blood stasis
Acupressure Points
足三里 · Stomach
Four finger-widths below the kneecap, one finger-width lateral to the shinbone (tibia). You'll feel a small depression.
丰隆 · Stomach
On the outer lower leg, midway between the knee crease and the outer ankle bone, two finger-widths lateral to the front edge of the shinbone.
中脘 · Ren
On the midline of the abdomen, halfway between the navel and the lower end of the breastbone (xiphoid process), about four finger-widths above the navel.
三阴交 · Spleen
Four finger-widths above the inner ankle bone (medial malleolus), behind the shinbone (tibia) on the inner leg.
气海 · Ren
On the midline of the lower abdomen, about 1.5 finger-widths below the navel.
Traditional Herbs
- ● Lotus leaf (荷叶 Hé Yè)
- ● Hawthorn (山楂 Shān Zhā)
- ● Cassia seed (决明子 Jué Míng Zǐ)
- ● Pu-erh tea (普洱茶 Pǔ Ěr Chá)
Consult a qualified TCM practitioner before using medicinal herbs.