TCM Recipes to Ease Food Stagnation — Gentle, Warming Support After a Holiday Feast

After a big Thanksgiving meal, it’s normal to feel bloated, heavy, or sluggish — classic signs of Food Stagnation (食积) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). When your digestive system becomes overwhelmed, Qi has a harder time moving smoothly, leading to fullness, discomfort, and sluggish digestion.

TCM uses simple, warming, easy-to-digest recipes to help the body reset. These remedies support your Stomach and Spleen, move Qi, and ease the feeling of being “stuck” after overeating.

Why Warm Recipes Help Your Digestion

In TCM, good digestion depends on the strength of your Spleen and Stomach Qi, which prefer warmth.

When digestion is overwhelmed by heavy, greasy, or cold foods, Qi slows down — leading to stagnation.

Warm foods and teas help because they:

✔ Support the Spleen’s transformative function

✔ Help Stomach Qi move downward smoothly

✔ Reduce bloating and heaviness

✔ Prevent the system from becoming “cold” and sluggish

✔ Encourage circulation and Qi movement

✔ Are easier to digest than raw or cold foods

Warm nourishment acts like a gentle “boost” to help your body recover after overeating.

1. Chen Pi Ginger Tea

A warming, Qi-moving tea that reduces bloating and fullness.

Ingredients

• 1 small piece dried tangerine peel (chen pi)

• 2–3 slices fresh ginger

• 2 cups hot water

Benefits

• Chen pi moves stagnant Qi and eases bloating.

• Ginger warms the middle and supports downward movement of Qi.

How to Make

1. Combine chen pi and ginger in a cup.

2. Pour in hot water.

3. Steep for 5–10 minutes and sip warm.

2. Simple Digestive Congee

A gentle, nourishing recipe to give your Stomach a rest.

Ingredients

• ½ cup rice

• 4–5 cups water

• Few slices of ginger (optional)

• Few pieces of goji berries (optional)

• Salt to taste

Benefits

• Congee is extremely easy to digest.

• Ginger gently warms and moves Qi.

• Goji berries nourish the liver and kidneys, support healthy eyes, boost immunity, and promote overall vitality.

How to Make

1. Add rice, water, and ginger to a pot.

2. Simmer until creamy (about 40–50 minutes).

3. Add goji berries and salt.

3. Daikon & Carrot Soup

A light soup that breaks down stagnation and clears fullness.

Ingredients

• 1 cup daikon radish, chopped

• 1 carrot, chopped

• 3–4 slices ginger

• 3 cups water or light broth

• Salt to taste

Benefits

• Daikon helps clear stagnation, especially after heavy meals.

• Carrot supports digestion and adds gentle sweetness.

• Ginger boosts Stomach Qi.

How to Make

1. Add all ingredients to a pot.

2. Bring to a boil, then simmer 15–20 minutes.

3. Season lightly.

4. Warm Lemon Water

A simple way to activate digestion without overwhelming it.

Ingredients

• Warm water

• 1–2 slices lemon

Benefits

• Warmth supports Stomach/Spleen function.

• Lemon encourages gentle movement of Qi and refreshes digestion.

How to Use

Sip in the morning or after a big meal.

5. Bao He Wan (保和丸)

A classic formula for relieving fullness and digesting heavy foods.

Benefits

Helps with:

• Bloating

• Feeling stuck

• Nausea or belching

• Meat-heavy meals

• Food stagnation

Note

Always consult a licensed practitioner before using herbs to ensure they’re appropriate for your constitution.

Give Your Digestion a Gentle Reset

All these recipes help warm the digestive system, move Qi, and relieve heaviness — making them ideal for Thanksgiving, holiday gatherings, or any time you’ve eaten a little too much.

Your body doesn’t need punishment after a big meal — just gentle support and warmth.

Stay tuned for Post 5: Bao He Wan — Your Holiday Digestion Herbal Ally.

Read the full series on the Acu Hour Blog.