Chinese Medicine for Thanksgiving Food Coma!
By the Acuworx Team
Thanksgiving, a time to give thanks and enjoy family & friends! It’s also a time many of us overindulge with food & drink. Below are useful tips by our acupuncturist, to help manage nausea, bloating, and gas!
BEFORE YOUR MEAL
Prime the intestinal tract with digestive bitters to help your body secrete gastric juices. These herbs increase enzymatic functions and optimize peristalsis (the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract) for better digestion of a heavy meal.
DURING YOUR MEAL
Remember to chew your food! When food smells delicious, you just want to inhale it! I get it, we’ve all been there. But saliva has enzymes that break down carbs. Chewing your food thoroughly allows enzymes to incorporate with food and break down large pieces before stomach muscles get to it. Do your stomach a favor and don’t give it such a large task :)
AFTER YOUR MEAL
I know, the first thing you want to do is lay down and go into a food coma. Try something different and take a walk with your family! A leisurely stroll after eating helps stimulate acupuncture points along the shin bone. These points have functions to move the large & small intestines.
Also, try this herbal formula for stagnant food. This classic Chinese herbal formula has been used for centuries due its effectiveness for overeating and drinking.
THE AFTERMATH OF A BIG MEAL
We all know what comes after a big meal... sometimes the boat floats slowly down the river… other times it flows quick like the rapids! If your bowel functions still haven’t regulated after a few days, or you have a history of IBS, come in for an acupuncture treatment to see how Chinese Medicine can help. Research concluded in this meta-analysis show that acupuncture exhibits clinically and statistically significant control of IBS symptoms.
Happy Thanksgiving from the Acuworx Team!