Toward the end of the year, many of us tend to celebrate with friends and family all season long. These annual festivities are often accompanied by rich meals or appetizers at parties, indulgent holiday desserts, possibly imbibing a bit more than typical, and burning the midnight oil to avoid FOMO.
Whatever your plans this holiday season, Chinese medicine practices can help you harmonize your mind and body, balance indulgent celebrations, and recover quickly from the festivities.
Using tools from your spice rack, your bar, and tapping into your own body will get you there!
Starting with the spice and/or tea cabinet:
Let’s make sure you have fennel seeds and licorice root on hand. Adding fennel seeds to meat will make it more digestible (and tasty!) plus it can support digestion and relieve bloating. If you really enjoy the taste of fennel, just pop some seeds in your mouth and chew!
Making tea with licorice root will settle indigestion after a big meal and it offers a lovely sweetness that can scratch that after-dinner itch.
Additionally, fresh ginger or even powdered ginger in hot water will make a spicy, warming tea and soothe nausea. It’s especially great alongside fish, too, and is said to limit an upset stomach from the same.
If you’re using dried licorice or ginger root, it can be helpful to let them simmer for a bit in hot water to draw out all of the medicinal properties.
Next, learn from both Italian and Chinese cuisine:
Use bitter flavors to balance digestion, especially alongside richer dishes. If you are imbibing, mix up a Campari and soda for a bitter helper, or if you prefer less alcohol, citrus bitters with soda work just as well. If you prefer a mix of bitter with light sweetness, try a sip (or a few!) of Fernet.
Don’t forget to tap into your own body to note how you feel:
Did your energy tank an hour after hitting the dessert table? Maybe you had some trouble falling or staying asleep after the gathering?
What goes up – your blood sugar – must come down, and you may wake in the middle of the night after a big meal feeling wrecked! If you really have trouble returning to sleep, try eating a handful of nuts and return to bed. A few deep breaths and a cup of chamomile tea can be soothing to both mind and body as well.
Then, plan on enjoying a smaller amount in the future and be sure to limit eating sweets close to bedtime. Alcohol also affects energy and sleep, so remember to hydrate, eat before imbibing, and keep an eye on the frequency of your toasts with friends and family.
Lastly, get moving to get things moving:
Some light movement right after a larger meal and gathering can work wonders in assisting digestive function with the added bonus of helping settle the mind. Before cozying up on the couch or getting in your car to head home, try a short walk around the block. If it’s too cold to go outside, a few slow trips up and down the stairs would be beneficial.
Hopefully these small practices will support you during this season! If you start to notice some digestive sluggishness or irritability, bloating, cramping, nausea, or general discomfort, please don’t hesitate to book an appointment! You don’t have to suffer through the holiday season. We’re here to help.
Author: Winslett Carr, LAc, MSAOM. Learn more about Winslett here and check out a previous post: Before, During, and After Acupuncture: Tips for How to Feel Your Best
