How to Recover and Rebalance From Post-CNY Binge

Key Takeaways

• Overindulging during festive season, particularly in heaty foods and alcohol, can cause imbalances like indigestion, sore throat, and excess heat and dampness in the body.
• Rebalance with herbal remedies like roselle slimming tea for digestion and chrysanthemum to reduce internal heat. Read on for more.

The Chinese New Year holidays have come and gone, but the aftermath of indulgent feasting seems to linger. Your body could be dropping hints - a scratchy throat, bloated tummy, or a noticeable uptick on the scale. These are signs your body needs rebalancing.

Read on for some of our natural remedies for post-festive indulgence.

Indigestion, bloating and weight gain from overeating

It is hard not to succumb to temptation when surrounded by good food from all sides. Most processed foods, including your love letters, bak kwa and nong hiang, are high in fat and sugar and packed with seasoning and sodium.

Overeating brings more cons than simply weight gain; binge eating puts pressure on our gut health, leading to other health concerns such as indigestion and bloating. In TCM, overeating can cause Qi stagnation and dampness in the digestive system, while foods high in sodium can cause an imbalance in our fluid metabolism.

Rebalance and lose that weight and bloat with:

• A light diet with lean proteins and fibre-rich foods like fruits and vegetables
• Sour foods like roselle and hawthorn to soothe tummy and alleviate discomfort
• Soothing teas for the tummy, such as the roselle slimming tea and the Happy Tummy tea, aid digestion and alleviate bloating after eating
• Diuretic herbs like dandelion and Chinese barley for those who are feeling the water retention

Sore throat, coughs and inflammation from heaty foods

Festive favourites, bak kwa, pineapple tarts and the like are considered heaty foods in TCM. Excessive consumption of these delectable tidbits might result in excessive heat in your body, manifesting in symptoms such as inflamed throats, heart burns, acne breakouts and heaty coughs with yellow phlegm.

Rebalance and counter that excess yang energy with these natural remedies:

• Cooling foods like chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, green beans and watermelon, to bring down the heat
• A luo han guo throat-soothing tea to help relieve that stinging pain at the back of your throat, expel heat and reduce inflammation
• A cough relief soup to dissolve phlegm and nourish the lungs

Excess heat and dampness build-up from alcohol

Alcohol is often a part of festive dinners, but its effects can extend beyond a simple hangover. In TCM, excessive drinking can lead to the accumulation of internal heat and dampness, resulting in Qi stagnation and dehydration. This imbalance particularly affects the liver and stomach.

Rebalance and detox with:

• Natural herbal remedies such as cassia seeds with wolfberry tea to aid liver health and promote detoxification.
• Tangerine peel and liquorice root to enhance Qi flow in the digestive system and alleviate nausea.

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The information above serves as a general guide only. Please consult a certified TCM physician for a more accurate diagnosis and treatment.