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Showing posts from 2025

3 Day Sleep-Optimizing Meal Plan (TCM and Chrono-Nutrition)

  📅   This plan prioritizes a substantial breakfast, a nourishing lunch, and a light, early dinner, avoiding heavy, cold, or highly stimulating foods near bedtime. Day 1: Nourishing the Digestive Fire Time Slot Meal/Focus Example Meal TCM/Chrono Rationale 7:30 AM (Stomach Meridian Active) Warm, Substantial Breakfast Warm oatmeal or congee (rice porridge) cooked with water/milk, topped with cinnamon and walnuts. Warmth supports stomach Qi. Protein/fiber stabilizes blood sugar after a cortisol peak. 1:00 PM (Spleen/Stomach Peak) Main Meal: Balanced Lunch Chicken and vegetable soup with brown rice. Protein and complex carbs for midday energy. Digestion is strong at this time. 4:00 PM (Energy Dip) Light, Warming Snack A small piece of cooked pumpkin or sweet potato. Naturally swee...

Foods to AVOID before bed for better sleep: Diet Timing & TCM Secrets

  The quest for a perfect night's sleep often focuses on mattresses, room temperature, and screen time. But what if one of the biggest disruptors is sitting right on your dinner plate—or eaten right before bed? From a modern nutritional standpoint, the timing and composition of your food critically impact blood sugar, digestion speed, and hormone balance (like cortisol and melatonin). In fact, the science of Chrono-nutrition shows that eating late at night is associated with metabolic disorders and poor sleep quality. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), an ancient practice focused on balance and natural rhythms, reinforces this, viewing nighttime eating as a disruption of the body’s essential energy flow. Here is a guide to the most time-critical foods, blending modern science with the wisdom of TCM, to help you achieve restful, restorative sleep. 🍽️ Nighttime Nuisances: Foods to Avoid Before Bed TCM emphasizes the importance of the body transitioning from an active Yan...

Managing Wellness and Beauty: The Holiday Hurdle

  Every year, I see a pattern in my clinic: patients return with added weight after some breaks or holidays from routine maintenance/ treatments. who've been maintaining steady weight and wellness suddenly return after the holiday season with added weight and disrupted routines. The holiday season is a joyful whirlwind, but it often feels more like a marathon than a celebration. If you find yourself battling holiday stress , perpetual fatigue, and the dreaded 'sugar slump,' you’re certainly not alone. The key to successfully Managing Wellness and Beauty: The Holiday Hurdle isn't about strict deprivation—it's about finding fundamental balance. From a holistic wellness and TCM perspective, we’ll dive into the ancient wisdom of the Five Elements to reveal exactly how the holiday traps impact your body’s core systems. You'll learn simple, effective solutions to strengthen your digestive Earth , keep your emotions flowing with Wood , and preserve the vital ener...

10 TCM Herb Teas You can Safely Drink like Water!

  10 TCM Herb Teas You Can Safely Drink Like Water All Day Long (Zero caffeine, gentle, deeply nourishing – perfect for menopause & daily Yin maintenance) 1.     Goji Berry Tea (Gǒu Qǐ Zǐ Chá) Lightly sweet, nourishes Liver Blood & Kidney Yin. The #1 daily tea in most Chinese households. ★ Best for: Dry eyes, night sweats, glowing skin, gentle energy without stimulation. How: 8–15 berries in hot water, steep 5–10 min, eat the berries too.                                                             2.     Red Date + Longan Tea (Hóng Zǎo + Lóng Yǎn Ròu) Classic Blood & Heart-nourishing combo. Calms Shen, improves sleep quality, sweet and warming....