The stomach's function is to receive and break down food and liquids before passing the absorbed nutrients to the spleen for further transformation.
In the Five Element Theory of Chinese Medicine, the stomach is associated with the Earth element which is about nourishment. The Yang organ of the stomach meridian has a common imbalance of being in excess. If you can imagine how the stomach is like a container that takes in and stores food, and if it doesn't process and digest properly, it can accumulate in the stomach and cause digestive issues like indigestion, bloating, burning, and stomachache.
The therapeutic approach focuses on purging and clearing the stomach meridian in Late Summer or in between transitions of seasons, or if there is an imbalance in the stomach like belching, acid reflux, stomach ulcer, or bad breath. Another factor that affects the stomach is the kind of thoughts we digest every day which turn into emotions that can either nourish us or cause illness. An important question to ask yourself "How are you digesting life?"
Stomach energy peaks at 7am - 9am, which is when the stomach meridian is on duty. This is the time for:
△ eating a healthy and hearty breakfast
△ warm meals high in nutrient
△ good concentration
△ walking
Practices to nourish your stomach Qi: Spend time each day to clear all undigested thoughts and emotions, and conversations you have with others so you can make space for digestion to take place. Having warm food and liquid which is the same temperature as your internal environment can support your stomach to digest more easily. Tune into your gut instinct to help you with making clear decisions.
The key to nurturing your stomach Qi is to have a smooth flow of energy in the stomach meridian and the suggested practices that I created this month in the Online Healing Studio is specifically to help Yang Sheng for your stomach meridian.
If you are ready to journey into the Yang Sheng way, join me in my Online Healing Studio!
May you be filled with good Qi,
Carol x