Indigestion is extremely common—especially during festive seasons, holidays, or social gatherings when we tend to eat more, eat quickly, or enjoy richer and oilier foods. Symptoms can be obvious, like stomach discomfort, or more subtle, such as:

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, these signs often point to an imbalance in the digestive system—what TCM refers to as the Middle Jiao or Earth element. While these terms may sound poetic, they describe very practical and tangible digestive functions that map closely to what we understand about gut health from our lived experience and western medicine.

Understanding the Middle Jiao

In TCM, the digestive system is viewed like a kitchen:

If the pot is too full, the stove too cold, or the chef too tired, the whole system slows or gets overwhelmed. This is where common TCM digestive patterns come from.

Here’s how these patterns translate into real, relatable experiences:

Middle Jiao (Earth) Deficiency

Plain-language equivalent: Your digestive system is running on low battery.

This may show up as:

• Feeling full quickly

• Tiredness after eating

• Loose stools

• Bloating that worsens as the day goes on

• Craving sweets

• Low appetite

It’s similar to operating all day with your phone stuck on 10%—you can function, but you don’t have much power for extra processing. Stress, overthinking, long-term fatigue, irregular meals, and too many cold/raw foods can all weaken this system.

Food Stagnation

Plain-language equivalent: A traffic jam in your digestive tract.

This can feel like:

• Over-fullness

• Upper abdominal discomfort

• Belching

• Reflux

• Nausea

• A tight, bloated feeling

This often happens after eating too fast, overeating, eating under stress, or consuming heavy, greasy foods. The digestive “kitchen” becomes overloaded.

Damp Accumulation

Plain-language equivalent: Sluggish, sticky digestion—like too much moisture slowing everything down.

Symptoms include:

• Bloating

• Fatigue

• Foggy thinking

• A heavy sensation in the body

• Loose stools or mucus

• Slow or difficult digestion

Dampness commonly arises from sugar, dairy, greasy foods, alcohol, or eating late at night.

Rebellious Stomach Qi

Plain-language equivalent: Instead of digestion moving downward, things move up.

Meaning:

• Reflux

• Belching

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Hiccups

Stress, overeating, pregnancy, or certain foods can disrupt the Stomach’s natural downward flow.

How TCM Approaches Indigestion and Gut Health

TCM takes a holistic view of digestion, considering not only what you eat but also how you eat, your stress levels, constitution and daily habits. Treatment aims to relieve immediate discomfort while strengthening the digestive system long-term so it processes food more efficiently.

Acupuncture for Indigestion and Bloating

Acupuncture may help support gut health and ease symptoms by:

• Strengthening the Middle Jiao

• Supporting the Stomach and Spleen

• Moving stagnant Qi

• Reducing Dampness

• Calming rebellious Stomach Qi

People often report improvements such as reduced bloating, better appetite regulation, less nausea or reflux, and more comfortable digestion overall.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Digestive Support

TCM herbal formulas are customised to the individual’s digestive pattern. Common herbs used to support gut function include:

• Shan Zha (Hawthorn berry): helps reduce food stagnation

• Shen Qu: promotes digestion

• Bai Dou Kou (Cardamom): warms the Middle Jiao, transforms Dampness, descends Qi, helps stop vomiting

• Chen Pi (Aged mandarin peel): regulates Qi, dries Dampness, supports the Spleen

• Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel): warms the Middle, regulates Qi, alleviates pain

• Bai Zhu: strengthens the Spleen and dries Dampness

• Sheng Jiang (Fresh ginger): warms the Middle Jiao, harmonises the Stomach, reduces nausea

Chinese Medicine Home Remedy for Indigestion

For mild, occasional indigestion, many people find relief from simple homemade teas using everyday ingredients like mandarin peel, ginger, fennel seeds, cardamom, or cloves.

When to Seek Further Support

Occasional indigestion is normal. But if symptoms occur frequently or affect your daily comfort, your digestive system may need more support. A personalised TCM consultation—including acupuncture and/or Chinese Herbal Medicine—can help address the root cause, not just the symptoms.

By strengthening the Middle Jiao and restoring balance, many people notice improvements not only in digestion but also in energy, mood, immune function, and overall wellbeing.

If indigestion or bloating is something you deal with regularly, consider seeking guidance from a qualified TCM practitioner for comprehensive and personalised support.