The festive season is just around the corner! A time filled with celebrations, gatherings, and plenty of good food and drinks with family and friends. While the holidays bring joy, they can also leave your body feeling exhausted even before the New Year begins.
Bloating after meals, poor digestion, breakouts, bad sleep, or constant tiredness are all very common during festive periods. From a TCM point of view, this often happens when our eating habits, sleep routine, and internal balance are disrupted all at once. The good news is, with a few simple tips, you can enjoy the celebrations without feeling completely drained.
Below are some practical TCM tips to help you get through the festive season more comfortably.
1. When Festive Eating Gets a Bit Too Much
Yes, we all know festive food is hard to resist. Rich, oily dishes, desserts, and heavier meals at almost every gathering.
In TCM, overeating especially greasy or sweet food puts extra pressure on the Spleen and Stomach. When digestion slows down, food doesn’t move smoothly, leading to what we call food stagnation.
This often shows up as:
- Bloating or a tight, uncomfortable stomach
- Indigestion or acid reflux
- Irregular bowel movements
- Feeling heavy or sluggish
A. Simple Acupressure for Digestion
These are points you can massage at home to support digestion, especially after a heavy meal.
Zhong Wan point
Where: About five finger-widths above the belly button.
How: Use your thumb or your index and middle finger together. Massage gently in circular motions for 3–5 minutes.
Qi Hai point
Where: About two finger-widths below the belly button.
How: Massage gently in circular motions for another 3–5 minutes.
Do this once or twice a day, or after a big meal.
B. Herbal Teas That Help After Overeating
After oily or heavy food: Hawthorn Tea
Hawthorn is commonly used in TCM to help break down heavy food and ease digestion.
Ingredients:
- Hawthorn: 4–5 pieces
- Rose buds: 5–6 pieces
- Poria: 10g
How to prepare:
Rinse all the herbs, place them in a tumbler, and add 500ml of hot water. Let it steep for 15–20 minutes. You may add a little rock sugar or honey if needed.
For bloating and indigestion: Dried Tangerine Peel Tea
This combination helps move qi and reduce bloating.
Ingredients:
- Dried tangerine peel: 5g
- Chinese yam: 10g
- Malt barley: 15g
How to prepare:
Rinse the herbs and steep in 500ml of hot water for 15–20 minutes. Add rock sugar or honey if you prefer.
C. Acupuncture Support
If overeating happens repeatedly over the festive period, acupuncture can help regulate digestion, reduce stomach discomfort, balance stomach acid, and improve bowel movement.
D. Abdominal Tuina (TCM Massage)
Abdominal tuina focuses on specific acupoints and meridians to improve circulation to the digestive organs. This helps relieve bloating, ease acid reflux, and restore smoother digestion.
2. Late Nights and Festive Gatherings
Festive season also means sleeping later than usual be it catching up with friends, family gatherings, or long mahjong sessions.
In TCM, sleeping before 11pm is considered important for Liver recovery. When we stay up late often, the Liver is forced to work overtime. Over time, this may lead to:
- Mouth ulcers
- Acne or frequent breakouts
- Bad breath
- Dark eye circles
- Feeling tired even after sleeping
A. Acupressure to Clear Heat and Refresh the Body
These points are useful when you feel tired, heated, or mentally drained after late nights.
He Gu point
Where: In the webbing between the thumb and index finger. (aka tiger mouth)
How: Press firmly with your thumb for 5 seconds, release, and repeat 10–15 times.
Bai Hui point
Where: At the top of the head, where the centre line meets the line connecting the tops of both ears.
How: Massage gently in circular motions using your index and middle fingers for 3–5 minutes.
B. Herbal Teas for Late Nights
Chrysanthemum Tea
Helpful for clearing heat, soothing tired eyes, and reducing internal tension.
Ingredients:
- Chrysanthemum: 10g
- Monk fruit: ¼ to ½ piece
- Liquorice root: 4g
How to prepare:
Add all ingredients to a pot with 500ml of water. Once boiled, continue simmering for another 10 minutes, then strain and serve.
Mint Leaf Tea
Refreshing and useful for clearing heat and easing fatigue.
Ingredients:
- Mint leaves: 3–5g
- Goji berries: 10g
- Liquorice root: 3g
How to prepare:
Rinse the herbs, place them in a tumbler, and add 500ml of hot water. Steep for 10–15 minutes. Add rock sugar or honey if desired.
C. Gua Sha (Scraping Therapy)
Gua sha on the head, neck, shoulders, and upper back helps release stagnant qi, clear heat, and relax the body. Many people find it especially helpful when stress and poor sleep start to show on the face.
D. Acupuncture and Facial Treatments
Acupuncture helps restore balance, clear internal heat, and improve sleep quality. Facial acupuncture or facial gua sha can also support issues like dark circles, eye bags, and breakouts that tend to appear after repeated late nights.
The festive season is meant to be enjoyed. With a bit of awareness and some simple TCM support, you can take care of your body while still making the most of the celebrations and start the New Year feeling refreshed, not exhausted.