Does stress cause phlegm and dampness, and increase visceral fat? Traditional Chinese Medicine: 4 dietary suggestions and medicinal baths to help fight stress-induced obesity

For people with stress-induced obesity, stress hormones (cortisol) will constantly tell the brain to store fat for emergency use, so the appetite increases and they become addicted to high-calorie foods, causing excessive accumulation of pathological products such as phlegm and blood stasis in the body. These accumulated fats are particularly concentrated around the internal organs, waist and hips, and upper body.

TCM treatment principles for stress-induced obesity

Therefore, the first step in treatment is to remove excess phlegm and dampness from the body. When it comes to medicinal materials, you should choose those that can remove phlegm, resolve turbidity and reduce fat for treatment. Since this type of stress-type patients like to eat heavy-tasting food on a daily basis, the drugs they choose will be those that soothe the liver and relieve depression, clear stomach fire, and stabilize emotions. However, Chinese medicine practitioners will identify the syndrome based on changes in the patient's physical condition before prescribing appropriate medicines for treatment.

[Chinese herbal medicines that help remove phlegm, reduce turbidity and reduce fat]

● Tangerine peel, gualou, laifuzi, pinellia, thunbergia, perilla seed, white mustard seed, red peony root, safflower, panax notoginseng, hawthorn, salvia miltiorrhiza

[Chinese herbal medicines that help relieve liver depression, clear the stomach and relieve heat, and calm the mind]

● Bupleurum, mint, knotweed, cassia seed, rose, coptis root, dandelion, scutellaria, lotus seed core, ophiopogon, lotus leaf, rhubarb, lily, spiny jujube seed, poria, night clover, julibrissin bark

●Dietary suggestions for people with stress-induced obesity

1. Eat small and frequent meals

Patients with excessive stomach fire are prone to feeling hungry due to excessive gastric acid secretion. It is recommended that they eat small meals frequently to avoid eating too much food at one time, which will cause further damage to stomach function, greater hunger and stomach noise, and greater appetite. The best amount for one meal is to be 60-70% full.

2. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and drink more water to prevent constipation

People with a stress-type constitution are prone to constipation. Eating enough fruits and vegetables can effectively relieve constipation. However, you must choose fruits that are not too sweet to avoid consuming too much sugar and affecting your weight.

3. Eat more foods that nourish the liver and reduce stomach fire

Lily, lotus root nodes, chrysanthemum, bitter gourd, asparagus, tomato, winter melon, water chestnut, grapefruit, white radish, mung bean, grapefruit, etc. are all foods that nourish the liver and reduce stomach fire. It is recommended to eat more of them.

4. Avoid eating foods that are too irritating or hot.

Try to avoid consuming stimulating, high-calorie, high-fat foods such as curry, pepper, chili, grilled and fried foods, coffee, wine, longan, lychee, durian, shochu chicken, ginger duck, etc.

●Stress-relieving bath

Medicinal Bath

Medicinal materials: 1 liang of rose, 5 qian of mint, 1 liang of grapefruit peel, 5 qian of lavender, 5 qian of chamomile, and 5 qian of lotus leaf.

practice:

(1) Place grapefruit peels, lotus leaves, mint leaves, lavender, chamomile, etc. into a cotton bag and tie it tightly.

(2) Fill the bathtub with hot water and place the cotton bag filled with herbs in it and soak for about 10 minutes.

(3) After the aroma of the medicinal herbs has been released, add an appropriate amount of cold water and finally add the rose petals.

Efficacy: Eliminate tension, relieve stress, eliminate fatigue, improve insomnia symptoms, promote circulation, accelerate detoxification, and eliminate edema.

This article comes from the book "Slimming for a Healthy Body: A Lifetime Bible of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Slimming [Newly Revised • Healthy Upgraded Edition]" on Creative Market.