5 Things You Didn’t Know About Digestion According to Traditional Chinese Medicine

When you think about digestion, you might picture enzymes breaking down food or the microbiome doing its magic. But Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a different and surprisingly insightful lens through which to understand how we digest, absorb, and transform food into energy. And as modern research catches up, we’re discovering that this ancient framework holds more truth than we once thought.

Here are five things you might not know about digestion according to TCM, along with tips to support your digestive health, plus why acupuncture could be the missing piece in your gut-healing journey.

1. Digestion Begins with the Spleen (Not the Stomach)

In TCM, the Spleen and Stomach are the central organs of digestion, not because of their anatomical roles, but because they govern the transformation and transportation of food and fluids. The Spleen, in particular, is responsible for extracting the essence (nutrients) of food and distributing it throughout the body.

Think of the Spleen as the metabolic engine: if it’s weak, digestion slows, fatigue sets in, and dampness (fluid retention, bloating, or mucus) accumulates.

👉 Modern connection:
A 2021 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology highlights how gut microbiota and digestive enzyme activity are deeply influenced by stress and diet—echoing TCM's Spleen Qi theory. A sluggish digestive process in both frameworks leads to poor nutrient assimilation and systemic fatigue.

Try this:

• Avoid cold, raw foods, which “dampen” the Spleen and slow digestion.

• Opt for warm, cooked meals—think soups, stews, and gentle spices like ginger and cinnamon.

2. Your Emotions Directly Impact Your Gut

In TCM, each organ system is linked to a specific emotion. The Spleen relates to worry and overthinking. Too much mental rumination “knotting” the Qi (energy) can weaken the digestive system, leading to bloating, poor appetite, or loose stools.

👉 Modern connection:
The gut-brain axis is now well-documented. Chronic stress and anxiety activate the HPA axis, disrupting gut motility, microbiota composition, and even intestinal permeability. A 2017 paper in Nature Microbiology describes how psychological stress can lead to dysbiosis and inflammation—much like what TCM calls "Spleen Qi deficiency with dampness."

Try this:

• Take a mindful pause before meals: a few deep breaths or a moment of gratitude can calm your nervous system.

• Limit multitasking while eating to enhance digestive focus.

3. Chewing Thoroughly Strengthens Your Qi

In TCM, digestion is a process of "ripening and rotting" led by the Stomach, but it starts with proper chewing. This allows the Stomach Qi to descend smoothly and helps the Spleen transform nutrients more efficiently.

👉 Modern connection:
Chewing not only breaks down food physically but also triggers enzymatic release in saliva, which begins the digestion of carbohydrates. A 2011 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that increasing mastication reduced post-meal blood sugar spikes and improved satiety.

Try this:

• Aim to chew each bite 20–30 times.

• Set your fork down between bites to slow the pace of eating.

4. Cold Drinks Can Harm Your Digestive Fire

The concept of "digestive fire" is central in TCM. Cold drinks and raw foods are said to "extinguish" this fire, weakening your body's ability to process meals efficiently. This can lead to symptoms like abdominal bloating, loose stools, fatigue after eating, or a feeling of fullness without overeating.

👉 Modern connection:
Cold temperatures can slow gastric emptying and inhibit enzyme function. Research published in Appetite (2014) found that cold beverages impaired digestion more than room-temperature or warm ones, especially in sensitive individuals.

Try this:

• Choose warm or room-temperature beverages.

• Add ginger or lemon to warm water to gently stoke digestive fire.

5. "Dampness" Is a Hidden Cause of Bloating and Sluggish Digestion

In TCM, dampness refers to the accumulation of untransformed fluids, which can manifest as bloating, a heavy body sensation, brain fog, loose stools, or even yeast overgrowth. It often arises from inconsistent dietary habits, weak Spleen Qi, or overconsumption of sugar and dairy.

👉 Modern connection:
From a biomedical perspective, excess sugar and processed foods can promote yeast and bacterial overgrowth, leading to gas, bloating, and inflammation—aligning with what TCM would consider dampness.

Try this:

• Limit damp-producing foods like dairy, fried foods, alcohol, and excess sugar.

• Incorporate foods that drain dampness, such as barley, adzuki beans, celery, and bitter greens.

Tips to Improve Your Digestion The TCM Way

1. Eat at regular times – The Spleen loves routine. Erratic meal times disrupt its rhythm.

2. Focus on your food – Avoid eating while scrolling, working, or driving.

3. Use warming herbs and spices – Ginger, cinnamon, fennel, and cardamom can stimulate digestion.

4. Support Liver Qi – Because the Liver ensures smooth flow of Qi, supporting it with movement, stress reduction, and bitter greens can indirectly improve digestion.

5. Try acupuncture – Targeted acupuncture can strengthen Spleen Qi, regulate gut motility, reduce stress, and ease bloating or pain.

5 Ways Acupuncture Can Help with Digestion

Acupuncture supports digestion by addressing both the root and branch of imbalance.

1. Strengthens Spleen and Stomach Qi – Acupuncture supports the body’s ability to break down food, absorb nutrients, and prevent dampness or bloating.

2. Regulates gut motility – Acupuncture encourages healthy bowel movements and eases symptoms of IBS, constipation, or diarrhea by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, putting you into a state of “rest and digest.”

3. Reduces inflammation – Acupuncture can help modulate immune responses and support gut barrier function, which may benefit those with inflammatory digestive conditions.

4. Relieves stress and emotional tension – Acupuncture has been shown to calm the nervous system and improves communication along the gut-brain axis, reducing symptoms triggered by anxiety or overthinking.

5. Improves circulation of Qi and Blood – Acupuncture clears stagnation and eases discomfort like fullness, cramping, or abdominal pain.

The Takeaway: TCM and Acupuncture Can Be a Powerful Ally for Your Digestion

Your digestion is not just a mechanical process, it is deeply connected to your energy, emotions, environment, and daily rhythms. Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a time-tested, holistic approach that aligns more with modern science than you might expect.

If you're struggling with bloating, irregular bowel movements, sluggish digestion, or food sensitivities, acupuncture may help regulate your digestive function, calm your nervous system, and restore your body’s balance.

👉 Curious to try? Book a session below to explore how acupuncture and TCM can transform your digestive health from the inside out.