My Chinese mom's timeless health tips — including a ‘magic' go-to and a plant that helps with cramps, colds, and upset stomachs
Modern health trends come and go, but the real secret to feeling your best may lie in ancient practices you can do right at home.
'So many of my wellness roots trace back to my mom's kitchen. She always believed that food is medicine and that healing starts long before you're sick,' Lulu Ge, founder of Elix, a wellness brand inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), told The Post.
Ge shared three of her mother's time-tested food tips, plus two bonus remedies, to help you spend less time in the doctor's office and more time enjoying your life.
5 Lulu Ge notes that traditional Chinese medicine focuses on whole-body wellness.
Courtesy of Elix Healing
Keep it warm to beat the cramps
Ladies, listen up: 'Eat warming foods for a warm, pain-free womb,' Ge said. That means ditching iced drinks, especially during your period.
In TCM, the menstrual cycle is believed to be closely linked to the flow of 'Qi,' or vital energy, and blood.
Ge's mother warned that getting chilled can cause stagnation, leading to painful cramps, irregular periods and trouble shedding the uterine lining.
The remedy? Load up on warming spices and cooked foods, while avoiding cold and raw dishes, to keep your blood flowing and stay pain-free.
Ginger to the rescue
Used in Chinese and Indian medicine for thousands of years, ginger comes from the root of the Zingiber officinale plant.
5 Ginger can reduce bloating and support digestion.
Luis Echeverri Urrea – stock.adobe.com
'It's a warming spice shown to help with digestive issues, nausea, and bloating,' Ge said.
Here's how it works: ginger speeds up the rate at which food leaves the stomach, which helps those with delayed stomach emptying — a common cause of nausea.
It also reduces fermentation, constipation and other causes of bloating and gas.
Additionally, ginger contains gingerol, a compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. These help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, easing stomach pain and cramps.
Whenever Ge had cramps, a cold, or an upset stomach, her mother would simmer fresh ginger into tea and insist she sip it slowly.
'Now, I keep Elix's Ginger Aide with me everywhere as a nod to that tradition,' she said.
The product is a pure concentrate of decocted organic ginger slices that allows users 'to feel the effects of plant medicine in a gentle, daily ritual.'
Broth that heals
Bone broth isn't just soup — it's liquid gold.
Made by simmering animal bones for hours, it's packed with collagen, minerals and amino acids.
5 Bone broth is made from animal bones and connective tissue, typically cattle, chicken or fish.
qwartm – stock.adobe.com
'Bone broth = magic,' Ge said. 'It was the go-to for recovery — after illness or just when life felt depleting.'
In TCM, bone broth is a powerhouse elixir that boosts Qi, blood and 'Yin' energy, which is responsible for providing the body with the moisture it needs to function properly.
When yin is low, you may experience symptoms such as dry skin, night sweats, constipation and anxiety. Qi deficiency often manifests as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and loss of appetite.
In TCM, bone broth is also often used to nourish postpartum mothers, giving them the nutrients and energy needed to recover from childbirth and support lactation.
Ge said her mother always paired bone broth with goji berries, red dates and, of course, a dash of love.
The power of rest
In TCM, wellness isn't just about what's on your plate.
'My mom made sure I prioritized sleep and restorative 'Yin' time for rest and relaxation,' Ge said, noting this is especially crucial during your period, when you're wiped out or feeling on the verge of getting sick.
'She saw rest as a form of healing — not a luxury, but a necessity. It helps you bounce back with fresh energy and focus,' Ge added.
5 About 84 million Americans don't consistently get the recommended amount of sleep for optimal health.
Syda Productions – stock.adobe.com
In the US, about 1 in 3 adults regularly miss out on the sleep they need to stay healthy, according to a 2022 Gallup poll.
Adequate sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being, enabling the brain and body to undergo critical repair and restoration processes.
These include muscle recovery, tissue growth, and hormone regulation, as well as the removal of toxins, support of immune function and memory consolidation.
Skip the pills — try this first
'Anytime I had pain, her instinct was to reach for a warming balm, acupressure point or herbal patch first,' Ge said. 'She trusted the body could heal — with the right support.'
5 Ge recommends blending Eastern and Western approaches for optimal health.
Courtesy of Elix Healing
TCM treats the whole person, aiming to fix root problems, not just mask symptoms like Western medicine often does.
Herbal patches and balms work by delivering healing directly through the skin to sore spots, cutting down on systemic side effects and targeting the pain where it hurts most.
In TCM, your skin mirrors is also thought to mirror your inner health. These external remedies help strengthen and repair it, making you tougher against the daily grind.
Plus, balms and patches team up with internal herbs for a one-two punch, tackling symptoms and restoring balance throughout the body's energy system.
All these tips can boost your health — but don't ditch Western medicine just yet.
'The real power lies in blending Eastern and Western medicine,' Ge said.
'Western tools for acute issues and diagnostics, TCM for long-term support, prevention and personalized care. Together, they offer something truly holistic,' she explained.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
3 hours ago
- Epoch Times
How Women Can Prevent Hair Loss by Nourishing the Liver and Kidneys
Hair health reflects overall physical well-being. Women often experience hair loss due to various causes, including postpartum recovery, menopause, alopecia areata, or scalp issues such as itchiness and dandruff, exacerbated by summer heat. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach, emphasizing a blend of targeted dietary supplements, meticulous scalp care, and proper hair-washing techniques to reduce hair loss effectively. Dr. Chen Hsin-hung, a TCM practitioner at Hanyitang Chinese Medicine clinics in Taiwan, shared a case of hair loss. A woman in her 20s developed alopecia areata (patchy baldness) after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, which left her deeply distressed when her hair almost entirely fell out. Through 6 to 8 months of TCM treatment, she regrew dark, vibrant hair. Exploring Hair Loss Causes With TCM From the perspective of TCM, the liver and kidneys are closely related to hair health as they play a vital role in the internal organ-centered energy system.
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
My Chinese mom's timeless health tips — including a ‘magic' go-to and a plant that helps with cramps, colds, and upset stomachs
Modern health trends come and go, but the real secret to feeling your best may lie in ancient practices you can do right at home. 'So many of my wellness roots trace back to my mom's kitchen. She always believed that food is medicine and that healing starts long before you're sick,' Lulu Ge, founder of Elix, a wellness brand inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), told The Post. Ge shared three of her mother's time-tested food tips, plus two bonus remedies, to help you spend less time in the doctor's office and more time enjoying your life. 5 Lulu Ge notes that traditional Chinese medicine focuses on whole-body wellness. Courtesy of Elix Healing Keep it warm to beat the cramps Ladies, listen up: 'Eat warming foods for a warm, pain-free womb,' Ge said. That means ditching iced drinks, especially during your period. In TCM, the menstrual cycle is believed to be closely linked to the flow of 'Qi,' or vital energy, and blood. Ge's mother warned that getting chilled can cause stagnation, leading to painful cramps, irregular periods and trouble shedding the uterine lining. The remedy? Load up on warming spices and cooked foods, while avoiding cold and raw dishes, to keep your blood flowing and stay pain-free. Ginger to the rescue Used in Chinese and Indian medicine for thousands of years, ginger comes from the root of the Zingiber officinale plant. 5 Ginger can reduce bloating and support digestion. Luis Echeverri Urrea – 'It's a warming spice shown to help with digestive issues, nausea, and bloating,' Ge said. Here's how it works: ginger speeds up the rate at which food leaves the stomach, which helps those with delayed stomach emptying — a common cause of nausea. It also reduces fermentation, constipation and other causes of bloating and gas. Additionally, ginger contains gingerol, a compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. These help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, easing stomach pain and cramps. Whenever Ge had cramps, a cold, or an upset stomach, her mother would simmer fresh ginger into tea and insist she sip it slowly. 'Now, I keep Elix's Ginger Aide with me everywhere as a nod to that tradition,' she said. The product is a pure concentrate of decocted organic ginger slices that allows users 'to feel the effects of plant medicine in a gentle, daily ritual.' Broth that heals Bone broth isn't just soup — it's liquid gold. Made by simmering animal bones for hours, it's packed with collagen, minerals and amino acids. 5 Bone broth is made from animal bones and connective tissue, typically cattle, chicken or fish. qwartm – 'Bone broth = magic,' Ge said. 'It was the go-to for recovery — after illness or just when life felt depleting.' In TCM, bone broth is a powerhouse elixir that boosts Qi, blood and 'Yin' energy, which is responsible for providing the body with the moisture it needs to function properly. When yin is low, you may experience symptoms such as dry skin, night sweats, constipation and anxiety. Qi deficiency often manifests as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and loss of appetite. In TCM, bone broth is also often used to nourish postpartum mothers, giving them the nutrients and energy needed to recover from childbirth and support lactation. Ge said her mother always paired bone broth with goji berries, red dates and, of course, a dash of love. The power of rest In TCM, wellness isn't just about what's on your plate. 'My mom made sure I prioritized sleep and restorative 'Yin' time for rest and relaxation,' Ge said, noting this is especially crucial during your period, when you're wiped out or feeling on the verge of getting sick. 'She saw rest as a form of healing — not a luxury, but a necessity. It helps you bounce back with fresh energy and focus,' Ge added. 5 About 84 million Americans don't consistently get the recommended amount of sleep for optimal health. Syda Productions – In the US, about 1 in 3 adults regularly miss out on the sleep they need to stay healthy, according to a 2022 Gallup poll. Adequate sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being, enabling the brain and body to undergo critical repair and restoration processes. These include muscle recovery, tissue growth, and hormone regulation, as well as the removal of toxins, support of immune function and memory consolidation. Skip the pills — try this first 'Anytime I had pain, her instinct was to reach for a warming balm, acupressure point or herbal patch first,' Ge said. 'She trusted the body could heal — with the right support.' 5 Ge recommends blending Eastern and Western approaches for optimal health. Courtesy of Elix Healing TCM treats the whole person, aiming to fix root problems, not just mask symptoms like Western medicine often does. Herbal patches and balms work by delivering healing directly through the skin to sore spots, cutting down on systemic side effects and targeting the pain where it hurts most. In TCM, your skin mirrors is also thought to mirror your inner health. These external remedies help strengthen and repair it, making you tougher against the daily grind. Plus, balms and patches team up with internal herbs for a one-two punch, tackling symptoms and restoring balance throughout the body's energy system. All these tips can boost your health — but don't ditch Western medicine just yet. 'The real power lies in blending Eastern and Western medicine,' Ge said. 'Western tools for acute issues and diagnostics, TCM for long-term support, prevention and personalized care. Together, they offer something truly holistic,' she explained.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Science news this week: 'Dragon Man's' identity and the universe's 'missing matter'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. This week's science news reveals the identity of the mysterious "Dragon Man," while also finding clues to the universe's "missing matter." In 1933, a Chinese laborer in Harbin City discovered a human-like skull with a huge cranium, broad nose and big eyes. Just under 90 years later, experts gave this curious specimen a new species name — Homo longi, or "Dragon Man" — due to its unusual shape and size. But this classification has not gone unchallenged, with many scientists saying this skull belongs not to a new species, but instead to an ancient group of humans called Denisovans. Now, a pair of new studies claim to have finally put the mystery to bed. Another mystery that we came one step closer to solving this week is where the universe's "missing" matter is hiding. Ordinary or "baryonic" aryonic matter, which is composed of particles like protons and neutrons, makes up just 5% of the universe, but scientists have been able to observe only about half as much of it as they expected. To find the missing matter, researchers search for clues by studying short, extragalactic flashes known as fast radio bursts, which light up the intergalactic space that lies between them and Earth — and they may have just found some. Although very few long-term studies of psilocybin — the main psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms — as a treatment for depression have been conducted to date, new research presented this week at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference suggests it can alleviate depression for at least five years after a single dose. The researchers found that 67% of study participants who had suffered from depression half a decade earlier remained in remission after a single psychedelic therapy session, while also reporting less anxiety and less difficulty functioning on a daily basis. Discover more health news —Iron deficiency in pregnancy can cause 'male' mice to develop female organs —The brain might have a hidden 'off switch' for binge drinking —Ketamine may treat depression by 'flattening the brain's hierarchies,' small study suggests The world is awash with the color purple — lavender flowers, amethyst gemstones, plums, eggplants and purple emperor butterflies. But if you look closely at the visible-light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, you'll notice that purple is absent. So does that mean the color doesn't really exist? Not necessarily. —If you enjoyed this, sign up for our Life's Little Mysteries newsletter Asking artificial intelligence reasoning models questions on topics like algebra or philosophy caused carbon dioxide emissions to spike significantly. Specialized large language models (LLMs), such as Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's o3 and DeepSeek's R1, dedicate more time and computing power to producing more accurate responses than their predecessors, but a new study finds the cost could come at up to 50 times more carbon emissions than their more basic equivalents. While the study's findings aren't definitive — emissions may vary depending on the hardware used and the energy grids used to supply their power — the researchers hope their work should prompt AI users to think before deploying the more advanced technology. Read more planet technology news —This EV battery fully recharges in just 18 seconds — and it just got the green light for mass production —Hurricanes and sandstorms can be forecast 5,000 times faster thanks to new Microsoft AI model —China pits rival humanoids against each other in world's first 'robot boxing tournament' —14,000-year-old ice age 'puppies' were actually wolf sisters that dined on woolly rhino for last meal —Nobel laureate raises questions about AI-generated image of black hole spinning at the heart of our galaxy —Enslaved Africans led a decade-long rebellion 1,200 years ago in Iraq, new evidence suggests —Covering poop lagoons with a tarp could cut 80% of methane emissions from dairy farms —Satellite coated in ultra-dark 'Vantablack' paint will launch into space next year to help combat major issue The Colorado River snakes through seven U.S. and two Mexican states, and supplies some 40 million people, including those in Phoenix and Las Vegas, with their water needs. But as supplies of this surface water reach record lows, more and more people have been pumping groundwater from far below the surface. Stark new satellite data reveal that the Colorado River basin has lost huge amounts of groundwater over the last few decades, with some research suggesting that this groundwater could run out by the end of the century. But is that really the case? And if so, what could be done to prevent that happening? —How to see the groundbreaking space photos from the world's largest camera [Astronomy] —Instead of 'de-extincting' dire wolves, scientists should use gene editing to protect living, endangered species [Opinion] —Crows: Facts about the clever birds that live all over the world [Fact file] —Best thermal binoculars: Observe nocturnal wildlife after dark [Buying guide] —Watch David Attenborough's 'Ocean' from anywhere in the world with this NordVPN deal — and grab an Amazon voucher just in time for Prime Day [Deal] A massive eruption at Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano sent giant plumes of ash spewing more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) into the skies on Tuesday (June 17), followed by a second eruption just a day later. This incredible mushroom-shaped cloud could be seen over 95 miles (150 km) away, and was accompanied by rumbling, lightning and thunder, typical of explosive eruptions that spew enormous amounts of material — much of which showered over nearby villages. Warning signs at Lewoboti Laki-laki prompted officials to raise the eruption alert to the highest level on Tuesday, according to a statement, and fortunately at time of writing there have been no reports of casualties. Want more science news? Follow our Live Science WhatsApp Channel for the latest discoveries as they happen. It's the best way to get our expert reporting on the go, but if you don't use WhatsApp we're also on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Flipboard, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky and LinkedIn.
