
Why You're Always Tired and Bloated: A TCM Take on Qi, Digestion, and Emotions
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Why Are You Always Tired, Bloated, and Losing Your Appetite?
— A TCM Perspective on Spleen, Qi, and Blood
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi and Blood are the fundamental energies that sustain life—just like a car needs both fuel and electricity to run.
But Qi and Blood don’t appear out of nowhere. They are generated from food and drink, transformed by the Spleen and Stomach’s digestive functions.
When your Spleen and Stomach are working well, food is properly digested, nutrients are absorbed, and Qi and Blood are generated smoothly—leaving you energized, focused, and with a healthy complexion.
However, when digestion is impaired, the body’s ability to produce Qi and Blood decreases. Over time, this leads to fatigue, bloating, poor appetite, and low mood.

Nourishing the Spleen is the First Step to Boosting Qi and Blood
1️⃣ Avoid Overeating or Skipping Meals
In today’s fast-paced world, many people either skip meals or overeat when they finally have time.
Both habits weaken digestion and reduce Qi and Blood production.
👉 Aim for three regular meals a day, eaten in moderation—70–80% full is ideal.
2️⃣ Chew Slowly and Eat Mindfully
Eating too fast puts extra strain on the stomach and Spleen.
👉 Try chewing each bite at least 20 times (25+ for older adults or those with weak digestion).
Spend at least 15 minutes on breakfast and 30 minutes for lunch and dinner to give your digestive system time to work properly.
3️⃣ Eat More Sweet-Natured Foods to Nourish Qi and Blood
In TCM, “sweet” flavors (not sugar, but naturally sweet-natured foods) enter the Spleen and help strengthen it.
👉 Recommended foods: red dates, adzuki beans, goji berries, donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao), angelica (Danggui), pig liver, etc.
These are especially beneficial for women after menstruation or anyone recovering from fatigue.
4️⃣ Avoid Cold, Raw, and Greasy Foods
Cold drinks or raw seafood may feel refreshing, but from a TCM view, they introduce “cold and dampness” into the body, damaging the Spleen Yang.
👉 Long-term intake can cause:
- Stomach pain
- Bloating
- Loss of appetite
- Frequent belching
Liver Qi Stagnation Can Also Disrupt Your Digestion
Another common modern issue is Liver Qi stagnation, often caused by stress, emotional tension, or long-term frustration.
When Liver Qi is blocked, Qi circulation slows down, directly affecting the Spleen’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients.
Common symptoms include:
- Chest tightness or rib-side distension
- Low mood or irritability
- Stomach discomfort, loss of appetite
- Acid reflux, frequent belching
- Irregular menstruation, breast tenderness (in women)
🌿 Looking to Soothe Your Liver and Relieve Bloating?
Try: Shugan Wan (舒肝丸) by Bao Shu Tang
This classic herbal formula is specially designed to address Liver Qi stagnation, Qi blockage, and Spleen-Stomach disharmony.

📌 Functions & Indications:
- Soothes the Liver and harmonizes the Stomach
- Regulates Qi and relieves pain
- Used for symptoms caused by Liver Qi stagnation, including:
- Chest or rib-side fullness
- Stomach pain
- Acid reflux
- Belching
- Indigestion and poor appetite
📌 Main Herbal Ingredients (Latin/Pharmaceutical Names):
- Fructus Toosendan (Chuan Lian Zi)
- Rhizoma Corydalis (processed with vinegar)
- Radix Paeoniae Alba (stir-baked with wine)
- Rhizoma Wenyuin Concisum (Turmeric root)
- Radix Aucklandiae (Mu Xiang)
- Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum (Chen Xiang)
- Fructus Amomi Rotundus (Sha Ren)
- Fructus Amomi (Dou Kou)
- Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis (processed with ginger)
- Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (Chen Pi)
- Fructus Aurantii (stir-baked)
- Poria (Fu Ling)
- Cinnabaris (Zhu Sha)
📌 Product Features:
- Traditional honey pill formulation
- Reddish-brown color, slightly sweet and slightly bitter taste
- Recommended dosage: 10 pills per dose, 2–3 times daily
- Easy to carry and take on the go
- Made with 100% herbal ingredients, no known side effects
- Produced by Bao Shu Tang, a trusted Hong Kong brand
🎯 Usage Tips:
- ❌ Not suitable for pregnant women
- ✅ Best taken after meals with warm water
- 📦 Each bottle contains 150 pills, sufficient for a full treatment course or daily health maintenance
🧘♀️ Conclusion
Improving Qi and Blood doesn’t rely on food alone.
To truly regain your energy and appetite, you must also:
- Nourish the Spleen
- Soothe the Liver
- Balance your emotions
Shugan Wan by Bao Shu Tang works by addressing the root cause—Liver Qi stagnation—and harmonizing your digestion, helping you feel lighter, more energetic, and naturally full of vitality.