Eating for Your Qi: Chinese Food Therapy to Support You This Season
by Mimi Wang
As late spring gives way to the warmth of early summer, the days grow longer, the air softens, and you're likely finding yourself more active and spending time outdoors. This seasonal transition offers the perfect opportunity to nourish your Qi—the vital life force that supports your energy, immunity, and overall well-being.
Understanding Qi
Think of Qi as the life force that flows through you, much like the current in a river. When your Qi is abundant and flowing smoothly, you feel energized, balanced, and resilient. However, when it's stagnant or deficient, you might experience fatigue, digestive issues, lethargy, and weakness.
The Huang Di Nei Jing, an ancient foundational text in Traditional Chinese Medicine, states:
“The Stomach is the sea of grain and water, the origin of Qi and blood.” (Su Wen, Chapter 10)
This passage illuminates a central tenet of TCM: your digestive system acts as an internal factory for the essential energies that power your body by transforming the food and drink you consume. Without this transformative function, the body cannot produce or maintain the Qi and blood needed for vitality and balance.
The Spleen–Stomach Axis: Your Digestive Powerhouse
Your Spleen and Stomach are the two organ systems in TCM that are central to transforming the food you eat into Qi. The Stomach acts as the "sea" where food and fluids are processed, while the Spleen extracts the essence from this mixture to create Qi and blood.
However, if your Spleen and Stomach are weakened, they can become bogged down by what TCM calls "Dampness." Think of dampness as a mist of metabolic fluids distributed throughout the body. If all systems are in order, this natural metabolic waste can be processed and eliminated. However, chronic stress and excessive overthinking can disrupt the flow of Qi, slowing down this process. Likewise, eating too many cold or raw foods—something that often increases as the weather gets warmer—can further weaken digestion and impair your body’s ability to clear what it no longer needs.
In TCM, the body can be understood through the lens of the Five Elements—a framework that links natural forces to organ systems, emotions, and seasonal patterns. The Earth element is associated with the Spleen and Stomach, symbolizing nourishment, stability, and the ability to transform food into usable energy. This connection is relevant here, as we'll explore how eating in alignment with the Earth element helps support your digestion and strengthen your Qi—particularly during seasonal transitions like the one we're in now.
Qi-Tonic Food Groups to Embrace This Season
As we transition into late spring, it's essential to nourish your body with foods that support your Spleen and Stomach, helping to strengthen your Qi and combat Dampness.
1. Whole Grains
Whole grains are grounding and easy on your digestive system.
Millet: A warm, sweet grain that tonifies Qi and is particularly beneficial for those with digestive weakness. Yellow coloured foods are representative of the Earth element, making Millet the star choice in this category.
2. Root Vegetables
Root vegetables are naturally sweet and help to strengthen the Earth element.
Sweet Potatoes: They are gentle on the stomach, promote digestion, and help to eliminate Dampness. Any orange & yellow coloured squash can be a great choice.
3. Legumes
Legumes are excellent for building Qi and supporting fluid metabolism.
Adzuki Beans: These small beans are known for their ability to tonify Qi and support the Spleen.
4. Seasonal Greens
As we approach summer, incorporating seasonal greens can help to harmonize your body's energy.
Asparagus: A spring vegetable that gently clears toxins and support Qi flow.
Qi-Tonic Herbs
In addition to foods, certain herbs can further support your Qi and digestive health.
Astragalus Root (Huang Qi): Known for its ability to strengthen the immune system and tonify Qi. Add slices to soups or teas.
Codonopsis (Dang Shen): A gentle herb that supports digestion and boosts Qi. Use it in broths or congees.
Chinese Red Dates (Da Zao): Sweet and nourishing, they tonify blood and Qi. Add them to teas or stews.
Warm Sweet Potato, Asparagus & Millet Bowl with Qi-Tonic Herb Dressing
This vibrant, warm bowl is ideal for late spring. It nourishes your Qi without weighing you down, combining gently cooked seasonal vegetables, warm grains, and a flavorful, herbal vinaigrette that features accessible Qi-tonifying ingredients.
Ingredients:
For the bowl:
1/2 cup millet
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1/4 cup cooked adzuki beans
3 Chinese red dates, chopped (soaked if needed)
1 handful fresh mint leaves (chopped)
For the dressing:
1 tsp codonopsis root powder (or 1 tbsp decocted tea, cooled)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp rice vinegar or lemon juice
1 tsp honey or date syrup
1 tsp finely grated ginger
Salt to taste
Instructions:
Cook the millet: Rinse and cook millet in 1.5 cups of water with a pinch of salt. Simmer for 20 minutes or until fluffy. Set aside to cool slightly.
Roast the sweet potatoes: Toss cubes in a little oil and roast at 375°F for 20–25 minutes until tender and golden.
Steam the asparagus: Lightly steam or blanch until bright green and just tender—about 2–3 minutes. You want them crisp and refreshing.
Prepare the dressing: Whisk all dressing ingredients together in a small bowl. If using decocted codonopsis tea, ensure it’s cooled before mixing.
Assemble the bowl: In each bowl, layer a base of millet, top with sweet potatoes, asparagus, adzuki beans, and chopped red dates. Drizzle with the herb dressing and sprinkle with fresh mint.
This dish will support your body’s gentle shift into a more yang state as summer nears. It’s not too heavy or damp-producing, but still grounding—ideal for strengthening your digestion and Qi without clogging your system.
Support Your Qi This Spring
Seasonal transitions are the perfect time to rebalance and strengthen your Qi. While nourishing foods and herbs lay the foundation, working with an acupuncturist can help you go deeper—offering personalized strategies to support digestion, energy, and emotional wellbeing. Book a session to align your body with the season and restore your inner flow.
Meet Mimi Wang
Mimi specializes in sleep imbalances, digestive issues, anxiety, and immunity support, tailoring acupuncture treatments to your lifestyle. With deep roots in Chinese medicine, she blends Eastern tradition with modern care in both English and Mandarin.
