Do you often feel bloated in your abdomen, belch frequently after meals, and have loose stools that seem undigested? Also, if you check your tongue, is it swollen with teeth marks on the edges and a white, greasy coating? This could very well be what we in traditional Chinese medicine often refer to as "spleen and stomach weakness" knocking on your door.

Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that "the spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal life"—they are the "chief managers" responsible for digestion, absorption, and the transportation and transformation of food essence (i.e., nutrients from food). Once the spleen and stomach become deficient, their qi becomes insufficient. The gastrointestinal tract, as if lacking the strength to function, slows down, and digestive capacity naturally weakens. The food consumed accumulates in the abdomen, leading to bloating, belching, and loose stools. A swollen tongue with teeth marks and a white, greasy coating are also typical manifestations of weakened spleen and stomach function in transporting and transforming dampness, resulting in internal dampness stagnation.

In such situations, don’t rush to use strong or expensive medications. I often recommend a simple and practical small formula to friends and patients around me—the ingredients are common, affordable, and effective, but most importantly, they target the root cause. It is:

Dried Tangerine Peel (Chenpi) 10g: Regulates qi and harmonizes the middle, helping the spleen and stomach smooth out qi to relieve bloating and fullness.

Poria (Fuling) 15g: Strengthens the spleen and promotes diuresis, driving away excess moisture trapped in the spleen and stomach.

Codonopsis Root (Dangshen) 10g: Tonifies the middle and boosts qi, directly adding energy to the "engine" of the spleen and stomach.

Hawthorn 10g: Aids digestion and harmonizes the stomach, helping to break down accumulated and stagnant food.

Simply boil them together in water and drink as tea. This small formula combination can both supplement the qi of the spleen and stomach (Codonopsis pilosula) and regulate qi and resolve dampness (dried tangerine peel, poria), while also aiding digestion (hawthorn). It is quite suitable for issues such as indigestion, abdominal distension, and loose stools caused by spleen-stomach qi deficiency.

Here’s a concrete example: My neighbor, Grandpa Wang, has been feeling bloated and lacking in appetite since he retired. He feels stuffed after eating just a little, his stool is always loose, and he easily gets tired. Looking at his tongue, it’s typically swollen with tooth marks and a white, greasy coating. He is a classic case of spleen-stomach deficiency. I suggested he try this tea formula, boiling a pot each day to drink as water. After about two weeks, he happily told me that his abdominal bloating had improved significantly, his appetite was better, his stool had become more formed, and he even felt more energetic. Of course, he also paid attention to his diet, reducing cold, raw, and greasy foods. Grandpa Wang’s example shows that by identifying the problem correctly and using the right method, even a simple formula can be effective.

This small tea formula is gentle and practical, but the prerequisite is that a doctor has determined it is indeed gastrointestinal motility deficiency caused by spleen-stomach deficiency and qi deficiency. If the condition is more complex, or if there is no effect or even discomfort after drinking it, be sure to consult a doctor promptly. Additionally, pregnant women or those with special medical conditions should also consult a doctor before use.

Nourishing the spleen and stomach is a gradual process. In daily life, it’s most important to eat in moderation, consume less raw, cold, and greasy foods, and avoid letting your abdomen get chilled. This simple tea recipe is shared in the hope of helping those in need, allowing us to spend less money unnecessarily and take fewer detours in regulating our health.