The hustle and bustle of modern life is stressful, and that stress can be difficult to live with. Many people experience chronic anxiety, and it is common to notice symptoms like insomnia and depression.

There is a physical toll, as well. Research has linked stress with a variety of health conditions, including heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Western medicine tends to look at each of these issues individually, recommending measures to treat symptoms one by one. Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a far different approach.

Instead of looking at the health outcomes of living in a stressful world, TCM starts from within. Practitioners consider the strength of patients’ Chi, the vital life force or energy that flows through every living thing.

When Chi is depleted, a frequent consequence of modern lifestyles, practitioners offer therapies designed to restore Chi, which leads greater health for the whole body.

What Is A Chi Deficiency?

When your Chi is at an optimal level, it flows freely throughout your body. It carries energy to every cell, and it helps your organs and tissues communicate with each other.

As Chi becomes depleted or blocked, tissues and organs are unable to operate at peak performance. This results in fatigue, and many people experience “brain fog”, irritability, pain, weakness, hormonal imbalance, and muscle cramps.

If left unresolved for an extended period, issues can carry over into chronic disease, such as those that affect the heart, liver, kidneys, and digestive system.

The underlying cause of Chi deficiency tends to be insufficient levels of the essential elements of life. Examples include sleep, sufficient clean water, shelter, healthy food, fresh air, and movement.

However, physical needs aren’t the only essential elements of life. Your Chi may become deficient if you are overly stressed, lack social interaction, have an absence of love, or experience adequate mental stimulation.

It is also worth noting that exposure to pollutants and other environmental toxins can deplete Chi, as can factors such as suppressed emotions, excessive eating, and other lifestyle factors.

The good news is that you can reverse Chi blockages and Chi deficiency, and your practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine can help. These are some of the recommendations you may receive as you explore how to restore your Chi.

What Foods Can Replenish Your Chi?

The phrase “you are what you eat” originated in the Western world, but that doesn’t mean it is out of place in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The nutrients you take in and the specific food choices you make can go a long way towards restoring your Chi.

Standard dietary and nutrition guidelines are a good place to start. For example, lean meats and veggies pack a powerful assortment of nutrients.

Warming foods are particularly helpful in restoring Chi. Examples include whole grains, mushrooms, bamboo, ginger, and chicken.

Along those lines, when you are suffering from Chi deficiency, it is best to stay away from cold and raw foods. Steaming, roasting, and grilling your meals offers additional support in restoring Chi.

What you shouldn’t eat is just as important as what you should eat. It is possible to undo your progress by consuming foods that are unfriendly to Chi. Fried foods top that list, along with processed foods, and it is best to stay away from dairy and excessive amounts of sugar when your Chi is low.

Which Superfoods Help Chi Restoration?

If you are anxious to boost your Chi as quickly as possible, there are a variety of superfoods and herbs that are particularly effective. These include:

• Bone Broth – This soup is simultaneously warming and soothing, which is just what your depleted Chi needs.
• Chestnuts – Best roasted to add additional warming properties
• Eggs – This includes poultry eggs as well as fish eggs.
• Ginseng – It often seems there is nothing ginseng can’t do. It is a universal remedy for a wide range of conditions, including restoration of Chi.
• Goji Berries – This fruit is one of the oldest known Chinese superfoods. They are mentioned in the earliest recorded log of Chinese herbs.
• Miso – Made from fermented beans, which means plenty of probiotics.
• Organ Meats – Meats such as liver and kidneys from animals are packed with nutrients. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is said that consuming organ meats will support the related organ in the human body.
• Schisandra – Also known as “the fruit of five tastes”, because its properties are simultaneously experienced as sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and hot.
• Seaweed – There are many varieties available. For this purpose, kelp and sargassum are most effective.

Some of these items are available through your local grocer, while others may be a bit more difficult to find.

As with any food item or supplement, be sure to purchase from a reputable company that grows or raises foods in an organic environment.

Which Exercises Restore Chi?

Gentle, intentional movement is key to restoring Chi, and there are certain forms of exercise that have been proven effective due to their focus on mind-body connection. Qigong and Tai Chi are at the top of the list, closely followed by various types of yoga.

Qigong is a carefully designed system of postures and movement that was developed over the course of centuries. It includes careful attention to breathing, and in many ways, it can be considered a meditative experience.

Tai Chi is closely related to Qigong, though it was developed some time later. It is a martial art that is sometimes referred to as “meditation in motion”, as it is a series of fluid, low-impact movements that mimic movements seen in the animal world.

Yoga is currently enjoying widespread popularity, with studios located throughout the United States. When in-person Tai Chi or Qigong instruction isn’t available, this is a good alternative exercise for restoring Chi.

Can Meditation Increase Chi?

Food and movement are critical for restoring your Chi, but you won’t achieve maximum success without addressing the turmoil in your mind.

After all, in many cases, Chi becomes unbalanced, blocked, and deficient as a result of repressed emotions and high levels of stress. The practice of meditation has been thoroughly researched and there are evidence-based studies demonstrating its benefits.

Specifically, meditation quiets the mind, reduces the levels of chemicals related to anxiety and stress, and creates a stronger relationship between your mind and body.

Many who include meditation as part of their daily routines report that they experience more positive emotions, and they are better able to manage negative emotions when they are encountered.

Can Massage Help Chi Balance?

Massage can offer an interesting combination of mind/body benefits when leveraged properly.

Massage therapists stimulate smooth flow of fluids and Chi through the body, in some cases alleviating blockages that have caused Chi deficiency in specific areas.

Typically, this is achieved through acupressure, during which therapists use their hands or elbows to clear specific pressure points.

However, the physical benefits aren’t the only components of massage to consider. When receiving a massage treatment, use the time to be present in the moment, fully experiencing the sensations of your body. This builds awareness of Chi flowing in your body, and it strengthens the mind-body connection.

Can Acupuncture Improve Chi? 

Like acupressure, acupuncture can relieve blockages and allow Chi to flow more easily throughout your body.

Rather than putting pressure on the appropriate points with hands or elbows, acupuncture clears blockages through the use of tiny needles. This procedure is virtually painless, and it is becoming far more common in the Western world.

As you consider how to restore your Chi, remember that the effort you put in will yield life-altering results.

Instead of constantly feeling as though you are too exhausted and ill to manage life’s challenges, you will have the energy and endurance you need to overcome obstacles.

You can look forward to better whole-body health, which includes a stronger immune system, easier healing after an injury, and the increased mental acuity that comes with balanced Chi.