Postpartum changed the way I view health forever.

Before becoming a mum, I always knew and grew up with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles my entire life. My TCM doctor dad never fails to remind me that I shouldn't have too many fried foods because it's 'heaty'. Growing up around Chinese herbs and wellness, I understood the concepts, but if I’m honest, I didn’t fully commit to them.

It wasn’t until postpartum, when my body felt deeply depleted, exhausted, overstimulated and stretched in every direction, that I truly experienced how powerful small daily habits could be.

And surprisingly, it wasn’t one dramatic “health reset” that made the biggest difference.

It was the simple things.

Warm water instead of iced. Resting more. Eating cooked nourishing foods. Slowing down. Protecting my energy instead of constantly draining it.

These are now habits I still follow today for better energy, sleep, digestion, resilience and long-term wellbeing.

If you’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum, burnout, poor sleep or low energy, these gentle TCM-inspired principles may help support you too.

Why TCM Views Postpartum Recovery So Differently

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, postpartum is considered one of the most important recovery windows in a woman’s life.

After birth, the body is believed to be in a deeply open and depleted state. Qi (energy), Blood and Jing (your foundational reserves associated with vitality and ageing) are all thought to require replenishment.

Rather than pushing through exhaustion, TCM encourages slowing down, nourishing deeply and protecting the body while it rebuilds.

This is one reason many traditional postpartum practices focus on:

• Warmth
• Rest
• Cooked nourishing foods
• Herbal soups and broths
• Gentle recovery
• Emotional support
• Conserving energy

While modern life often celebrates “bouncing back,” TCM takes the opposite approach.

The focus is restoration.

1. Start the Day with Warm Water Instead of Ice-Cold Drinks

One of the simplest postpartum habits that made a noticeable difference to my digestion and energy was drinking warm water first thing in the morning.

In TCM, digestion is strongly connected to the Spleen system, which prefers warmth.

Cold foods and drinks are traditionally believed to slow digestive function and weaken the body’s ability to transform food into usable energy.

This is why many TCM practitioners encourage limiting excessive iced drinks, especially during postpartum recovery.

I now follow what I call the “90/10 rule.”

Most of the liquids I drink are warm or room temperature, while cold drinks are occasional rather than constant.

It sounds incredibly simple, but this small shift helped me feel:

• Less bloated
• More energised
• Less sluggish in the mornings
• More supported during colder months

For many women, improving digestion can also positively impact sleep, mood and overall energy.

2. Keep Your Feet Warm to Protect Energy & Longevity

This was something I constantly heard growing up.

“Put socks on.” “Don’t walk barefoot on cold floors.” “Keep your feet warm.”

At the time, it sounded old-fashioned.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Kidneys are considered deeply important for vitality, reproduction, ageing, bone health and long-term reserves of energy known as Jing.

Cold exposure, especially through the feet,  is traditionally believed to weaken and deplete these reserves over time.

Whether scientifically measurable or not, I personally noticed I felt significantly better when I stopped constantly exposing myself to cold floors postpartum.

Now I wear slippers or socks indoors most days, especially in winter.

3. Rest Is Treatment 

This was probably the hardest lesson for me.

Modern culture teaches women to keep going. To push through. To stay productive. To “bounce back.”

But postpartum taught me that chronic stress and exhaustion eventually catch up with the body.

In TCM, overwork and ongoing stress are thought to deplete Qi.

When your nervous system is overloaded, sleep suffers. Energy suffers. Digestion suffers. Patience suffers. Everything feels harder.

One of the biggest mindset shifts I experienced postpartum was learning to see rest as supportive, not something to earn.

Sometimes the most productive thing for healing is slowing down.

This doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means allowing space for recovery.

Even small moments of rest can make a difference:

• Going to bed earlier
• Lying down during baby naps
• Reducing overstimulation
• Asking for help
• Simplifying meals
• Spending less time multitasking

The more I protected my energy, the better I slept and the more regulated I felt emotionally.

4. You Don’t Have to Choose Between Eastern & Western Medicine

I come from a family with both Eastern and Western doctors. One of the biggest things postpartum reinforced for me is that Eastern and Western medicine can work beautifully together. 

TCM doesn’t need to replace modern medicine. And modern medicine doesn’t invalidate traditional practices.

I personally view them as serving different roles.

Western medicine can be incredible for acute care, emergencies, diagnostics and intervention when needed.

Traditional Chinese Medicine often focuses more on prevention, nourishment, balance and long-term support.

This integrated approach helped me feel more supported physically and emotionally during postpartum.

There’s room for both.

5. Herbal Soups & Broths Became My Weekly Reset

If there’s one thing postpartum made me appreciate deeply, it’s warm nourishing food.

TCM postpartum traditions often emphasise soups, broths and slow-cooked meals because they are considered easier to digest and deeply replenishing.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, many postpartum foods are chosen to help support:

• Qi
• Blood nourishment
• Warmth
• Recovery
• Digestion
• Hydration

I noticed that when I consistently ate warming, nourishing meals, I felt more stable in my energy compared to surviving on random snacks or skipping meals.

Even now, herbal soups and broths remain one of my favourite weekly rituals.

6. Cook Your Greens Instead of Eating Everything Raw

This one surprised a lot of people when I started sharing it.

In wellness culture, raw salads and smoothies are often viewed as the “healthiest” option.

But from a TCM perspective, excessive cold and raw foods can be harder on digestion, especially for women who already feel depleted, cold, fatigued or postpartum.

Cooking foods lightly can make them easier for the body to digest and absorb.

I noticed a huge difference when I shifted toward more:

• Soups
• Steamed vegetables
• Stir-fries
• Slow-cooked meals
• Warm breakfasts

Instead of relying heavily on cold smoothies or raw salads.

For me personally, cooked foods helped me feel:

• Fuller for longer
• More energised
• Less bloated
• More grounded

Again, this isn’t about perfection. It’s about noticing what helps your body feel supported.

The Biggest Lesson Postpartum Taught Me

The biggest shift postpartum taught me was this:

Small consistent habits matter more than extreme health overhauls.

You don’t need a perfect routine. You don’t need to do everything at once.

Sometimes healing looks like:

• Drinking warm water
• Resting earlier
• Eating nourishing meals
• Asking for support
• Slowing down
• Being gentler with yourself

These small daily choices add up.

And for me, they completely changed my relationship with energy, sleep and wellbeing.

Supporting Postpartum Recovery Naturally with The Herborium

At The Herborium, we’re passionate about making Traditional Chinese Medicine-inspired wellness practices feel approachable, nourishing and practical for modern motherhood.

Our blends and postpartum support products are inspired by traditional wisdom passed down through generations, while being thoughtfully created for modern women navigating pregnancy, postpartum recovery and everyday wellbeing.

All of our blends are hand-prepared in Melbourne using high-quality ingredients and traditional principles designed to support warmth, nourishment and restoration.

Whether you’re preparing for postpartum, supporting your recovery or simply trying to feel more energised and grounded, remember:

You do not need to do everything perfectly.

Small consistent habits can make a meaningful difference over time.