There are thousands of theories, herbs and treatment methods within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It can feel overwhelming when you're first introduced to this ancient system of healing.

But over the years, I've realised something. Good health isn't about knowing everything. But actually about returning to a few simple principles, over and over again that work.

These are the ideas I find myself coming back to whenever life feels busy, my body feels out of balance, or I need a gentle reminder to slow down. I don't follow them perfectly, but they help me reconnect with what my body needs.

At The Herborium, we often talk about Yang Sheng (養生), a philosophy that translates to 'nourishing life'.  Rather than waiting until we're unwell, Yang Sheng encourages us to cultivate health through the small choices we make every day.

These five principles have become my own ritual of vitality.

1. Your emotions and your body are deeply connected

One of the concepts that first drew me to Chinese Medicine was its understanding that emotions aren't separate from physical health.

Rather than viewing stress, worry or frustration as something happening only in the mind, TCM recognises that emotions and our organ systems influence one another.

Traditionally:

• ❤️ Heart is associated with joy.
• 🌿 Liver is associated with anger and frustration.
• 🌱 Spleen is associated with worry and overthinking.
• 🫁 Lungs are associated with grief.
• 💧 Kidneys are associated with fear.

This doesn't mean that feeling angry automatically means there's something wrong with your Liver. Nor does it mean your emotions are caused by an organ.

Instead, TCM sees them as being in constant relationship with one another. Emotional patterns may accompany certain patterns of imbalance, and prolonged emotional stress may also influence how the body functions. You need to address your emotions too to heal physical issues.

My everyday reminder

Whenever I notice myself becoming unusually irritable or overwhelmed, I ask myself:

"What does my body need right now?"

Sometimes it's a nourishing meal. Sometimes it's a walk outside. Sometimes it's simply permission to rest.

Listening before reacting has become one of the most powerful practices I know.

2. Every flavour serves a purpose

Western nutrition often focuses on nutrients. Chinese Medicine also considers flavour.

Each of the five flavours is traditionally associated with a different organ system.

• Sour supports the Liver.
• Bitter supports the Heart.
• Sweet supports the Spleen.
• Pungent supports the Lungs.
• Salty supports the Kidneys.

Rather than avoiding certain tastes, TCM encourages variety and balance. When we naturally eat across the five flavours, our meals often become more colourful, diverse and satisfying.

My everyday reminder

Rather than ignoring my cravings or feeling guilty about them, I pause and ask myself:

What is my body trying to tell me?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cravings can sometimes offer clues about what the body needs. For example, if I'm craving sweets, instead of reaching for processed sugar, I might nourish myself with naturally sweet foods like a steamed sweet potato, pumpkin or red dates. These foods gently satisfy the craving while supporting the Spleen.

3. Your body follows a natural 24 hour rhythm

One of the most fascinating ideas in TCM is the Chinese Medicine Body Clock. Throughout a 24-hour period, Qi is believed to circulate through different organ systems at different times, speeding 2 hours of peak activity in each.

Key timeframes include:

• 1 - 3am: Liver
• 3–5am: Lungs
• 5–7am: Large Intestine
• 7–9am: Stomach
• 9–11am: Spleen

If you consistently wake around the same time every night, a TCM practitioner may consider whether that timing provides clues about underlying patterns alongside your overall symptoms, lifestyle and health history.

The body clock isn't used as a diagnosis on its own, but it reminds us that our bodies thrive on rhythm.

My everyday reminder

One habit I try to return to is eating a warm breakfast between 7 - 9am instead of rushing out the door with only coffee.

Even something as simple as porridge, congee or a bowl of soup can help me start the day feeling grounded.

4. How you prepare your food matters

One of the biggest lessons Chinese Medicine has taught me is that it's not just what we eat but how we prepare it.

Take carrots. Raw carrots are traditionally considered more cooling. Cooked carrots become easier to digest and are thought to better support the Spleen and the production of Qi.

This idea extends to many foods. For people who often experience bloating, loose stools or poor digestion, warm cooked meals may feel far more nourishing than eating salads every day.

My everyday reminder

I am always asking myself if I can make this meal a little warmer?

Sometimes that means choosing soup over a sandwich. Sometimes it means lightly steaming vegetables instead of eating them raw.

5. Food has an energetic nature

One of the most misunderstood concepts in Chinese Medicine is that foods have energetic qualities. And I'm not talking about if the dish is served hot or cold. Each food can effect the body in a different way after eating it.

 

It's about the effect food is traditionally believed to have on the body after eating it.

For example:

• Watermelon is cooling
• Pear is moistening & cooling
• Lychee is warming
• Dark, leafy greens are cooling / neutral
• Chicken is warming
• Lamb is heating

This perspective explains why the same food may feel supportive for one person but less suitable for another depending on the season, climate or their individual constitution.

My everyday reminder

Instead of eating the same way all year round, I try to eat with the seasons.

In winter, I naturally crave soups, slow-cooked meals and warming herbs.

In summer, fresh fruit and lighter meals become more appealing.

Vitality isn't found in perfection

If there's one thing Traditional Chinese Medicine has taught me, it's this:

A healthy and balance life isn't about extreme diets, rigid rules or doing everything perfectly.

It's built through daily rituals. A warm breakfast. A nourishing soup. Going for a walk when I'm feeling frustrated. Cooking dinner instead of ordering takeaway. Choosing foods that support the season.

These small choices may seem insignificant on their own, but together they become a way of living.

I still have days where I skip breakfast. Days where I eat too quickly. Days where life gets in the way.

But I always know I can come back to these principles.

And perhaps that's the greatest lesson TCM has to offer. You don't need to change everything overnight. Just begin with one small ritual today.