If you came for the romance, politics, and slow-burn tension in Pursuit of Jade… same.
But somewhere between the herbal foot baths, clay pot medicine, and constant hot water drinking, we realised we were basically watching an accidental masterclass in Traditional Chinese wellness culture.

Set in a fictional DaiYin dynasty loosely inspired by the Song (960–1279) and Ming (1368–1644) dynasties, the drama is filled with rituals and practices deeply connected to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles, many of which are still used in Chinese households today.

The more we watched, the more we kept thinking:

The Chinese really knew what they were doing centuries ago.

Here are some of the TCM rituals and wellness traditions we spotted throughout Pursuit of Jade and the real cultural meaning behind them.

1. Drinking Hot Water for Everything

The most accurate part of the entire drama

If you grew up in an Asian household, you already know:
hot water is considered the solution to almost everything.

Headache? Hot water.
Cold weather? Hot water.
Tired? Hot water.
Emotionally unstable after one mildly inconvenient interaction? Hot water.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, warm drinks are traditionally preferred because they’re considered gentler on digestion and supportive of the body’s internal balance.

Cold foods and drinks are often viewed as harder on digestion, particularly for those considered more “cold” or depleted in constitution.

It’s one of the oldest and simplest wellness habits in Chinese culture, and somehow still one of the most controversial online.

2. Herbal Foot Baths: Ancient Self-Care That Still Holds Up

One thing Chinese aunties will never stop recommending:
a proper hot foot soak.

Throughout Pursuit of Jade, warm water rituals appear repeatedly, and herbal foot baths are one of the most recognisable forms of traditional Chinese self-care.

In Chinese wellness culture, foot baths are traditionally used to:

• warm the body
• encourage relaxation
• support circulation
• help transition into rest at night

Herbs such as ginger and mugwort are commonly added for additional warmth and aromatic properties.

 

3. Gua Sha Was Around Long Before TikTok

One of the most iconic scenes in the drama involves gua sha being used in an emergency situation. Dramatic, emotional, and somehow weirdly romantic.

While modern beauty culture often frames gua sha as a sculpting or skincare tool, the practice itself has much deeper roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Traditionally, gua sha has been used to:

• release tension
• support circulation
• “move stagnation”
• encourage the body’s natural recovery processes

And yes, Chinese grandmothers were absolutely using spoons and coins for this long before rose quartz beauty tools existed.

4. Why Reishi and Ginseng Were Treated Like Treasure

At one point in the series, the princess-doctor recommends reishi and ginseng to wounded soldiers, only for them to laugh because there’s no way they could afford such valuable herbs.

Historically, this is extremely accurate.

Both reishi and ginseng were highly prized ingredients in Chinese herbal traditions because they were difficult to forage, expensive, and associated with vitality and longevity.

Ginseng in TCM

Ginseng has traditionally been valued for:

• supporting energy
• replenishing vitality
• recovery after depletion

Reishi in TCM

Reishi is famously known as:

“The mushroom of immortality”

It has historically been associated with longevity, nourishment, and overall wellness support.

5. Food Was Never Separate From Wellness in Chinese Culture

One of the most comforting parts of Pursuit of Jade is the constant presence of slow-cooked meals, broths, porridges, and warming stews.

In Traditional Chinese culture, food and wellness were never treated as completely separate categories.

Meals were often designed with:

• seasonality
• balance
• warming or cooling properties
• digestion
• nourishment

in mind.

A standout example in the show is stewed pork cooked with warming spices like:

• cloves
• cinnamon
• ginger
• star anise

These ingredients are traditionally associated with warmth and were commonly enjoyed during colder seasons.

Your air fryer could never.

6. The War Camp Herbal Medicine Scenes Were Surprisingly Accurate

One of the most fascinating wellness details in the drama is how the princess-doctor prepares medicine while working in a war camp with limited supplies.

Instead of relying on stocked dispensaries, she:

• forages herbs herself
• tests ingredients before use
• adapts formulas depending on availability
• slowly cooks herbal decoctions in clay pots over fire

This reflects a core principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine:
formulas are individualised and adaptable.

Treatment in TCM is traditionally based not only on symptoms, but also:

• constitution
• environment
• season
• lifestyle
• available resources

7. Osmanthus Desserts Are More Than Just Pretty

The osmanthus rice cakes in the series deserve their own moment.

Osmanthus flowers (桂花) are prized in Chinese culture for their:

• delicate floral fragrance
• seasonal symbolism
• subtle sweetness

In TCM-inspired food traditions, osmanthus is also valued as a gentle aromatic ingredient traditionally used to:

• support digestion
• promote gentle Qi movement
• reduce feelings of heaviness after rich foods
• provide mild internal warmth

Which means yes:
that elegant rice cake was technically wellness-coded.

8. Tangerine Peel Candy 

Tangerine peel candy might seem random at first until you realise aged tangerine peel (陈皮, chen pi) is actually a long-used ingredient in Chinese wellness traditions.

Traditionally, chen pi has been associated with:

• digestion
• aromatic warmth
• balancing richness after heavy meals

But the funniest part?

In Pursuit of Jade, Wu An Hao, who previously didn’t even eat sweets, ends up loving the candy after his wife introduces it to him.

So apparently, tangerine peel candy can support digestion and convert lovers.

Why These Rituals Still Resonate Today

Part of what makes Pursuit of Jade feel so comforting is that many of these rituals still exist in modern Chinese households.

The methods may evolve, but the core ideas remain:

• warmth
• balance
• nourishment
• seasonality
• slowing down
• caring for the body through everyday habits

And maybe that’s why these scenes feel so timeless.

Because underneath the historical costumes and drama politics, many of these wellness practices were never really trends, they were simply part of daily life.

To see our ratings on each of these ancient TCM wellness rituals, check out our instagram post here.