Poor appetite is a common problem for many modern people. In addition to eating some appetizing snacks, traditional Chinese medicine believes that massaging the "Zhongwan Acupoint" and the "Zusanli Acupoint" can also help stimulate the appetite.
Massaging these two acupoints can help improve poor appetite
Zhongwan Acupoint
The "Zhongwan Acupoint" is located in the middle of the stomach, 4 inches above the navel. Massaging this acupoint can be beneficial for stomach ulcers, gastritis, excessive stomach acid, stomach prolapse, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, and indigestion.
Method: Use the middle, index, and ring fingers of both hands to simultaneously press and massage the Zhongwan Acupoint. Gradually apply pressure until there is a noticeable bloating sensation in the upper abdomen, then continue to press for 1-2 minutes. Next, rub your hands together to generate heat, place one palm on the stomach area and the other palm on the back of the hand, overlapping the hands. Rotate the hands clockwise and counterclockwise for 2 minutes, until there is a warm sensation in the stomach area. Repeat this process once in the morning and once in the evening.
Zusanli Acupoint
The Zusanli Acupoint is located 3 inches below the outer side of the knee, about one finger-width away from the outer edge of the shin bone. Massaging the Zusanli Acupoint can be effective for stomach spasms, gastritis, stomach prolapse, hiccups, nausea, and loss of appetite.
Method: Sit down and use the thumbs of both hands to press and massage the Zusanli Acupoint on both sides for 2-3 minutes, until there is a sour and bloating sensation in the local area that spreads towards the ankle. Repeat this process once in the morning and once in the evening.
What to eat to improve poor appetite
Tomatoes: Tomatoes contain malic acid, citric acid, and other substances that can increase gastric acidity, regulate gastrointestinal function, and assist in the treatment of symptoms such as thirst and decreased appetite caused by stomach heat. They can also reduce cholesterol levels. Tomatoes should be consumed both raw and cooked.
Osmanthus: Osmanthus has a warm nature and a spicy taste. It has the functions of invigorating the stomach, resolving phlegm, producing body fluids, dispersing phlegm, and soothing the liver. It can treat symptoms such as excessive phlegm cough, intestinal wind and bloody dysentery, toothache and bad breath, loss of appetite, and menstrual pain. "Osmanthus Dew" distilled from osmanthus flowers has the effect of soothing the liver, regulating qi, and invigorating the spleen and stomach.
Millet Congee: "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that millet "treats stomach heat, diarrhea, and helps nourish the Dantian, replenish deficiencies, invigorate the spleen and stomach." Traditional Chinese medicine also believes that millet can "warm the stomach and invigorate the middle." It has a sweet and salty taste and functions to clear heat, quench thirst, invigorate the stomach, eliminate dampness, soothe the stomach, and promote digestion. People with poor appetite can eat millet to stimulate their appetite and nourish their stomach, as it can improve digestion, prevent reflux, and stop vomiting.
Lemons: Despite their sour and slightly bitter taste, lemons, especially the peel, contain aromatic volatile compounds that can produce saliva, relieve heat, and stimulate the appetite. Drinking a glass of lemon-infused water when you have a poor appetite can refresh and invigorate you, and it can also open up your appetite.
Hawthorn Slices: Hawthorn slices contain various vitamins, tartaric acid, citric acid, malic acid, and other substances. The lipase they contain can promote the digestion of fatty foods and stimulate gastric acid secretion. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that hawthorn has the functions of resolving food stagnation, astringing the intestines to stop diarrhea, and promoting blood circulation and removing stasis. It is mainly used to treat symptoms such as food stagnation, fullness in the chest and abdomen, hernia, and blood stasis amenorrhea. In addition, eating hawthorn slices can also help with weight loss and reduce blood lipid levels.
Sour Plums: Sour plums contain organic acids such as citric acid, malic acid, tannic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, and tartaric acid. They have the effects of producing body fluids, relieving thirst, stimulating the appetite, and eliminating fatigue. Among them, citric acid is the most abundant acid in various fruits. It is an essential acid for cellular metabolism in the human body. It can promote the decomposition of lactic acid into carbon dioxide and water, relieve fatigue, and promote calcium absorption.
