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TCM Recuperation Guide for Common Postpartum Body Changes
After childbirth, mothers undergo a transformative recovery period where physical, emotional, and hormonal shifts require special attention and care. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach to managing postpartum body changes, integrating physical care advice, dietary recommendations, and therapeutic treatments to help new mothers regain their strength, health, and confidence. Let’s find out how you can overcome these body changes with lifestyle adjustments, dietary care and Madam Partum services.
Hormonal Imbalances
Physical Care Advice
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can help regulate stress hormones like cortisol and improve emotional stability.
How It Helps
These activities activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces stress, promotes better sleep, and balances mood swings. This practice might not easy to pick up if you are not already accustomed to doing Yoga or meditation. So do give yourself some time to pick this up, and the impact on your emotional well-being will be huge.
TCM Perspective
Emotional instability post-delivery often stems from Qi stagnation in the liver, which affects the smooth flow of energy and emotions. Relaxing practices improve Liver Qi flow, calming mood swings and enhancing overall emotional recovery.
Prioritize Rest and Recovery
Postpartum mothers often face sleep disruptions due to infant care. Nap whenever possible and create a bedtime routine to maximize rest. You can get help from your support system so that you can get as much rest as you can get.
How It Helps
Rest allows the body to recover its energy reserves, stabilizes hormonal fluctuations, and improves metabolic functions.
TCM Perspective
Inadequate sleep depletes Kidney Qi, which is vital for hormonal balance and overall vitality. Prioritizing rest nourishes the kidneys and replenishes Yin energy.
TCM Dietary Care
Food to Include
- Red Dates & Goji Berries: Nourish the blood and support Qi
- Lean Meats (Chicken & Fish): Provide protein and iron which are essential for blood boosting.
- Ginger: Improves digestion and enhances the absorption of nutrients.
Food to avoid
- Cold and Raw Foods: These are considered damaging to the Spleen and stomach, slowing down digestion and leading to Qi stagnation.
- Spicy or Fried Foods: These can exacerbate inflammation and disrupt the body’s natural cooling processes.
Ginger and Red Date Tea
- Benefits: Red dates replenish blood and energy, while ginger warms the body and supports digestive health, both critical for hormonal recovery.
- Ingredients: 3 slices of fresh ginger, 5 red dates, 2 cups of water. Recipe: Simmer all ingredients for 10-15 minutes and drink warm.
- TCM Insight: This tea strengthens Spleen Qi, which is crucial for hormone regulation and emotional stability.
Professional Help
Post-Partum Massage
How It Helps
This full-body massage includes meridian point stimulation to enhance Qi flow, balance hormones, and promote relaxation. Specific acupoints linked to the liver and spleen are targeted to release emotional tension and stabilize mood.
Benefits:
- Reduces fatigue and tension.
- Improves sleep quality and emotional well-being.
- Promotes hormonal equilibrium through meridian points stimulation.
Stubborn Fat Accumulation
Physical Advice
Core and Cardio Exercises
Start with light activities like pelvic tilts, abdominal breathing, or walking. Gradually progress to low-impact exercises. You can slowly increase the intensity by holding your pelvic tilt position for a longer period or increase the speed of your walk, but do it when you are feeling more comfortable and in a progressive manner.
How It Helps
These activities stimulate metabolism and help break down stubborn fat by increasing energy expenditure and improving circulation.
TCM Perspective
Stagnation of Qi and weakness in the Spleen are often responsible for fat retention. Stimulating Qi flow through physical activity can promote fat metabolism and restore balance in the body.
Stay Hydrated
Drink warm water with lemon to kickstart metabolism and detoxify the body.
How It Helps
Hydration helps flush out toxins and supports fat breakdown, promoting effective weight loss.
TCM Perspective
Warm drinks support the spleen and stomach, enhancing their function in metabolizing and distributing nutrients. Also, spleen Qi is responsible for transforming food into energy, and proper hydration ensures this process is efficient.
TCM Dietary Care
Food to Include
- Barley, Fennel: Support digestion and improve metabolism.
- Lean Protein: Chicken, turkey, and eggs for muscle building and tissue repair.
- Cinnamon: Stimulates fat breakdown and improves circulation.
Food to Avoid
- Greasy and Oily Foods: These contribute to dampness, which slows down digestion and fat breakdown.
- Excess Sugar: High sugar intake can disrupt metabolism and contribute to weight retention.
Chicken Soup with Ginger and Fennel
- Ingredients: 200g chicken (with bones), 5 slices of ginger, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 2 cups of water.
- Recipe: Sauté ginger and fennel seeds, add chicken and water, simmer for 30 minutes.
- Benefits: This nourishing soup promotes digestion, improves circulation, and boosts metabolism, helping to break down stubborn fat and tone the body.
Professional Help
Professional Help
ShapeUP Full Body
How It Helps
Combines TCM meridian massage with slimming ampoules. The massage stimulates acupoints linked to fat metabolism, while the ampoules enhance fat breakdown in targeted areas like the belly, thighs, and arms.
Benefits:
Targets stubborn fat in areas like the belly, thighs, and arms. Enhances digestion and speeds up metabolism. Helps improve body contour and tone by reducing excess fat and bloating.
ShapeUP Contour
How It Helps
Utilizes RET and CET technology to reach deeper fat layers. Heat generated during the treatment stimulates fat breakdown and collagen production, improving skin elasticity.
Benefits:
Reduces deeper fat deposits. Supports smoother, firmer skin. Complements natural fat reduction methods for lasting results.
Water Retention and Puffiness
Physical Advice
Elevate Your Legs
Elevate your legs above your heart for 10-15 minutes a few times daily.
How It Helps
Elevating the legs improves lymphatic drainage and reduces swelling in the extremities.
TCM Perspective
In TCM, the Spleen is responsible for fluid regulation. Elevating the legs helps promote the flow of Qi and fluids, preventing the buildup of excess moisture.
Gentle Exercise
Engage in gentle movement like walking or stretching to stimulate circulation and promote fluid elimination.
How It Helps
Movement encourages blood flow and helps reduce the buildup of fluids in the tissues.
TCM Perspective
Moving Qi and promoting circulation aids in the proper distribution of fluids, reducing water retention and bloating.
TCM Dietary Care
Food to Include
- Barley, Red Beans, Lotus Root: These foods are natural diuretics and help eliminate excess water from the body.
- Cucumbers, Watermelon: These hydrating foods support fluid balance and improve skin texture
Food to Avoid Salty Foods:
- High sodium levels exacerbate water retention and puffiness.
- Excessive Dairy: Dairy products can lead to bloating and digestive disturbances
Barley and Red Bean Soup
- Ingredients: 50g barley, 50g red beans, 4 cups of water.
- Recipe: Soak ingredients overnight, then simmer for 1 hour.
- Benefits: Diuretic properties help reduce water retention while nourishing Qi.
TCM Insight: Strengthens Spleen Qi to address fluid imbalance and puffiness.
Professional Help
Post-Partum Massage
How It Helps
Full Body meridian massage focuses on improving lymphatic drainage, releasing water retention, and reducing puffiness in targeted areas.
Benefits:
Relieves swelling in limbs and face. Detoxifies the body by enhancing fluid movement. Provides a sense of lightness and improved mobility.
Water Retention and Puffiness
Physical Advice
Core Exercises
Start with light pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) and gradually move to abdominal strengthening exercises like bridges or leg lifts.
How It Helps
Strengthening the core stabilizes the pelvic floor, improves posture, and helps reduce lower back pain.
TCM Perspective
In TCM, strengthening Qi and nourishing blood helps rebuild muscle strength and stability, promoting faster recovery of the core muscles.
Use Supportive Posture Techniques
Pay attention to posture, especially when lifting your baby or breastfeeding. Using supportive pillows can reduce strain.
How It Helps
Proper posture prevents further muscle strain and helps maintain spinal alignment.
TCM Perspective
Correct posture ensures smooth Qi flow throughout the body, supporting muscle recovery and overall energy levels.
TCM Dietary Care
Food to Include
- Bone Broth: Nourishes tissues, strengthens muscles, and supports bone recovery.
- Chinese Yam: Strengthens the Spleen and Kidney, essential for muscle repair.
- Almonds: Provide healthy fats and support muscle health
Food to Avoid
- Caffeine: Dehydrates the body and weakens muscles.
- Excessive Sugar: Disrupts metabolism and slows recovery.
Bone Broth with Chinese Yam
- Ingredients: 500g chicken bones, 100g Chinese yam, 4 cups water.
- Method: Simmer the bones and Chinese yam for 2 hours.
Benefits: This nourishing broth strengthens the core and muscles, aids in joint recovery, and promotes overall physical vitality.
Professional Help
ShapeUP Define
How It Helps
Focuses on core muscle recovery using electromagnetic stimulation. This treatment contracts abdominal muscles, rebuilding strength and tone without physical strain.
Benefits:
- Rebuilds core strength and stability.
- Enhances posture and muscle tone.
- Complements gentle physical exercises for a balanced recovery.
Stretch Marks and Skin Changes
Physical Advice
Hydrate Your Skin
Use moisturizing creams with natural oils like shea butter or almond oil.
How It Helps
Maintains skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of stretch marks over time.
TCM Perspective
Keeping the skin hydrated nourishes Lung Qi, which governs the skin in TCM.
Engage in Gentle Massage
Lightly massage affected areas with circular motions to improve circulation.
How It Helps
Encourages collagen production and supports skin repair.
TCM Perspective
Enhances blood flow and Qi circulation, allowing the skin to heal more effectively.
TCM Dietary Care
Snow Fungus and Papaya Soup
Ingredients:
- 50g snow fungus, 1 ripe papaya, 3 cups of water.
- Recipe: Simmer snow fungus until soft, add papaya, and cook for 15 minutes.
- Benefits: Hydrates the skin, boosts collagen production, and improves texture.
TCM Insight:
Supports Lung Yin, enhancing hydration and elasticity.
Professional Help
ShapeUP Contour
How It Helps
Improves skin elasticity and firmness through RET and CET technology, which stimulate collagen and elastin production.
Benefits:
Reduces the visibility of stretch marks. Enhances skin texture and smoothness. Provides a non-invasive solution for long-term skin health.
Embracing the Postpartum Journey
Postpartum recovery is a journey of self-care, patience, and empowerment. By incorporating TCM principles, nourishing foods, and targeted treatments, mothers can navigate this transformative period with confidence. Remember, taking care of your body is not just about aesthetics—it’s about nurturing your overall well-being and embracing the strength and resilience that comes with motherhood. Ready to start your postpartum recovery journey? Discover the transformative benefits of TCM and begin your path to renewed balance and vitality.
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