Traditional Chinese Medicine- LA
My 10-Day TCM Journey for Digestive Issues Update
Background:
- Location: Ten Xin LA, 724 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Cost: $20 cash to see the doctor, $85 for 10-day tea supply
- TCM Diagnosis: Impaired blood circulation, rebellious stomach qi, chronic gastritis, gastrointestinal stagnation
- My Symptoms: Excessive burping, constipation (somewhat managed with homemade yogurt and magnesium), significant bloating throughout the day, and hard to pass gas somedays
- The Tea: So bitter. I had to sip it the past 10 days. And you must follow the tea steeping instructions that they give you. 5 bags of tea so 1 bag for 2 days each.
Why TCM? Western medicine never addressed my root cause. After months of struggling with these gut health issues, I figured it was worth trying. My husband is Vietnamese and his parents tried this type of medicine before. They laughed it off a little bit and just told me to eat more veggies (valid and I do :D). But I was still interested in trying something new.
The Journey:
Days 1-2: The tea is extremely bitter - not going to sugarcoat it. Didn't get better either taste wise. But within 48 hours, I noticed less bloating and significantly reduced burping. Even after eating carb-heavy meals (my typical trigger), burps were lighter and not painful like before.
Days 3-5: Things started moving more regularly (finally!). Lost about 1 lb, likely water weight from reduced bloating. The tea became a little bit more tolerable (this is me being nice).
Days 6-8: Major milestone - had Korean BBQ with half a bottle of beer (they dont recommend drinking alcohol while drinking tea and didnt realize until i took a sip.... oops) and didn't experience my usual post-meal bloating/burping episode. This was my "wow, something's actually working" moment. My body finally felt normal after eating. I am not exaggerating when I say this because previously over the past year.... I would just feel SO full after kbbq and that when I get home, I would burp for a couple hours or throughout the day and felt so bad about myself. On this night though, things continued to be fine with no struggle.
Days 9-10: Maintained all improvements. Feeling balanced and comfortable. Still light burping here and there but again, not excessive. Expected of course after a light meal.
Bottom Line:
- Bloating: resolved
- Burping: dramatically reduced (still mild burping with rice, my main trigger, but nothing like before)
- Digestive regularity: night and day difference
- Overall: Actually feel normal again
Notes: If you're considering TCM for gut health, prepare for very bitter tea. But honestly, after months of discomfort, it's been worth it. The improvements feel sustainable, not just temporary relief.
Oh and throughout this time.... I did not have any yogurt and magnesium. Just the tea. :D
Happy to answer questions!