Overate? Here are 5 remedies

A physician and dietitians offer advice on how to deal with the excesses of the holiday season

White carrot soup PHOTOS: CHEW SENG KIM, EU YAN SANG
Hawthorn oolong tea.
Malt tea.

Many people tend to overeat during Chinese New Year and end up with digestive problems.

One may end up with a bloated tummy or even throw up after scarfing down a big feast.

Some of these discomforts can be soothed with herbal remedies which can be easily prepared at home.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physician Neo Min Jun - who works at Eu Yan Sang TCM Clinic and divides her time among the branches in Chinatown, Tiong Bahru and Simei - offers five remedies for digestive issues that may plague revellers this festive season.

IF YOU HAVE OVERINDULGED IN OILY FOOD AND MEAT

Try: Hawthorn oolong tea

Why: Hawthorn contains large amounts of citric acid, maslinic acid and ursoli acid, which will help your body to digest the food at a quicker rate.

This tea is not suitable for pregnant women. Hawthorn promotes blood circulation, according to TCM theory.

Pregnant women should not take herbs that have this effect, unless prescribed by a TCM physician. For pregnant women, they may cause side effects like mild gastric cramps and increase the risk of miscarriage. How: Brew 15g of oolong tea in 200ml of water. Boil 3g to5g of hawthorn for 15 minutes. Mix both and drink it warm.


IF YOU ARE BLOATED

Try: Malt tea

Why: Malt contains amylase and invertase, which are enzymes that aid in the digestion of starch.

The vitamin B content in malt also improves the body's digestion ability. How: Brew a pot of malt tea with one to two teabags of malt tea. There is no need to add sugar or sweetener. Drink it warm.


IF YOU HAVE A HANGOVER

Pueraria flower tea.

Try: Pueraria flower tea

Why: Pueraria flower has compounds that affect how the body manages alcohol.

It can help to lower the amount of alcohol circulating in your blood. How: Put 15g of pueraria flower in a pot with 200ml of hot water. Simmer for five to 10 minutes. Drink it warm.


IF YOU VOMIT AFTER OVEREATING

Ginger-orange peel tea.

Try: Ginger-orange peel tea

Why: Fresh ginger is used to enhance qi (vital energy) circulation to relieve vomiting and indigestion. Orange peel helps to reduce muscle spasms in the stomach and small intestine.

This tea helps to relieve stomach cramps and suppress the urge to vomit. How: Put two to three slices of fresh ginger with 10g of orange peel in 200ml of hot water. Drink it warm.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 24, 2017, with the headline Overate? Here are 5 remedies. Subscribe