9 TCM Herbal Teas to Support Harmonized Weight Balance

A condition occurs when calorie intake exceeds expenditure, leading to excessive fat accumulation, resulting in a bulky physique and body weight significantly above the normal range. Standard body weight can be calculated using the following formulas: for males, standard weight (kg) = height (cm) – 100; for females, standard weight (kg) = height (cm) – 102. Generally, after excluding special cases such as highly developed muscles or edema, individuals exceeding 10% of the standard weight are considered overweight, while those exceeding 20% are considered as having significant excess body weight.

The clinical signs of obesity imbalance primarily manifest as excess body weight and weight gain. This condition can occur in any age group but is more common in middle-aged and older individuals, particularly among women, while it is less frequent in those over 60–70 years of age. In male patients, fat distribution is mainly concentrated in the neck and trunk, with less accumulation in the limbs; in female patients, fat distribution is primarily in the abdomen, limbs, and buttocks. Mildly obese individuals may be asymptomatic or may present with reduced physical activity, drowsiness, easy fatigability, increased appetite, abdominal distension, and constipation. Female patients may experience reduced menstrual flow, while male patients may exhibit decreased sexual function or even impotence. In moderate to severe cases, due to fat accumulation and excessive body weight, oxygen consumption during physical activity increases, placing a burden on the Heart and Lungs. This may lead to palpitations, shortness of breath, and even cardiopulmonary insufficiency. These cases are often accompanied by conditions such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary Heart wellness, diabetes, and gallstones.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, excess body weight often results from the Spleen failing to transport and transform properly, causing dampness to accumulate and form phlegm-turbidity that obstructs the meridians and accumulates in the skin and flesh. Alternatively, it may arise from deficiency of Qi and Blood, leading to unsmooth circulation and stasis obstructing the collaterals, so that the essence of water and grains fails to nourish the body, instead generating phlegm-dampness that accumulates internally.

Traditional Chinese Medicine classifies obesity into five patterns and applies supports based on pattern differentiation according to different causes.

1. Spleen Deficiency with Dampness Obstruction: excessive body weight, puffiness, fatigue and lack of strength, heavy sensation in the limbs, poor appetite and abdominal fullness, reduced urination, tongue with pale red body and thin greasy coating, deep thready pulse. Supporting principle: fortify the Spleen and boost Qi, and support healthy body weight by resolving Dampness.

2. Stomach Heat with Dampness Obstruction: Excess body weight, head distension, dizziness, excessive appetite with rapid digestion, heavy limbs and lethargy, thirst with desire to drink, red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery and slightly rapid pulse. supports principle: supports a balanced stomach environment and helps the body regulate dampness, thereby promoting healthy weight management.

3. Liver Qi Stagnation: obesity, fullness and discomfort in the chest and rib-side, epigastric stuffiness, occasional menstrual irregularity, supports a healthy menstrual cycle, promotes restful sleep with few dreams, dark red tongue body with white greasy coating, wiry and thin pulse. The supportive approach helps helps with occasional the Liver and regulate Qi, supporting the body’s natural ability to resolve stagnation and maintain a healthy fluid balance.

4. Spleen and Kidney Deficiency: excess body weight, fatigue and weakness, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, low sexual vitality, cold sensation in the genital area, red tongue with thin white coating, deep, thin, and weak pulse. support principle: supports Kidney warmth and yin nourishment, supports Spleen function and helps maintain a healthy body weight.

5. Yin Deficiency with Internal Heat: overweight, dizziness and blurred vision, distending headache, soreness and weakness of the lower back and legs, five-center heat (palms, soles, and chest), low-grade fever, red tip of the tongue with thin yellow coating, thin rapid and slightly wiry pulse. supports principle: nourishes Yin and supports internal balance, tonifies the Kidney and supports healthy weight management.

1.Cangzhu Fuling Cha (Atractylodes and Poria Tea)

Ingredients: Atractylodes lancea (Cangzhu), Poria cocos (Fuling), Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), Alisma orientale (Zexie), 10 grams each.

Preparation: Grind the above herbs into a coarse powder, place in a cup, steep in boiling water, and drink as tea. One dose daily.

Function: supports healthy Spleen function and Qi energy. Helps the body manage dampness and maintain a healthy body composition. Designed for individuals with Spleen Qi Deficiency and Dampness Turbidity pattern.

2.Jueming Zexie Cha (Cassia Seed and Alisma Tea)

Ingredients: Stir-fried Cassia obtusifolia (Chao Jueming), Alisma orientale (Zexie), and Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu) 10 g each; Crataegus pinnatifida (Shanzha) and processed Polygonum multiflorum (Zhi Heshouwu) 20 g each.

Boil water and steep the coarse powder of the above herbs in a thermos. Drink as tea. One dose daily.

Actions: supports Spleen health and tonifies Qi, helps maintain a balanced internal environment and healthy fat metabolism, and supports the elimination of Dampness and Phlegm. This combination is designed for weight management support in cases of Spleen Deficiency with Dampness Obstruction pattern.

3.Juhe Jianpi Cha (Tangerine and Lotus Leaf Spleen-Supporting Tea)

Ingredients: Citrus reticulata (Dried Tangerine Peel) 10 g, Nelumbo nucifera (Lotus Leaf) 15 g, Crataegus pinnatifida (Stir-fried Hawthorn Fruit) 3 g, Hordeum vulgare (Raw Malt) 15 g, White Sugar 30 g.

Preparation method: Combine the first four ingredients into a coarse powder. Place them together with white sugar into a cup, brew with boiling water, and consume as a tea. One dose daily.

supports Spleen function and promotes smooth digestion, helps elevate the clear and transform turbidity, and supports healthy lipid metabolism and weight management. Designed for individuals with Spleen Deficiency and Dampness patterns to help maintain a healthy body weight.

4. Shanzha Maiya Cha (Hawthorn and Malt Tea)

Ingredients: Crataegus pinnatifida (Shanzha) 30g, Hordeum vulgare (Maiya) 30g, Cassia obtusifolia (Stir-fried Juemingzi) 15g, Camellia sinensis (Chaye) 6g, Nelumbo nucifera (Haye) 6g.

Preparation: Grind the above herbs into a coarse powder, place it in a teapot, steep with boiling water, and drink as tea. One dose daily.

Function: supports Liver health and helps maintain a balanced internal environment, promotes healthy digestion and assists in maintaining normal lipid levels. Designed to support weight management for individuals with a tendency toward Stomach Heat with Dampness Obstruction.

5.Shanzha Fanxie Ye Cha (Hawthorn and Senna Leaf Tea)

Ingredients: Senna alexandrina (Fanxie) 4g, Crataegus pinnatifida (Shanzha) 10g, Alisma orientale (Zexie) 10g, Cassia obtusifolia (Juemingzi) 10g.

Preparation method: Coarsely grind the above 4 ingredients together, place in a thermos, and steep with boiling water. Drink as a tea. Take one dose daily. Continue for one month as one course.

Efficacy: helps maintain a balanced internal environment and supports normal gastrointestinal function, promotes healthy fluid metabolism and helps reduce occasional puffiness, and supports healthy lipid metabolism. It is formulated to aid weight management for individuals with Stomach Heat and Dampness Obstruction pattern.

6.Mingju Shanzha Cha (Chrysanthemum and Hawthorn Tea)

Ingredients: 15g stir-fried Cassia obtusifolia (Juemingzi), 15g Crataegus pinnatifida (Shanzha) slices, 6g Chrysanthemum morifolium (Juhua).

Preparation: Place the above three ingredients into a cup, steep with boiling water, and drink as tea. One dose daily.

Actions: helps maintain a balanced internal environment and supports the body’s natural ability to address occasional stagnation, supports the movement of Qi and blood, and promotes healthy digestion and elimination. Used for individuals with Liver Qi Stagnation pattern to support healthy weight management.

7.Rehmannia and Chinese Yam Tea (Shudi Shanyao Cha)

Ingredients: Rehmannia glutinosa (Shu Dihuang) 20g, Dioscorea opposita (Shanyao) 15g, Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) 15g, Cinnamomum cassia (Rougui) 9g, Eucommia ulmoides (Duzhong) 9g, Lycium barbarum (Gouqizi) 9g, Cuscuta chinensis (Tusizi) 12g, Cervi Cornus Colla (Lujiaojiao) 12g, Angelica sinensis (Danggui) 12g, Poria cocos (Fuling) 15g, Paeonia suffruticosa (Danpi) 9g, Alisma orientale (Zexie) 9g, Plantago asiatica (Cheqianzi) 12g, Codonopsis pilosula (Dangshen) 15g.

Preparation: Decoct the above herbs twice with water, combine the decoctions, and drink as tea. One dose daily, taken in two divided doses, morning and evening.

supports Kidney yang warmth and vitality, and supports Spleen function and healthy lipid metabolism. Intended for individuals with Spleen and Kidney Deficiency patterns to support healthy weight management.

8.Zhibai Dihuang Cha (Anemarrhena-Phellodendron-Rehmannia Tea)

Ingredients: Anemarrhena asphodeloides (Zhimu) 9g, Phellodendron chinense (Huangbai) 9g, Rehmannia glutinosa (Shengdi) 12g, Dioscorea opposita (Shanyao) 12g, Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) 9g, Alisma orientale (Zexie) 12g, Poria cocos (Fuling) 15g, Paeonia suffruticosa (Danpi) 15g, Gardenia jasminoides (Zhizi) 9g.

Preparation: Process the above herbs into coarse pieces, place them in an insulated cup, and steep with boiling water. Drink as tea. One dose daily.

Efficacy: Helps nourish yin and maintain internal cooling, supports Kidney health, and promotes healthy weight management. Formulated for individuals with a constitution of Yin Deficiency with Internal Heat and weight concerns.

9.Heye Shouwu Cha (Lotus Leaf and Fleeceflower Root Tea)

Ingredients: 15g of Nelumbo nucifera (He Ye, Lotus Leaf), 10g of Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu, Fleeceflower Root), 5g of Ligustrum lucidum (Nu Zhen Zi, Glossy Privet Fruit).

Preparation: Grind the above three ingredients into a coarse powder, place in a thermos flask, and brew with boiling water. Drink as tea. One dose daily.

Efficacy: supports yin nourishment and helps maintain a balanced internal environment. supports Liver and Kidney health. helps maintain healthy weight regulation in individuals with a pattern of Yin Deficiency and internal heat.