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Foods Good for the Spleen and Stomach

Yam: Strengthens Spleen-Stomach Vitality

Yam, a top-grade herb in Shennong Ben Cao Jing, tonifies the lung, spleen, and kidney. With a sweet taste and neutral nature, it boosts spleen-stomach digestion, reinforces their vitality, and nourishes without causing stagnation.

Poria Cocos: Drains Waste Fluid and Dampness
Poria Cocos, known as the "miraculous herb for all seasons", excels at dispelling dampness and strengthening the spleen. With a sweet and bland nature, it subtly drains waste fluid and dampness from the body, promoting urination and relieving stranguria.

Lotus Seeds: The "Spleen-Fruit" for Calming the Mind

Praised by Li Shizhen as the "Spleen-Fruit", lotus seeds strengthen the spleen and exert an astringent effect. For diarrhea (often caused by dampness), they astringe, tonify the spleen, dispel dampness, and stop diarrhea. Moreover, they enter the heart meridian to relieve restlessness and insomnia.

Euryale Ferox Seeds: Best for Astringing and Consolidating

Euryale ferox seeds are sweet, astringent, and neutral, entering the spleen and kidney meridians. They nourish the kidney, tonify the spleen, dispel dampness, and ease problems like diarrhea or leucorrhea.

Like lotus seeds, they astringe to relieve spleen-deficiency diarrhea; like poria cocos, they boost the spleen’s function to expel dampness and waste fluid.

These 4 ingredients may seem unremarkable in taste, but don't underestimate them. Alone, each shines; together, they form the classic spleen-strengthening and dampness-resolving formula—Sishen Tang (Four-Herb Soup). Originating in the Song Dynasty, it remains popular in Guangdong, Taiwan, southern Fujian, etc., and was recommended by national TCM master Lu Zhizheng.

If making Sishen Tang is too troublesome, ready-made Ganoderma lucidum spore powder capsules are a good alternative.

Ganoderma lucidum, one of TCM’s nine “immortal herbs”, nourishes the stomach and calms the mind (per Shennong Ben Cao Jing). Its sweet taste enters the spleen to boost spleen-stomach qi — as Li Shizhen said, “Ganoderma tonifies the middle”. Sufficient spleen qi keeps the body’s qi circulating.

In short, when nurturing the spleen and stomach, add “good foods” and subtract “unhealthy foods”. Otherwise, efforts may be wasted, or poor habits (sleep, overthinking, laziness, diet) will worsen your health.