Latest news with #LuluGe
New York Post
12 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
My Chinese mom's timeless health tips — including a ‘magic' go-to and a plant that helps with cramps, colds, and upset stomachs
Modern health trends come and go, but the real secret to feeling your best may lie in ancient practices you can do right at home. 'So many of my wellness roots trace back to my mom's kitchen. She always believed that food is medicine and that healing starts long before you're sick,' Lulu Ge, founder of Elix, a wellness brand inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), told The Post. Ge shared three of her mother's time-tested food tips, plus two bonus remedies, to help you spend less time in the doctor's office and more time enjoying your life. 5 Lulu Ge notes that traditional Chinese medicine focuses on whole-body wellness. Courtesy of Elix Healing Keep it warm to beat the cramps Ladies, listen up: 'Eat warming foods for a warm, pain-free womb,' Ge said. That means ditching iced drinks, especially during your period. In TCM, the menstrual cycle is believed to be closely linked to the flow of 'Qi,' or vital energy, and blood. Ge's mother warned that getting chilled can cause stagnation, leading to painful cramps, irregular periods and trouble shedding the uterine lining. The remedy? Load up on warming spices and cooked foods, while avoiding cold and raw dishes, to keep your blood flowing and stay pain-free. Ginger to the rescue Used in Chinese and Indian medicine for thousands of years, ginger comes from the root of the Zingiber officinale plant. 5 Ginger can reduce bloating and support digestion. Luis Echeverri Urrea – 'It's a warming spice shown to help with digestive issues, nausea, and bloating,' Ge said. Here's how it works: ginger speeds up the rate at which food leaves the stomach, which helps those with delayed stomach emptying — a common cause of nausea. It also reduces fermentation, constipation and other causes of bloating and gas. Additionally, ginger contains gingerol, a compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. These help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, easing stomach pain and cramps. Whenever Ge had cramps, a cold, or an upset stomach, her mother would simmer fresh ginger into tea and insist she sip it slowly. 'Now, I keep Elix's Ginger Aide with me everywhere as a nod to that tradition,' she said. The product is a pure concentrate of decocted organic ginger slices that allows users 'to feel the effects of plant medicine in a gentle, daily ritual.' Broth that heals Bone broth isn't just soup — it's liquid gold. Made by simmering animal bones for hours, it's packed with collagen, minerals and amino acids. 5 Bone broth is made from animal bones and connective tissue, typically cattle, chicken or fish. qwartm – 'Bone broth = magic,' Ge said. 'It was the go-to for recovery — after illness or just when life felt depleting.' In TCM, bone broth is a powerhouse elixir that boosts Qi, blood and 'Yin' energy, which is responsible for providing the body with the moisture it needs to function properly. When yin is low, you may experience symptoms such as dry skin, night sweats, constipation and anxiety. Qi deficiency often manifests as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and loss of appetite. In TCM, bone broth is also often used to nourish postpartum mothers, giving them the nutrients and energy needed to recover from childbirth and support lactation. Ge said her mother always paired bone broth with goji berries, red dates and, of course, a dash of love. The power of rest In TCM, wellness isn't just about what's on your plate. 'My mom made sure I prioritized sleep and restorative 'Yin' time for rest and relaxation,' Ge said, noting this is especially crucial during your period, when you're wiped out or feeling on the verge of getting sick. 'She saw rest as a form of healing — not a luxury, but a necessity. It helps you bounce back with fresh energy and focus,' Ge added. 5 About 84 million Americans don't consistently get the recommended amount of sleep for optimal health. Syda Productions – In the US, about 1 in 3 adults regularly miss out on the sleep they need to stay healthy, according to a 2022 Gallup poll. Adequate sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being, enabling the brain and body to undergo critical repair and restoration processes. These include muscle recovery, tissue growth, and hormone regulation, as well as the removal of toxins, support of immune function and memory consolidation. Skip the pills — try this first 'Anytime I had pain, her instinct was to reach for a warming balm, acupressure point or herbal patch first,' Ge said. 'She trusted the body could heal — with the right support.' 5 Ge recommends blending Eastern and Western approaches for optimal health. Courtesy of Elix Healing TCM treats the whole person, aiming to fix root problems, not just mask symptoms like Western medicine often does. Herbal patches and balms work by delivering healing directly through the skin to sore spots, cutting down on systemic side effects and targeting the pain where it hurts most. In TCM, your skin mirrors is also thought to mirror your inner health. These external remedies help strengthen and repair it, making you tougher against the daily grind. Plus, balms and patches team up with internal herbs for a one-two punch, tackling symptoms and restoring balance throughout the body's energy system. All these tips can boost your health — but don't ditch Western medicine just yet. 'The real power lies in blending Eastern and Western medicine,' Ge said. 'Western tools for acute issues and diagnostics, TCM for long-term support, prevention and personalized care. Together, they offer something truly holistic,' she explained.
New York Post
09-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
3 traditional Chinese medicine remedies for when Western medicine isn't cutting it — including the ‘female ginseng'
Fed up with pharmaceuticals and looking to dabble in traditional Chinese medicine? This expert has you covered. 'Western medicine often focuses on mopping up the water on the floor — your symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) looks for the leaky faucet. It asks, why is the water leaking in the first place?' Lulu Ge, founder of Elix, a wellness brand rooted in TCM, told The Post. But where to start? Ge broke down the basics you need to know and shared her three go-to remedies, including one she always carries in her purse. Advertisement 5 Ge notes that Western medicine often focuses on symptom management and quick relief. Courtesy of Elix Healing Though Ge notes that many people are now turning to TCM because of concerns about what's in their food and drugs, this isn't about wiping Western cures from your medicine cabinet — it's about finding the balance between both. 'The real power lies in blending Eastern and Western medicine,' she explained. 'Western tools for acute issues and diagnostics, TCM for long-term support, prevention, and personalized care. Together, they offer something truly holistic. 'TCM has always emphasized whole-body wellness, clean ingredients and balance,' she added. 'TCM is not just for when something's wrong; it's for helping you feel your best, every day.' Advertisement Ge spilled on her favorites below. 5 Ginger neutralizes free radicals, which cause oxidative stress and contribute to cellular damage and aging. Igor Normann – Ginger Used in Chinese and Indian medicine for thousands of years, ginger comes from the roots of the Zingiber officinale plant. Advertisement Ge always keeps organic ginger in her purse and at the ready: 'It's a warming spice shown to help with digestive issues, nausea and bloating.' Ginger contains the compound gingerol, which has been shown to have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. 'It's an all-around herb that does it all. If you feel like a little bit of a cold or flu coming on, or you feel a little bloating and indigestion, it's simple and gentle to take ginger. Ginger has also been shown to help with headaches.' she said. Advertisement As The Post previously reported, ginger neutralizes free radicals, which cause oxidative stress and contribute to cellular damage and aging. It also enhances the body's ability to burn calories, making the spice a boon to dieters. Elix offers organic Ginger Aide, a pure concentrate of decocated organic ginger slices that allows users 'to feel the effects of plant medicine in a gentle, daily ritual.' 5 Angelica sinensis, also known as the 'female ginseng,' is a boon for balancing hormonal health and treating period pain. Tuan Nguyen – Angelica sinensis Native to China and Japan, Angelica sinensis, commonly known as dong quai, is an aromatic herb of the parsley family. Ge says Angelica sinensis, AKA 'female ginseng,' is a boon for balancing hormonal health and treating period pain. 'In TCM, Angelica sinensis is used to nourish and invigorate blood, regulate menstruation, and ease cramps. Research has shown it contains bioactive compounds that support circulation, reduce inflammation, and may help modulate hormonal activity.' Advertisement As a testament to the power of Angelica sinensis, the wonder herb is used in nearly all of Elix's formulas. 5 Ge recommends Elix's personalized Cycle Balance Formula to support individual menstrual and hormone cycles Courtesy of Elix Healing Elix's Cycle Balance Formula Ge notes that for many living with chronic hormonal conditions like painful periods, irregular cycles, PCOS, endometriosis, PMDD or fibroids, Western options are limited to hormonal birth control, surgery, or a grin and bear it approach. 'That's not care, and it's certainly not empowerment.' Advertisement Rather than simply labeling or diagnosing a condition, TCM looks at why the body is experiencing those symptoms. 'Is your Qi stagnant? Is there internal heat? Are your organs out of sync? The goal is to identify your unique pattern of imbalance,' she said. Ge recommends Elix's personalized Cycle Balance Formula to support individual menstrual and hormone cycles. Advertisement Prior to purchase, Elix customers are asked to complete a health assessment that includes questions about sleep, digestion, stress, and menstrual cycle. 'Because no two bodies — or cycles — are the same, personalization is everything. Each formula is tailored to your unique pattern of imbalance, using carefully selected herbs that support hormone regulation, reduce inflammation, nourish energy, and ease pain at the root. It's gentle, yet deeply powerful.' 5 'TCM asks why those symptoms are happening in the first place — it's a root-cause, whole-body approach that aims to prevent future imbalances, not just patch them up,' Gu said. doucefleur – Possible ingredients include corydalis, mint, cyperus, licorice, bupleurum, white peony root, poria, atractylodes and gardenia pods. Advertisement Backed by two independent, IRB-approved clinical studies, Cycle Balance has been shown to support PCOS management and reduce 15 of the most common PMS and period symptoms. 'We see it as a complement to conventional care, offering support where Western medicine may fall short, and helping people finally feel like they have a complete, holistic plan for healing. It's not just herbal support, it's root-cause healing made accessible.' How to sprinkle in TCM Ge notes that Western medicine often focuses on symptom management and quick relief. 'While that's sometimes necessary and lifesaving, it can also be like pressing a mute button on your body's signals — suppressing a symptom without asking why it's happening,' she said. 'TCM asks why those symptoms are happening in the first place — it's a root-cause, whole-body approach that aims to prevent future imbalances, not just patch them up. 'A key part of TCM is pattern diagnosis — the idea that symptoms don't exist in isolation, they're clues pointing to deeper imbalances in how your body's energy (Qi), fluids, blood, and organ systems function,' she said.
