Today, obesity has become a growing health concern for many people. It not only affects physical appearance but also serves as a major contributing factor to "the three highs" (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia) as well as various cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, and other chronic conditions.

Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches obesity treatment by emphasizing holistic regulation and syndrome differentiation. It focuses not just on weight reduction but more importantly on improving physical constitution and restoring metabolic balance. Among its methods, herbal pairing therapy has demonstrated unique clinical advantages. Let's explore several classic herb pairs commonly used in obesity treatment to help you achieve a lighter, healthier body.

Obesity isn't just about overeating.

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that obesity is not simply "excessive weight," but rather an external manifestation of internal organ dysfunction. It is primarily related to imbalances in multiple organs including the spleen, stomach, liver, and kidneys.

Spleen and stomach deficiency

The spleen and stomach act like the body's "logistics headquarters," responsible for transportation and transformation—converting food into essential nutrients that are distributed throughout the body. If spleen and stomach function is weak, the ability to metabolize fluids decreases, leading to internal retention of phlegm-dampness, which makes the body prone to edema and obesity.

Liver Qi Stagnation

The liver governs free coursing and regulates qi movement. When emotions become obstructed due to various reasons, it can cause liver qi stagnation and qi movement dysfunction, thereby affecting the metabolic efficiency of the entire body.

Kidney Qi Deficiency

Kidney qi acts like the body's "small furnace," providing the primary driving force for vital activities. When kidney qi is deficient and warming capacity weakens, it can lead to water metabolism disorders and easily cause deficiency-type obesity.

Phlegm-dampness and blood stasis internal obstruction

Long-term poor dietary and lifestyle habits can impair the spleen and stomach's transportation and transformation functions, causing accumulated water-dampness to form phlegm. Phlegm obstructs qi movement, which in turn affects blood circulation, ultimately leading to the congealment of phlegm-dampness with blood stasis. This forms a viscous, turbid "turbid fat" that accumulates throughout the body, gradually developing into refractory obesity.

Herbal pair combinations for fat reduction

What are herbal pairs?

"Pharmacodynamic pairs" (药物配对) are a classical form of compatibility in traditional Chinese medicine, referring to the combination of two herbs with complementary properties and effects to enhance therapeutic efficacy while reducing adverse reactions. This pairing method embodies the TCM formulation principle of "monarch-minister-assistant-envoy" (君臣佐使). Though consisting of only two herbs, it can achieve a synergistic effect where (1+1>2).

The application of pharmacodynamic pairs is not limited to TCM formulas but can also be incorporated into daily diets, realizing the health preservation concept of "medicine and food sharing the same origin" (药食同源).

Healthy Fat-Reducing Herb Pairings

Lotus leaf + Hawthorn

Lotus leaves have a bitter taste and neutral nature, capable of clearing summer heat and resolving dampness, as well as uplifting yang qi. They are particularly effective in dissolving greasiness and regulating blood lipids. Hawthorn has a sour and sweet taste with a slightly warm nature, aiding digestion and strengthening the stomach, promoting qi circulation to disperse blood stasis, and eliminating turbidity to lower lipids. It is especially proficient in breaking down meat stagnation

When used together, they can clear damp-heat and turbid fats from the body while promoting digestion and reducing fat absorption, creating a synergistic effect. Particularly suitable for obese individuals with greasy diets and poor digestion, typically presenting with prominent abdominal obesity, dry and bitter mouth, and sticky stools. For daily use, steep 10g of lotus leaves and 15g of hawthorn in boiling water as a tea substitute, best consumed after meals for optimal results.

Poria Cocos + Coix Seed

Poria (茯苓) has a sweet and bland taste with a neutral nature. It can promote urination, drain dampness, strengthen the spleen, and calm the mind, making it a commonly used diuretic for reducing edema. Coix seed (薏苡仁) has a sweet and bland taste with a slightly cold nature. It can promote urination, drain dampness, strengthen the spleen, and stop diarrhea, serving as a common weight-loss ingredient. Modern research has found that coixenolide and dietary fiber in coix seeds can both boost metabolism and reduce intestinal fat absorption

When combined, they significantly enhance the spleen-strengthening and dampness-eliminating effects, making them particularly suitable for obese individuals with spleen deficiency and dampness excess. The main manifestations include lack of energy, frequent fatigue, heavy body sensation, loose and soft physique, puffy and edematous appearance (especially notable lower limb edema in the afternoon), poor appetite, sticky stools, enlarged tongue with teeth marks on the edges. You can cook 15g of Poria cocos (Fu Ling) and 30g of coix seed (Yi Yi Ren) with rice into porridge and consume it morning and evening daily. Note: As coix seed is slightly cold in nature, those with spleen-stomach deficiency cold can use stir-fried coix seed instead to reduce its cooling properties.

Tangerine Peel + Ginger

Tangerine peel is bitter and pungent in taste, warm in nature, and can regulate qi, strengthen the spleen, and dry dampness to resolve phlegm. The volatile oils in tangerine peel promote digestive juice secretion and eliminate intestinal gas. Ginger is slightly warm in nature, pungent in taste, and can release exterior cold, warm the middle to stop vomiting, and warm the lungs to relieve coughing.

When used together, they enhance spleen-stomach transportation function and resolve phlegm-dampness, making them especially suitable for obese individuals with qi stagnation and phlegm obstruction. Such individuals often experience symptoms like abdominal distension, belching, excessive phlegm, aversion to cold foods, and preference for warmth. You can boil 5g of tangerine peel and 3 slices of ginger in water as tea substitute for daily consumption. It is recommended to drink this 30 minutes after meals to aid digestion and absorption.

Maintain Good Lifestyle Habits

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches obesity treatment by never advocating "one medicine curing all troubles." Instead, it emphasizes the holistic management concept of "medicine and food sharing the same origin while balancing activity and rest." TCM's medicinal pairing therapy for obesity not only focuses on short-term weight loss but also aims for long-term constitutional improvement and metabolic balance. It is recommended to combine the following lifestyle adjustments with medicinal pairings-based therapy.

Dietary Moderation

Avoid high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods, especially for hypertensive patients who should control salt intake while increasing vegetable and whole grain consumption. Cultivate regular meal habits with nutritious breakfasts, adequate lunches, and light dinners.

Exercise in Moderation

Engage in at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily, such as brisk walking, swimming, or tai chi. Gradually increase intensity until reaching mild perspiration without excessive fatigue.

Emotional Regulation

Maintain stable emotions to prevent liver qi stagnation. Relax through meditation, music, reading, and cultivate a positive, optimistic attitude toward life.