Do you ever feel like your body is constantly "congested" or "blocked up"?

Sometimes it’s a tightness in the chest that makes you want to take a deep sigh; sometimes it’s abdominal bloating that robs you of your appetite; and other times it’s a heaviness in the waist and legs that makes every step feel like an effort. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is often referred to as a blockage of the "Triple Burner" (San Jiao).

What exactly is the "Triple Burner"? Don't overthink it; you can understand it as the major highway for the circulation of Qi, blood, and fluids within our bodies. It is divided into three sections from top to bottom: the Upper, Middle, and Lower Burners. Whichever section is blocked, problems will arise in that specific area.

Today, I want to introduce you to a "Master of Clearing Passages"—Yujin (Turmeric Tuber). It is far more than just a herb for invigorating blood and resolving stasis; it is an expert at moving Qi and relieving depression. With its acrid properties to disperse and bitter properties to drain, it can scatter the stagnated Qi mechanism within the body. However, working alone can be a bit slow, so it needs a few good partners to perform precision work across different regions.

1. Upper Burner blocked? — For chest tightness and shortness of breath, pair it with Jiegeng (Platycodon) to "open the window."

The upper jiao is primarily where our heart and lungs are located.

If you constantly feel as if a heavy stone is pressing against your chest, your breathing is labored, your heart feels stifled, and you have a frequent urge to sigh, this is likely due to stagnant qi in the upper jiao. When qi does not move, blood cannot flow smoothly, which over time can easily lead to heart and lung issues.

What is the solution? Yujin (Turmeric Tuber) + Jiegeng (Platycodon Root).

Yujin acts like a trailblazing pioneer; using its ability to move qi and invigorate blood, it first breaks through the congested "qi knots" in the chest.

Platycodon (Jiegeng) has an upward-moving nature that can diffuse Lung Qi. It acts like pushing open a tightly closed "window" in our chest, allowing turbid Qi to exit and clear Qi to enter.

The two work together—one dredging and the other diffusing. When paired, the Qi mechanism in the chest becomes smooth; naturally, you will feel a sense of sudden openness and find breathing much easier.

2. Middle Burner blocked? — For abdominal bloating and fullness, pair it with Houpo (Magnolia Bark) to "bulldoze" the obstruction.

The Middle Jiao primarily consists of our Spleen and Stomach, serving as the "transfer station" for digestion and absorption.

If you feel bloated after eating just a little, with your abdomen distended like a ball, and you frequently experience belching, acid reflux, and a lack of appetite, this means the Middle Jiao is blocked. The ascending and descending functions of the Spleen and Stomach Qi are disrupted, so the food you consume cannot be transformed and transported, leaving it all stuck in the middle.

What should be done? Yujin (Curcumae Radix) + Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex)

Yujin acts first to circulate Qi and resolve depression, untying the knotted Qi within the "transfer station" of the spleen and stomach so it is no longer constricted.

Houpo is a reliable "strongman" specializing in descending Qi and eliminating fullness. It enhances gastrointestinal motility, acting like a bulldozer to push down and expel the food stagnation and turbid Qi blocked in the middle.

One is responsible for loosening the soil (resolving depression), while the other is responsible for moving the earth (descending Qi). Together, they restore the normal ascending and descending functions of the spleen and stomach; once the abdominal bloating is gone, the appetite naturally improves.

3. Lower Jiao Blocked? — For heavy, aching waist and legs, pair with Achyranthes (Niu Xi) to "lead the way."

The lower jiao includes the liver and kidneys, the bladder, and our legs.

If you often feel soreness and weakness in your waist and knees, a lack of energy, and legs that feel as heavy as lead—especially during rainy weather—this may be due to a blockage in the meridians of the Lower Jiao, where dampness and blood stasis have accumulated. It is much like a household drain; when it is clogged, flooding is inevitable.

What should be done? Yujin (Curcuma Radix) + Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix)

Yujin can dredge the meridians and collaterals, penetrating deep into the lower body to dissolve accumulated "stasis" and "dampness."

Niuxi is an exceptional "guide." It possesses two primary capabilities: first, it tonifies the liver and kidneys and strengthens the tendons and bones, providing a boost to the waist and legs; second, it directs blood downward, leading Qi and blood directly to the site of the ailment.

When the two work together, Yujin is responsible for clearing the "pipes," while Niuxi is responsible for directing energy (Qi and blood) downward to flush away waste (dampness and stasis), while simultaneously reinforcing the "pipes" themselves (strengthening tendons and bones). Consequently, once the Lower Jiao is cleared, the waist and legs naturally become light and strong.

One final reminder:

While Yujin (Turmeric Tuber) is highly effective, these combinations are shared based on Traditional Chinese Medicine principles. Everyone's constitution is unique; the specific application and dosage must be tailored to your individual condition under the guidance of a professional TCM practitioner. Please do not self-diagnose or self-medicate—proper diagnosis is the key to achieving the best results