According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi is the carrier of life force in the body. Qi also represents the vital fluids and the energy that flows through our bodies. If Qi is blocked, we feel irritable, restless, anxious, and sluggish. If Qi is free flowing and well nourished, we feel balanced, energized, and our bodies are thriving. In order to recharge, and re-energize, we need to free our Qi. This year, the ORA team is bringing you #NewQiNewMe, a five day reset designed to help improve the flow of your Qi and empower you with tools to better prioritize your physical and mental health. Our journey begins on January 25th. Here’s what you can expect.

The 5 Day Reset 

Day 1: Tongue Diagnosis

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tongue Diagnosis is considered one of the most important tools used by acupuncturists to understand your constitution, also known as your body’s yin-yang balance. It is said that all of the main organs of the body manifest on the tongue, and the pattern of your tongue can suggest patterns of imbalance. Combined with other lifestyle and health questions, your ORA acupuncturist will use an image of your tongue to best provide personalized health recommendations to help through this Qi reset. 

When you’re preparing to take your tongue selfie, consider these tips.

• Avoid tongue scraping
• Don’t drink coffee, tea, or eat food within 30 minutes of your tongue check-up
• With a natural “ahhhh”, keep your tongue out for about 5-10 seconds, max. And that’s it! 

Disclaimer of Medical Advice: By sending a picture and participating in this conversation, you agree to the following: The advice to be provided here is of general applicability, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for the direct professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment of your own doctor or acupuncturist.  You should always seek the advice of your own physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health, and you should not disregard or delay seeking medical advice because of information provided here.  If you believe that you might be experiencing a true medical emergency, you must immediately go to the nearest emergency room. 

Day 2: Acupuncture / Acupressure

The interior exterior connections of the body lie in the 350+ acupuncture points, all interconnected via meridian pathways, or invisible highways of flowing Qi and blood. Based on your personal health diagnosis, your acupuncture treatment will consist of needling along these meridians for any organs that have been identified for a hard-reset. At home, acupressure can offer a similar relief, where daily pressured massage at specific Qi blocking points can help stimulate any energy that’s stuck in the body. Be sure to book your acu session on our website once you’ve signed up for the reset. 

Day 3: Yin-Yoga

Deep stretching with yin-yoga to release our body, Yin-Yoga provides a great way to get things flowing by releasing tension and blocking Qi in the Tendons. In TCM, the liver governs the muscles and tendons, which controls our ability to move. Qi stagnation mostly occurs in the liver so if we’re emotionally blocked, we’ll feel physically blocked as well. To elevate our Qi during this reset, we’ll incorporate stretching and Yin-Yoga rituals into our 5-day reset. 

Day 4: Food as Medicine

TCM Food therapy is all about functional foods that build strong nourishing Qi for the body. Every time we eat there is a chance to reintroduce nutrients to not only fortify our Qi, but balance our energy and overall well-being. Try our favorite TCM morning breakfast recipe featuring ground black sesame, a chinese-medicine approved superfood for longevity and Qi restoration.

Qi Reset Porridge: Add 2 cups of your dairy-free milk of choice to a sauce pan and leave it on medium-high heat for 15 minutes. Then add 1.5 cups of dried quick oats, with 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp ground black sesame, and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes. Turn off heat and 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tbsp goji, and honey to taste.

Pro tip: Take this recipe x3 and you have your first batch of TCM-breakfast sorted!

You can also shop these ingredients on Amazon:

Jobs tears, Goji , Jujube , Millet ,Black sesame powder

Day 5: Tea 

We always recommend incorporating warm beverages or nourishing soup and broth to help maintain blood circulation and elevate the movement of Qi. Try ORAs teas The Best Digest, Time of the Month, or Back to Center.

The benefits? 

• The Best Digest: featuring Hawthorn Berry, Ginger, Orange Peel to warm the belly and enhance digestion
• Time of Month: featuring red rose petal, skullcap, and safflower to calm and relax the interior
• Back to Center: featuring clove, cardamom to alleviate pain and relax tension

Be sure to sign up for our Qi reset before January 25th! And learn more about #NewQiNewMe here.