07/08/2026
🍒 It's cherry season.
One of the things I love most about Traditional Chinese Medicine is that it reminds us that food is never just food. Every ingredient has its own energetic nature, temperature, and unique way of supporting the body.
Bing cherries are especially treasured. Of all the cherry varieties, they are considered some of the most nourishing for the Blood and the Heart.
What does that mean?
In TCM, cherries help build and circulate Blood, support heart health, and nourish the skin. They're naturally rich in vitamin C and malic acid, which together assist with iron absorption, and are a wonderful seasonal food for those who experience dull, dry skin, fatigue, or a sense of depletion—patterns we often associate with Qi and Blood deficiency.
They're also an excellent food for anyone experiencing signs of Blood stagnation, where circulation isn't flowing as smoothly as it should. This can show up as fixed or sharp pain, cold hands and feet, varicose veins, dark menstrual blood with clots, painful periods, or lingering discomfort after an injury.
More broadly, pit fruits have long been paired with chicken and pork—and not just because the flavors work so beautifully together. They also help the body digest proteins. From a TCM perspective, they strengthen Spleen Qi, encourage the smooth flow of Qi, and help us absorb more nourishment from the foods we eat.
Sometimes the most powerful medicine is simply eating what's in season. 🍒