"Sherry Zhu, a 23-year-old Chinese American creator based in New Jersey, warned in a TikTok video with millions of views that drinking ice water was not very Chinese, advocating instead for sipping hot water daily. She later explained to GQ that digestion-wise, she felt a lot better when drinking hot water, guidance taken from traditional Chinese medicine, a health system dating back 5,000 years offering a holistic approach to treating symptoms physically, emotionally and spiritually."
"Other creators of Chinese descent have their own TCM hacks: keep your feet warm and your periods will be more bearable. Drink tea made with goji berries, jujubes and ginger as a cure-all. Move your body every day to promote the flow of qi, or internal energy. Do my Chinese baddie routine with me, they caption their videos in half-authoritative, half-joking tones, offering advice from your Chinese big sister."
"When Americans don't trust their own institutions they become more willing to look for alternative reference points. The trend of Chinamaxxing, involving the sharing of memes and videos in praise of Chinese culture, was ironically a response to Donald Trump's economic targeting of the country, reflecting broader American interest in seeking alternative wellness and cultural reference points."
Traditional Chinese medicine has become a viral trend on social media, with creators of Chinese descent sharing wellness tips about drinking hot water, keeping feet warm, and consuming herbal remedies like goji berries and ginger. Non-Asian creators have enthusiastically adopted these practices, posting content about their attempts to follow Chinese wellness routines. This phenomenon, termed Chinamaxxing, reflects a broader American interest in Chinese culture and alternative health approaches. The trend emerged partly as a response to geopolitical tensions and represents a shift toward seeking alternative reference points when trust in Western institutions declines. Social media creators present these traditional practices with a mix of authority and humor, framing them as accessible lifestyle changes.
#traditional-chinese-medicine #social-media-wellness-trends #chinamaxxing #cultural-appropriation #alternative-health
Read at www.theguardian.com
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