Understanding the Art of Letting Go: The Poop Connection
In the holistic realm of Chinese Medicine, the body is perceived as a microcosm of the universe, and the connection between physical health and emotional well-being is deeply ingrained in its philosophy. The Large Intestine plays a unique role not only in digestion but also in the intricate dance of emotions and energy flow within the body.
The Large Intestine, as part of the Metal element, corresponds to autumn, a season marked by the shedding of leaves and a return to simplicity. Likewise, the Large Intestine is linked to the ability to release and clear what is no longer needed in one's life. When the energy flow in this organ is disrupted or stagnant, it can manifest as emotional imbalances, particularly an inability to let go of past experiences, grievances, or negative emotions. This can result in feelings of sadness, grief, and resistance to change.
From a purely physiological perspective, the Large Intestine is responsible for the absorption of water and the elimination of waste products from the body. It is a crucial component of the digestive system, ensuring that nutrients are absorbed efficiently while waste is expelled. To establish the proper flow of Qi in the Large Intestine for emotional well-being, we need to pay attention to the physical elimination of waste from the body.
To honor the season of letting go, let’s talk about poop!
Nothing is TMI (too much information) to an acupuncturist. In fact, we appreciate the full details of your bowel movements, menstruation, snot, et cetera. First, we love to know that you are paying attention to your body. The body lets us know when something isn’t correct and if you pay attention, you can catch issues sooner rather than later. Second, those dirty, bloody, mucusy details give us all the information we need to treat you correctly.
In Chinese Medicine, the quality and quantity of your bowel movements are determined by more than just the Large Intestine. The Spleen, Kidney, and Liver are some of the other key players in bowel health. Before going any further, let’s discuss a “normal” poop. I often find that when I ask about people’s bowel movements, most people just say “They’re normal.” but when further questioned, I find out that they have loose stools with undigested foods every three days. That’s not normal even if you have had it for several months or years.
The Normal, Healthy Poo
A normal, healthy bowel movement will be easy to pass, brown in color, log-shaped with either a smooth or cracked surface, and right in between soft and firm. If you are a visual learner, click here for the Bristol Stool Chart. This is what the majority of your poos should look like. And by the way, there is nothing weird or gross about looking at your poop. It is a diagnostic tool in the same way that having your blood pressure taken is.
The Quick and Dirty of Other Types of Poos and What They Mean
Diarrhea: Most often this is due to a Spleen and/or Kidney Yang deficiency. This is often the result of irregular eating habits, cold or raw diets, chronic illness, or overexertion. In other instances, this may be caused by a pathogenic factor (ie. food poisoning, stomach flu, etc.).
Loose Stools: Isn’t this the same as diarrhea? Not when we get down to the nitty-gritty. Loose stool has more shape to it, but not enough to keep it together. It’s more like fluffy poo clouds filling the toilet bowl. This may be accompanied by undigested foods and/ or a foul, offensive odor. Loose stool is typically the result of Spleen Qi deficiency. It is often diet and/or stress related.
Inconsistent or Alternating Stool: Sometimes loose, sometimes hard, difficult to pass, with a feeling of incompleteness. This is classic Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi deficiency and is often due to stress, hormones, and poor dietary habits. This is often seen in those with IBS, which acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine work wonders for!
Dry Stool: Dry and difficult to pass. Stool should be made up of about 75% water and 25% solid matter. If the body is dehydrated, it will pull water from the intestines (away from the poop) to rehydrate. This leaves us with dry stools. In Chinese Medicine, we see this with Stomach or Large Intestine heat, Stomach or Kidney Yin deficiency, or Blood deficiency. These patterns can be diet, hormone, or lifestyle related.
Goat Pebbles: Stool reminiscent of a goat’s stools or small pebbles. These tend to be very frustrating poops as they often feel incomplete. Liver Qi stagnation is the most likely culprit here. Depression, stress, lack of physical exercise, worry, and hormonal fluctuations are typically the cause.
How Can I Improve My Bowel Movements?
Thankfully, there are several ways in which one can improve their bowel movements, some of which are incredibly obvious but cannot be said enough.
Eat a well-balanced diet: Food is our number one medicine. Consume a variety of foods that are in alignment with your body. Eat the rainbow as often as possible, meaning include foods that come in many colors. Beets, carrots, squashes, leafy greens, and more not only make your meals more colorful, but they also add beneficial fiber, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, chew your food thoroughly. Digestion begins with the enzymes in our saliva, so chew your food well to activate those.
Drink more water: Dehydration is one of the leading causes of constipation. Our bodies are mostly water and whether you are sweating daily or not, you need to drink plenty of water for your body to be healthy. If you struggle to drink water, add some citrus, herbs, or fruits to make it more palatable.
Exercise: Daily movement, even something as simple as a walk or stretching, helps to get the Qi flowing throughout the body. This is especially important for those who are dealing with inconsistent or goat pebble stools!
Reduce stress: Stress can have a major impact on our lives in so many ways. Try to incorporate some stress relieving activities into your daily routine to reduce your overall stress levels.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs: As always, let us help you! We have all experienced less than ideal bowel movements and know how frustrating it can be. We have heard it all, so don’t shy away from giving us the full details. We have many tools in our toolboxes to help get you regular and back to spending time living your life, not hanging out in the bathroom.
Remember, healthy Qi flow in the Large Intestine is important for both mental and physical health!