Ready for a Spring Cleanse?
This year let’s harness Spring! What if we used the seasonal transition as a motivation to take stock of and clean up our daily habits? At Root to Rise, we know that little actions like water intake, movement during the day, bowel habits and mood support can not only inspire change but also help us learn our bodies' baselines - which can shift slightly over time and with the seasons.
Changing light, energy levels, and weather can all impact how we are feeling and we should adjust our habits accordingly. Working with bodies has taught us that there can definitely be a seasonality of symptoms and taking small proactive steps can make all the difference.
In terms of Chinese Medicine, Spring is a time of pent up energy being released to the surface. The pros are that we have all of this potential and excitement ready to break free. The cons are that if we don’t use it correctly this pent up energy can fizzle, get stuck, or be hard to harness.
Spring is associated with the Wood element and the Liver and Gallbladder organs. Wood at its best is flexible and bends when it needs to, at its worst it can be rigid. Wood is associated with the color green (yeah for the new buds) and the emotion of anger/frustration. So if you have been yelling about the recent cold weather while still appreciating new growth you are right on track.
When Liver energy is in disharmony we see trouble in cyclical body events. Things that happen on a regular basis, like a daily bowel movement, suddenly get out of whack if this system isn’t working well. Let’s use constipation as our example.
For an acupuncturist, constipation is a sign that things aren’t moving well. Why things aren’t moving can be a little harder to pinpoint, so we ask more detailed questions like:
Is there a deficiency causing a lack of energy to excrete?
Is there some kind of blockage with digestion or in the intestines?
Is stress impacting how well things move?
A pelvic floor therapist has to similarly get to the root cause of constipation and may ask questions like:
Is there too much muscle tightness and/or decreased coordination?
Is there a hormone change impacting bowels?
Have chronic habits and patterning made it difficult to fully empty?
All of our providers want to learn your baseline and help support better health. And, we will often recommend simple lifestyle changes to get there. Increasing water intake, adding more regular exercise, and using stress management techniques can all support more regular bowel movements. These are also all great ideas to jumpstart your Spring lifestyle cleanse if you decide to join in the fun!
At Root to Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health, we believe in a holistic approach to physical therapy. Our Doctors of Physical Therapists are specialized in treating both orthopedic and pelvic health conditions. Our practice also integrates acupuncture and yoga and we are always excited to be a resource for the community we practice in. We are located in Scarborough, Saco, and Bath, and are here to support you!
~Dr. Jenn & The Root To Rise Team
