Problem/Solution: Poop. when it's not right, it's really wrong

This is my favorite question to ask of my clients, especially with the initial intake. I often wish there was a camera available because the expressions this question creates are priceless..

"So, tell me about your poop."

Terror, horror, disgust, confusion, or a huge smile.. No one talks about this. My grandmother once asked me, I was 5 or 6, if I had a BM that day. I didnt know what that meant, and when she paraphrased with 'poopy' I furrowed my brow, clenched my teeth, looked around in embarrassment and hissed 'yes.,.' i think I lied too. I dont think I had but, somehow, knew that would fasciltate more questions. My mom might have to get involved and I just couldnt take it. And I was 5.

Imagine asking a 32 year old man, 'so.. How's your poop.' Its a really fun part of my job. But I am completely comfortable talking about it.. remember the book "Everyone Poops".. a classic. and it is true. Although some more than others.

Now, everyone's body is different. Some people have perfectly formed, easy to evacuate poops 2-3x a day. That is amazing, and if it is you, congratulations, that is wonderful. Most arent like that.

Here is a few sub-questions.. how often, what color, is it soft, hard, break apart when it hits the water, break apart with flushing, foul smelling or just 'poop' smell, hard pebbles, what time of the day do you poop..

And all of these answers create one big poop picture so that we can diagnose a myriad of things about how your body is functioning. Each answer can point to a handful of diagnoses and when you look at all the answers, it becomes clear..

IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a generic term for 'I poop weird'.. Sometimes lots of diarrhea, sometimes diarrhea then constipation and back and forth, often it has to do with anxiety. Correct the anxiety, and correct the IBS.. A lot of woman have irratic changes in their bowels just before and during their periods, what you can eat can affect your poops, what you drink and how much of it. Coffee can be a lazative for some and a constipator for others- check that out!

Hydrating, exercising, lots of good vegetables, all of this really can help move the bowels along, but sometimes there is a deeper, more systemic issue. And sometimes that issue, isnt actually an issue.

Ok, full poop disclosure.. I don't poop every day "gasp, what? did she say.."

yes, yes I did. And it is okay. It appears my body just needs more time to take the nutrients out, or, I took so many batches of antibiotics as a kid that the bacteria in my colon never fully came back and so it takes a longer time to get the job done (I may be making that up, again, full disclosure..)

The point is, we are all very different.
Here is what is not okay when it happens often/regularly...

diarrhea
more than 48 hours of not pooping
mucous
odor that is nauseating
pebble poop
poop that is black or really light
cramping pain
blood

and all of the above issues are easily addressed most of the time. Almost all of the time, in fact. Like every other issue, these are symptoms of a larger imbalance that simply needs to be corrected.

I highly suggest, for 2 weeks, make a poop journal. Start looking at your poop. Describe it. and 'i dont know, its poop' is like saying 'i dont know, its a flower.'.. you can do better than that.
Food intake changes, stressors, booze binges, time of day, all of it, write it down.. You will start seeing a pattern. Maybe you poop every day like clockwork, except the day after you eat pizza.. maybe you poop every other day comfortably until just before your period and then you are just terrified to leave the house because you dont really want to risk having a poocano at your ex's birthday party.. There are so many pooping possibilities, and since YOU are the only one that can be privvy to your pooping habits, maybe you should know them....

per usual, if you have any questions feel free to post them or to email me directly at clairemooneytcm@gmail.com!

Happy pooping!!

Im lazy because Nature told me to be.

I cant believe what a slacker Ive been with this! I blame winter. Really though, I'm pretty serious. I blame winter for a lot. Clients, especially this month, have been very concerned over this general malaise and lethargy they have. They are sleeping longer, having a harder time getting out of bed, and just dont FEEL like doing anything- and so then they start beating themselves up over it. People! Its J A N U A R Y !!!

Hibernation mode! This is it, we have two months now of just bunker down, eat warm warm foods, watch movies, and snuggle! (Kind of sounds like heaven actually) Because, ahem, let me remind you, we're nature too.. The plants, the bulbs of the flowers are all frozen under ground, and soon enpugh will warm up and start bursting through the soil.. the squirrels, the birds, they too are just burrowing up together, going out for a bit of foraging, but mostly just waiting for the spring.

Which, by the way is 7 weeks away. that's 49 days away, kids. Its nothin'.. in a couple days its february. We can so very much do this.

So to help you through it, instead of pointing out to yourself all that you arent doing. maybe make a couple plans for the week. Judt a couple. You'll go to the gym 1x for sure, and you'll have friends over 1x. and maybe you'll work on that little project sitting on the corner while sipping on warm spiced wine. Ok! Great! You have 3 things planned outside of the life-that-must-be-led-to-survive (aka job).. The rest of the time, call it a day! Relax! Sleep! Eat warm delicious foods!

Because you only have 49 days to do this, and my tune's gonna change, and I'm going to tell you to get your lazy ass out of the winter cocoon and start movin'..and thats how the seasons roll..

ooh! good visualization! Winter (which began December 20th) is us all crouching down in a little ball.. Spring (begins March 20th) is us bouncing up out of that ball- we spring.. literally. figuratively? Whatever, you get what i am saying.

So go forth and get in that snuggie and watch every single episode on demand. again.

You're not lazy. Nature is on hiatus. Why argue with reality?

see you soon!

Do you feel that? Its called autumn.

Everyone has been coming into the clinic saying "Uh, I just feel so.. lethargic.. so scattered.." as if all the pieces were coming apart.

Yeah.. Thats because they kind of are.

It isnt you.. well, it IS you, but it is also everything else. Everyone else. It is nature. WE are nature, remember?

Just like in Spring, everyone gets buzzy and wiggles in their seats the anticipation of growth just around the bend- we match Nature.. And now, things begin to fall apart, everything is being swept around, there is a certain confusion that makes us want to go Inwards. And this makes sense. Our internal everything is preparing for the hibernation. We are preparing for the quietude and solitary confinement Winter naturally brings.

AND IT IS OKAY!!

Prepare for it! Embrace it! Start making lists of recipes that you want to cook- all the barbeques of Summer are going to go the way of the dodo now, so come up with a winterized version! My ladies and i have a knitting circle. (Yeah, we're badass..) and I think I am going to do a monthly 'Soup Party'.. So this is my plan, this is how I will get my kicks this winter.. come up with the ideas now while that summery social feeling still lingers.

Start eating roots. Ground veggies.. potatoes, carrots, SQUASH, parsnips, all of it. go back to the stews, the heavy meats.. Lamb, beef.. you don't need much, but it really helps to ground you and get your body ready. Maybe take a week (at least) off of booze, just allow your body a minute to recalibrate, to see where it is so that it can tell your brain what it needs.

Start listening. And stop fighting what you are hearing.

People are pissed because they are tired more. Yeah, the sun sets earlier, this is natural that we want and need more sleep- nature sort of programmed us. Roll with it. The answer is to not fight what is naturally occurring. I believe the discomfort often arises from our thinking it SHOULD be a different way. Well, it isn't. This is it. Lets get ready.

• Start the bundling/layering process.
• Continue to drink water- lots of us have started backing off, but its more of a temperature thing as opposed to a thirst thing, so maybe tea all day will help.
• If you are starting to feel that sick feeling- be careful, maybe don't go out that day, rest. People are already really getting sick. Remember last year? Everyone was sick. That whole swine thing..
• Stop with the salads and raw veggies. Start roasting and sautee the veggies.
• warming herbs like ginger and cinnamon, cumin, coriander- go buy fresh bottles..

Mostly though, it is a-ok that you are feeling out of whack.. look at the leaves gusting around, the same thing is happening within each of us. It is time. Just like in the Spring, we re-booted... Now we prepare for the shut-down.

Its going to be lovely if we let it...

Hitting the Reset Button

People seem to be saying lately 'something just isnt right' or 'I feel off-track'

This happens, and there is no reason, or explaination (we could come up with an excuse but..) as to why this has happened, and really, in the end, does it matter?

The point is, something is amiss, and it is uncomfortable, not quite in your skin, not quite flowing with Life.

A large part of hitting the reset button has to do with the decision to do it. It is along the same lines of admitting out loud there is a problem and assistance is needed. Just by doing that the change begins.

Your body wants to find its rhythm, its place. It wants to Re-find an order, balance,harmony, and flow that is you naturally.

Sometimes we need a little assistance, even when we are quite positive we 'should' be able to do it on our own. Help is not a four letter word over here.. help creates Flow, and THAT feels a m a z i n g ..

Be well!

cm

It's official!

We are in Logan Square, which is unbelievably exciting!!

The website has not yet been updated but our new location is 2908 W. Fullerton #205.

Its the NE corner of Milwaukee & Fullerton, super accessible by train & bus!

Now that the chaos of moving is behind us I will start writing more blog posts. Sorry for the delay in feeding you witty commentary on health, wellness, acupuncture, and TCM.. oh there is more where that came from!

I'm quoted, I believe, in the June issue of Mindful Metropolis, so check that out!

Be well, take care of yourself, and be back soon!!

cm

Oh We Are MOVING!!

We are moving to Logan Square!!!

Starting in June we will be at 2908 W. Fullerton (Fullerton & Milwaukee)

We are so excited! The space is just beautiful and really suits us. Our number will stay the same (312.243.1019) and all of our stuff on the website will be updated soon!

So please excuse my lacking correspondence! Mercury in retrograde (don't make fun of me- Im an acupuncturist, I would think that would make it obvious I also believe in astrological manifestations!) really has slooooowed me down a bit, but everything is about to rev into high gear!

Hope you are all well! Back with exciting randomness about acupuncture, health, & healing soon!

cm

Spring Cleaning & You!!

There are green sprouts bursting up and out of the ground.

Its happening, it has arrived!! S P R I N G !! oh joy!!!!

ah ah ah AHCHOOOOO.. Oh. Joy. Spring has arrived..

Its okay, this is natural this is how it works. Our bodies (ie, nature) is busting out of the winter cave/cocoon it has nestled into.. and this dusting off of the Qi doesnt always feel great. There is a restlessness, a tension surrounding it, and along with that everyone's noses and eyes are itchy and watery, or they're coughing..

Yeah thats your body, spring cleaning.

People in the clinic (including myself) have been complaining about a certain acheyness, muscles wanting to be stretched, a tiredness that feels.. frustrating..

FRUSTRATION!!!! What was that we just spoke of in a different post? Ahhhh, yes, the emotions and organ systems.

Welcome to Liver.

What I hadn't mentioned was that the organ systems also are connected to the seasons.

Again, welcome to Liver.

Spring is all about the movement, the growth, the spreading of the wings. This is Liver's job within us- it is in charge of moving qi. Well, it tends to get bent out of shape when it has obstacles and shaking off winter is one big huge obstacle! Sooooo, the Liver qi gets a little stuck, stagnant, and this creates.. FRUSTRATION!!!

But it too shall pass.

A great thing to do when feeling this type of angsty frustration is to sit, put your hand just below your belly button, and breathe so that your breath expands where your hand rests. This is breathing into your lower abdomen. And here is a cool thing.. Kind of blows my mind actually.. It is impossible to hold onto a frustration, an anxiety, or to be pissed if your belly is soft with breath.

Try it.

With each breath, it moves out, if just for a moment. That moment is often long enough for us to remember that there really isn't anything going on except our qi is trying to move. It is having a hard time and thus- we are frustrated.

Yawning is the body's natural way to try to move qi, so imagine how if we really focused on our breath being even and steady, down into the belly instead of shallow only at our upper chest, how much qi we would help move..


Ok back to Spring Cleaning..

Here are some ways to help move qi

• exercise, particularly stretching, running, pilates. You don't need too much, you don't need to break a big sweat.

• meditating, when your mind is still and your breath is even qi can move quite easily without your mental/emotional obstructions

• GREENS!!!! Arugula, Kale, Mustard Greens with Lemons! Delicious.. With every meal have a leafy green. These are very very tonifying for the Liver & the Spring system. Light steaming or sauteing.. Lemon water in the morning upon waking is great as well

• Oh yeah, ACUPUNCTURE!! I mean, this is what acupuncture does. It moves qi, unblocks obstruction.

So we are offering a Spring Cleaning Treatment! $35 and it will really help your body restart, get the motors running and help your system clean up and get ready to move!!


Enjoy Spring! Breathe! Eat! Smile!!

Be well,

cm