One of the most frequent requests for help I get from clients is related to poor digestion. I always ask clients about their elimination habits and even what it looks like. Although it may not be a comfortable topic for some folks to discuss it's totally fascinating if you know what it means.

Take a moment after elimination and look at your stools - yes, take a look at your stools! What you see can tell you a lot about what is going on with your digestion and which organ(s) needs some love.

Here's a quick 1 - 2 on what normal is:

1. A normal bowel movement is 1-2x per day - I personally think if you eat a heavy plant-based diet and ingest a lot of fiber from vegetables and legumes and you eliminate 3x per day - this can be totally normal depending on other signs.

2. The normal stool is well-formed, not loose, not too dry, and floating.

5 things to notice:

Small round pellets that are hard: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) this usually indicates that your Liver Qi (energy) is stagnant. You probably have other symptoms such as a bloated feeling in your rib area, rumblings in the belly (that aren't hunger pains), or maybe it feels like you have a stuck piece of meat in your throat that makes it difficult to swallow, especially when you are stressed out. Quite likely you are stressed out! If those same small round pellet-like stools are also dry, it's a good sign you also have some heat in excess so perhaps you have a tendency to blow your top and have an occasional outburst?

Food in your stools: For some reason, some people seem to think it's normal to see undigested corn in their stools. I do not, it's food it should digest! What this means is that your Spleen isn't functioning optimally. One of the Spleens most important functions is that of transporting and transforming food and fluids. Some other signs of a weakened Spleen would be fatigue, muscle weakness, craving sweets, and loose stools.

Loose stools: we just saw above that loose stools are an indication of a weakened Spleen. It can also be an indication of a weakness of the Kidneys depending on other symptoms. If you have loose stools that leave marks on the sides of the toilet or you notice some mucus in your stool this can indicate Dampness.

Odor to stools: Yes, everyone's eliminations have an odor, it is odd or excessive odors that we are smelling for. What you smell will determine which organ is out of balance.

Color of stools: Light brown is considered normal. Other colors that might be noticed include pale or dark yellow, pale, dark, very dark or even black, red, green, or greenish-blue. These colors can indicate heat, cold, Blood stasis, Rebellious Qi or a combination. The organs that are affected include the Spleen, Large Intestine, or the Liver.

Make an appointment with me if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, I will work with you to help you find relief. I am offering free consults while I am completing my 400 hours of clinical training. Contact me for more information.