Pelvic floor stagnation is one of those situations that can sneak up on you, often slow to build and slower to cause obvious distress. As the name implies, pelvic floor stagnation is about a lack of flow through the pelvic region, especially of blood and lymph (and in some traditions, energy or vital lifeforce itself). Tendons and muscles and fascia become tighter, weaker, and less well-nourished.
So what does that look like in the body? Pelvic floor stagnation can appear as:
- low back pain or tightness;
- pain or tightness in the hips;
- trouble urinating, or feeling like you need to urinate but then nothing or little happens;
- cramps, blood clots, or heavy bleeding during menstruation;
- prolapse;
- swollen prostate glands;
- and other difficulties in the pelvic region.
Even if pelvic floor stagnation isn’t solely responsible for these difficulties, improving flow through the pelvic region can only help.
Why does pelvic stagnation happen?
When I think of stagnation, I think of still ponds that end up covered in duckweed and algae. The key here is “still”–stagnation arises from a lack of movement.
That lack of movement might be from prolonged sitting without enough movement to counter-balance it (how many of us are sitting at home these days?), or it could be from stress creating tension. Injury or trauma could also be a possible cause–one way in which our muscles respond to damage is to seize up, to prevent further movement that could make the injury worse. That pattern can get locked into place, so to speak, so the tension remains after we recover from the injury.
How do we address pelvic floor stagnation?
We don’t have to stay stuck and tense though! Movement is key–when things don’t want to move, it’s time to get moving. Anything from short walks to stretching to gentle squats will help.
Herbs have important assistance to give here, stimulating blood and lymph circulation and supporting whatever movement you’re getting.
Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
Warming and tonifying, angelica is a blood mover, stimulating circulation which in turn helps clear stagnation. Angelica has a special affinity for the pelvic region, increasing blood flow through the area. If you tend towards a light menstrual flow with clots, angelica will be especially helpful to you, as those are signs of cold stagnation. (If you’re prone to heavy bleeding during menstruation, pause in your working with angelica in the week before.)
Angelica is also grounding, calming both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, helping unwind tension in the body. Tea/decoction is my favorite way of working with this plant.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Mugwort is cooling and relaxing, and also a blood mover! Mugwort stimulates blood flow into the pelvic region, bringing that nourishment and relaxation. This in turn helps strengthen weakened muscles–if you’ve been stagnate in your pelvic region for a while, that support will be needed. The combination of nourishment, relaxation, and restoration in stressed, tense muscles helps reduce pain arising from that tension.
Mugwort can increase the intensity of your dreams, so if dreams are something you struggle with right now, mugwort might be a little too much in this regard.
Tea is my favorite way of working with this plant, followed closely by smoke.
Calendula (Calendula off.)
Calendula is a warming systemic lymphatic stimulant, helping increase lymph flow through the entire body, not just the pelvic region. The lymph system is key in removing everyday waste out of the body, but unlike blood which has the heart to pump it throughout the body, lymph moves only when we move. So a lymphatic stimulant like calendula will help make every bit of movement we do get do even more good. Especially for damp stagnation, calendula helps gently dry things out and get it moving.
Tea is my favorite way of working with this plant.
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum, P. multiflorum)
Solomon’s seal is a fantastic plant for restoring balance. Cooling and moistening, solomon’s seal affects connective tissues: ligaments and tendons, also cartilage and joints. If they’re too tight, solomon’s seal will appropriately loosen them. If they’re too loose, solomon’s seal will appropriately tighten them. Solomon’s seal is specifically indicated for uterine prolapse, helping restore the correct amount of tension there, and also indicated in inflamed situations caused by dryness.
Polygonatum biflorum is at risk for over-harvesting, so be aware of your source. Working with this plant’s rhizome in a tincture is an effective, conserving method.
(For a full monograph about solomon’s seal, look here.)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is another herb that’s all about balance, primarily of fluid movement. When you work with yarrow internally, it thins the blood a bit (making this herb one you shouldn’t work with if you’re already on blood-thinning pharmaceuticals!) Depending on tissue state, yarrow will increase or decrease blood flow to an area, and helps regulate heavy and light menstruation towards a balanced middle ground. Yarrow also helps move blood to the periphery, dispelling stagnation in the pelvic region as well as systemically.
Yarrow can be pretty bitter to work with alone, so formulation with other herbs in tea or tincture is a good idea. The blood thinning qualities mean that you should avoid working with yarrow if you’re pregnant.
So which herbs do I work with?
Which of these herbs you choose to work with to help address pelvic floor stagnation will depend on whether you run warmer or cooler (you want the opposite kind of herb, ideally), and on which signs of stagnation you tend to experience! Then you can create a custom approach!
