Movement is medicine. I say this all the time in practice. Life thrives on flow. Plants grow toward light. Oceans move in tides. Your body is no different. Blood flow is how life travels through you. You have close to 60,000 miles of blood vessels inside your body. That’s a living, breathing highway system. That delivers oxygen, nutrients, and healing to every cell. When circulation is strong, you’re vibrant. Alive. When it slows, everything feels harder.
How to Increase Circulation for Radiant Well-Being
Want to feel your best? It’s hard with poor circulation. Circulation isn’t just about the heart. It involves the nervous system. Posture. Breath. Daily habits. Stress levels. Adaptability. Resilience in the face of change. Blood carries life-giving nutrients. It needs to flow. Your blood delivers oxygen. Hormones. Immune cells. Nutrients. Everywhere in the body.
When circulation flows smoothly, you flow smoothly. You’re focused. Your skin looks amazing. You have plenty of energy. Tissues regenerate faster. On the flip side, you slow down when circulation stops flowing. It stresses your system. Healing takes longer. You’re tired all the time. Your skin looks dull. I tell patients it’s like freeway traffic. Everything moves when traffic flows. When there’s congestion, everything stops.
See why knowing how to increase circulation is connected to feeling your best? You deserve to flow. To feel radiant. Full of energy. Dr. Suzanna and I practice holistic chiropractic and energy healing in Solana Beach. We believe everything is connected. It’s why we take a whole-body approach to healing. Emotions impact physical well-being. And vice versa. It’s why circulation is so important. There’s more going on than we tend to think. Here’s how it works. And how it’s connected to the bigger picture.
How the Circulatory System Works
You know circulation is important. But why? What’s the circulatory system actually doing? Here’s a simple explanation. The circulatory system is a closed-loop system that’s designed for constant movement. It’s made to flow. Arteries carry fresh blood out to the body. Veins bring blood back to the heart. Capillaries are tiny vessels that act like connectors. Their role? TO deliver nutrients and remove waste. The three work together. When one part becomes restricted, it affects the entire flow.
Why Good Circulation is So Important
Circulation supports everything. It literally feeds the cells that support life. With oxygen. Nutrients. Hormones. This way, tissues can easily repair themselves. The body can regenerate. Stay resilient. Organs function correctly. Mental clarity increases. Energy levels remain consistent. Muscles can repair. The immune system functions better. Circulation helps carry metabolic waste out of the body. Otherwise, you’d always feel heavy. Inflamed. Sluggish. Blah. Circulation must flow well to feel alive. Balanced. Better equipped to heal. Regulate. Thrive.
How Circulation Impacts Emotions
Going back to the idea that everything is connected. Including circulation and emotions. Our circulatory flow is deeply connected to how we feel. Take research from the HeartMath Institute, for example. They’ve been studying the heart’s role in this connection. How heart rhythms (aka heart rate variability) shift with emotional states.
Experts have found that stressful emotions cause uneven heart rhythms. This disrupts circulation. Reduces nervous system balance. Meaning, if you’re chronically anxious, there’s a good chance your circulation is suffering. Positive emotions, on the other hand, create heart coherence. Gratitude. Love. A sense of calm. This creates a smooth, organized rhythm. That supports healthy blood flow. Helps regulate stress. Allows for clear thinking.
Emotions don’t only reflect the way we feel. They influence body function. The heart receives information before the brain. It also sends more information to the brain than the brain sends to the heart. This means that circulatory function is like a feedback loop with emotions. The heart, circulatory system, and nervous system all work together. When they’re synced up harmoniously, we’re calm. Strong. Equipped to handle stress. When they don’t flow together, it’s harder to think. Remain balanced. Stay grounded. Feel calm in the midst of chaos.
Here’s how I see it. The circulatory system isn’t just blood flowing through the body. It’s a part of who we are. The way we respond to life. How we navigate our emotions. It’s dynamic. Alive. It must flow freely if you want to flow freely.
Signs of Poor Circulation
Poor circulation creeps up quietly. Some signs include:
- Cold hands and feet
- Numbness or tingling
- Dry skin
- Brittle nails
- Hair thinning
- Slow-healing cut
- Erectile challenges in men
If left unchecked, circulation problems over time can show up as:
- Stiffness
- Mobility issues
- Ulcers
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Chronic stress
- Pain
- Difficulty concentrating
Your body is constantly communicating with you. Circulation symptoms are messages. They don’t mean your body is failing you. They’re telling you things aren’t flowing as they should. It’s time to learn how to increase circulation. Knowing what causes circulation issues in the first place can help. So, what gives? There are a few reasons.
Aging slows blood flow. It’s because vessels lose elasticity. Smoking is another cause. It inflames blood vessels. This makes it more difficult for blood to flow. Diabetes will do it, too. It affects the nerves. How circulation moves through the body. Excess weight strains the heart. Sitting too much weakens muscles that move blood back to the heart. Stress plays a big role. When the nervous system is constantly in fight-or-flight mode, it negatively impacts the heart. This decreases circulation.
Here’s How to Increase Circulation Naturally
Dr. Suzanna always tells patients that small steps lead to big change. When learning how to increase circulation, start small. And stay consistent. Here’s how it’s done:
If you smoke, stop
Stop smoking. Yes, it’s hard. But your body will love you for it. Blood vessels heal fast. Circulation improves within two weeks after you quit smoking. Blood pressure and heart rate drop in just 20 minutes after your last smoke. This improves circulation in the hands and feet.
Move your body
Your body needs to move. Stand up often. Take walks. Get this. Just one minute of movement helps blood flow in the legs. Stretch regularly. Be gentle. Simple movements get blood flowing. Help calm the nervous system. Get your heart pumping. Take more walks. Go on bike rides. Swim. Swing your arms. Let your body move.
Consider compression socks
Okay, so maybe they don’t sound so fun to wear. But compression socks are fantastic for circulatory support. Especially if you sit for long periods. Or if you’re on your feet all day. Spend a lot of time flying. Compression socks are tighter than regular socks. They work through graduated pressure. They’re tightest at the ankle. Pressure decreases higher on the leg. It’s believed this helps increase how much and how quickly blood flows from the feet to the heart.
Try Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is an Ayurvedic practice. It involves using a dry, natural-bristle brush on the skin. The idea is to brush the skin towards the heart using upward strokes. This is said to stimulate blood flow towards the skin’s surface. Help with lymphatic drainage. Both help circulation significantly.
Take warm baths
Warm baths are wonderful. They help relax blood vessels. Heat causes blood vessels to widen. Then, more blood can flow through your veins. Increases oxygen levels in the blood. Reduces blood pressure. All of this supports circulation.
Improve your posture
Most people don’t realize that one of the biggest benefits of improving posture is better circulation. Posture matters more than most people think, though. Poor posture leads to poor circulation. Slouching compresses blood vessels. Reduces the space for blood to flow. Good posture does the opposite. It creates space for flow.
Now That You Know How to Increase Circulation…
I always remind patients that circulation can’t be forced. It’s something you allow. When your spine is healthy, nerves communicate clearly. When you breathe deeply, more oxygen gets to the blood. When your body feels safe, blood vessels relax. Open up. This way, blood flows freely. Here’s where holistic network spinal chiropractic care comes in. Practices that support nervous system health. Gentle movement. Meditation. Exercise.
Remember. It’s all connected. Good circulation reflects radiant health. The body heals better. You think more clearly. Moving with ease becomes effortless. If you’re exploring how to increase circulation, choose one supportive habit to start with. Then remain consistent. Small daily actions create long-term change. Your body is designed for flow. Sometimes it just needs a little help to remember how.