One of the unfortunate consequences of reductionist thinking and the scientific method is  our propensity to focus on a single part as if this one part, in isolation, held all the answers.  It is very different from systems thinking in which the whole entity (and every entity is a little different) is responsible for the observed effect.   It is similar to the difference between the ego intellect (“I know how this works.  Let me demonstrate.”) and the surrendering intellect (“I don’t know. I trust I will be shown.”).  This second way of thinking is a little more difficult to embrace, package, prove and sell but it is at the heart of holistic medicine – ‘holistic’ being derived from “the whole”.   This has quite different connotations from the term ‘natural’.  If I was just using natural treatments, I might focus on various herbal applications for the shoulder, nutrients that create predictable outcomes for muscle relaxation, ligament tension etc. and still miss the cause of the problem.

So if you think you’ve tried everything with a troublesome shoulder and had  poor results, consider that perhaps one of your organs is persistently sending you a message and requires attention.

The visceral system relies on the interconnected synchronicity between the motions of all the organs and structures of the body. At optimal health, this harmonious relationship remains stable despite the body’s endless varieties of motion. But when one organ cannot move in harmony with its viscera due to abnormal tone, adhesions or displacement, it works against the body’s other organs and muscular membranous, fascial and osseous structures. This disharmony creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body is forced to move around. And that chronic irritation, in turn, paves the way for disease and dysfunction. Dr. Jean-Pierre Barral

Visceral Manipulation (VM) is a gentle hands-on therapy that works with the body’s internal membranes and organs or visceral system (the heart, liver, intestines and other internal organs) to locate and alleviate any abnormal points of tension throughout the body.

VM employs specifically placed gentle touch that works to encourage the normal mobility, tone and motion of the viscera and the connective tissue membranes that surround each of the body’s organ systems.

VM is used to locate and solve problems that develop due to restrictions in the viscera which can have impacts throughout the body’s internal systems, as well as external musculoskeletal systems. It encourages your own natural mechanisms of healing, which improves the functioning of your organs, alleviates the negative effects of stress, and improves overall health, boosting resistance to disease.

A trained practitioner uses the rhythmic motions of the visceral system to evaluate normal activity and movement or “fluidity forces” within the internal body. Harmony and health exist when motion is free; when there is no constriction of movement, when flow internally is not diminished, and when structures move fluidly relative to neighboring structures. Therapists using Visceral Manipulation assess the dynamic functional actions (movements) as well as the somatic structures (actual organ systems) that perform important bodily functions. They also evaluate the quality of the somatic structures and their functions in relation to an overall harmonious pattern, with motion serving as the barometer for determining quality of visceral functioning.

How Does Visceral Manipulation Work?

The human body is held together and given its shape by connective tissue. Developing early in fetal growth, all of the connective tissue in the human body is continuous. There is a lot of it: about 20% of the weight of the human body is connective tissue. Collectively this connective tissue matrix is the Organ of Support. Practitioners of VM work with the Organ of Support to assist clients to a better relationship to movement, gravity, and to life.

The membranes supporting the internal organs have multiple and extensive connections with the rest of the organs of support in the body. VM Founder, French Osteopath Jean-Pierre Barral demonstrated that manipulation of the visceral support system has profound and lasting effects on the organization of the rest of the body.

Imagine an adhesion around any of the body’s organs. It would create a situation of strain that demands abnormal accommodations from nearby body structures. For example, often adhesions form in the pleural membrane surrounding one of the lungs due to coughing, colds or flu, or just normal aging. A pleural adhesion can alter rib motion, which creates imbalance to the vertebral column and alters breathing capacity, as well as posture and movement.

By releasing restrictions and adhesions in the connective tissue layers of the viscera, tissue softens, becomes more pliable, and blood flow increases, reducing pain, bringing more flexibility and capacity for normal movement and healthy interaction with surrounding organs, nerves, and systems.

VM restores health to many of the systems of the body by direct work on that system, but also by the interrelations between systems that are re-balanced and can work better together when tensions and restrictions in each system are released.

Due to the delicate and often highly reactive nature of the visceral tissues, gentle force precisely directed has the most beneficial results. As with other methods of manipulation that can profoundly affect the body, Visceral Manipulation works with the natural homeostatic or health-maintaining forces within the body. As a result, a VM trained therapist can assist the natural process of healing, subsequently relieving the injury or disorganization that has occurred within the system.

What are the Benefits of Visceral Manipulation?

The visceral support membranes have rich autonomic nervous system innervation. In fact, the number of neurons in the visceral support system exceeds the number of neurons in the spinal cord and brain stem. The nerve plexi of the visceral support system have been referred to as the Enteric brain or “Second brain”. Research has revealed that 90% of the body’s serotonin (the feel-good neurotransmitter) is produced in the gut, therefore our feelings of happiness and wellbeing are reliant on the proper functioning of these organs. These nerve plexi function as a crucial entry point for our peripheral and central nervous system. When there are injuries in the viscera, we may experience a variety of symptoms, such as pain, nervousness, even mood changes and sleep disturbances. By addressing the problem, VM relieves these varied symptoms.

Visceral Manipulation is Useful For:

Swallowing difficulties
Digestive problems
Headaches
Incontinence problems
Back and neck pain
Shoulder and hip pain
Carpal tunnel & other repetitive strain injuries
Whiplash and other physical trauma
Shoulder pain
Other joint pains
A variety of other health complaints

The problem with antacids and acid blockers (prescription medications) is that they prevent the stomach from doing its very important job: creating an acidic environment to initiate digestion of proteins and stimulate the rest of the digestive system.  It is my belief that the regular use of substances which neutralize or block the acidity of the stomach will result in poor digestion and potentially a host of other problems down the line.

If the issue is mechanical and related to placement and motility of the stomach, esophagus or sphincter, some subtle manual techniques (bodywork) can gently and effectively treat the problem .  If the issue is related to diet and digestive power, then the removal of offending foods is appropriate with strengthening of the organs in questions.  On occassion the reflux is related to an old injury or surgery, if the correction can be made, relief can be achieved once the original problem is corrected.  It is worth mentioning that because acid can damage the esophageal lining, this condition can cause further adhesions, alterations in posture and organ misplacement.  For this reason, it is best to have GERD treated quickly.