I have just returned from Ayr in Scotland, having attended a module on a therapeutic technique referred to as visceral manipulation. This is an extension on osteopathic treatment developed by French Osteopath Jean Pierre Barral and works on his theory that movement is everything. The degree of freedom with which our body moves is an indicator of our level of health, vitality and fitness and this is as true of our bodies internal organs or viscera as of our external limbs.
The course was held in the beautiful shire of Ayr, and when not in class it gave me the opportunity of exploring the coast line, which looks out over Arran and Kintyre beyond. One beautifully sunny and clear day afforded me the most breathtaking view of the Isle of Arran atleast on my daily walks (part of my training for a trip to the Himalayas next year).
The purpose of the course is to develop what are known as palpatory skills, to isolate and manipulate the kidneys, gall bladder, liver, spleen and essentially all of the body’s abdominal organs. Each visceral structure is held in place by connective tissue and ligamentous attachments that get restricted and bound by emotional and mechanical trauma. As I also work with craniosacral therapy I find these techniques to be an incredible compliment to the work I do, and enhance results in an indescribable way. I have often treated back pain through trigger point therapy and myofascial release therapy in the L1/L2 areas discovering that it can sometimes return. Applying manipulation to the duodenum, followed by a craniosacral technique to release the diaphragm may provide more lasting results. I have yet to try it and feedback on what I find. However, being a sufferer of lower lumbar pain myself and experiencing sacral restriction, I am looking forward to observing the benefits of having been a guinea pig for many of the treatment techniques we carried out over the weekend.