Viscera Flashcards
Why is learning about viscera relevant to CS Therapy?
Case history - may present with pathology of organ.
Need to know about location of organ to inform treatment.
Need to have awareness of organ pathologies.
For each organ need to know the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve supply, sympathetic plexi.
Need to understand emotional connection.
Why would you treat viscera?
Disorders (gyne; digestive; immune; respiratory; cardiac); Adhesions; scars;
Allergies; reactions to medication;
Pain (referred or related to vertebral segment)
Emotion or trauma
Improve function of the organ
Stress causes disease
What is the CS Integrated approach to treating viscera?
Whole body/mind complex;
Aim to improve underlying health and vitality of person to optimise health and combat disease
May address viscera separately
Viscera plays a part in primary, secondary or causative conditions.
What is an AP contact?
Anterior / Posterior
Why would you use an AP contact for treating viscera and what might you feel?
To envelope the viscera between hands
Engage, allow, follow, stillpoint, release, reorganise.
Might feel tissues melting, softening, dissolving - change in quality
Hands may be drawn in or be pushed out
Feel focal points either locally or in relation to elsewhere
Choose to work with CS rhythms
Energy drives between 2 hands or focal points or congestion.
Why would you unwind viscera?
Accessible to direct palpation
Can feel tension and tightness held in tissues which will soften and release
Allows for deeper contact
Tissues and organs are massaged with a deeper contact which brings oxygen and nutrients
What 2 structures may be palpable once whole abdominal area has been released and softened?
Pulsation of abdominal aorta
Psoas muscle - bilaterally along vertebral column
Where does the psoas muscle have its attachments?
Bi-laterally passing out sides of T12; L123
What is the psoas muscle known for?
Holding deep emotional tension
Where does the psoas muscle tend to cause restrictions?
L4,5 S1 - and tends to compress the Sciatic Nerve roots
Name common sites of tension in abdominal viscera?
Ileo-caecal valve
Distal descending colon
Sigmoid colon
Pelvic area - ovaries; uterus; bladder
What are the main principles of visceral unwinding?
1) Prepare soft tissues - knees up/ abdo bare; loosen area by massaging tissues, identify restrictions
2) Visceral unwinding - work deeply into viscera on outbreath, engage-allow-follow-stillpoint - release- reorganise
3) Integration - AP contact - sacrum and 2nd contact and then sacrum and crown contact.
Of what system would you associate the thoracic viscera?
Respiratory system
Name the viscera of the respiratory system (thoracic viscera) - clue PLTL
Pharynx - back of nose; back of mouth (naso & ora pharynx)
Larynx - voice box - find thyroid cartilage in throat
Trachea - connects pharynx and larynx to lungs
Lungs, bronchi and bronchioles
Describe location of trachea?
4 inches long from cricoid cartilage to posterior of sternum where it divides into 2 bronchi. It is strengthened by 16-20 cartilaginous rings!! Top 2-6 are palpable. Between the larynx (voice box) and bronchi.
What would you consider when thinking about upper thoracic viscera?
Cervical spine - C1 to C4
Cranial Nerves - Glossopharyngeal & Vagus
Sympathetic Supply - T1 - T2
Parasympathetic supply - Vagus
Throat Chakra
Thymus Gland
Thyroid and parathyroids - may affect local tissues and structures if there is dysfunction eg goitre
Name some pathologies associated with upper thoracic viscera>
Infections and inflammations - pharyngitis; laryngitis; tracheitis;
Throat - suppressed emotions - leading to restrictions and constrictions - sore throat
Underlying emotional tensions - anger; grief; birth; strangulations; speaking the truth
Fascial connections down to pericardium from throat
How you approach treating upper thoracic viscera and why?
Case history to check for pathologies
Fascial unwinding of the throat
Throat work - engaging with soft tissues and muscles; tensions, restrictions
Throat work for birth trauma/ strangulation
Local restrictions or whole body - restrictions from elsewhere
Thymus gland - for immunity; also consider hypothalamus as it’s leader
Sub-occipital release - release jugular foramen for which the vagus, glossopharyngeal nerves travel through plus jugular vein - enhancing venous drainage if there is infection/ mucus
Cranial nerve pathways - individual and JF
Temporals - mastoid tip and ear hold to release JF
Fascial unwinding of neck - Spinal Accessory Nerve - spinal division with its pathway through C4 to C1
Fascial unwinding of neck - release neck = release throat tensions
Superior Cervical Sympathetic chain in neck - C4 to C1
Carotid Plexus; Pulmonary Plexus
Emotional centres
Integrated treatment
What would you consider when thinking about the lungs, bronchi and bronchioles?
Sympathetic T2 to T6
Phrenic Nerve - C345
Parasympathetic Vagus
Pulmonary Plexus
Emotional qualities - grief; anxiety
Breathing patterns
Quality of diaphragm
Lifestyle choices - smoking; drugs; work environment
Name pathologies of lungs?
Bronchitis and Bronchiolitis - infection, inflammation of bronchi and bronchioles
Asthma; COPD
Upper respiratory tract (URTI) - pneumonia (viral or bacterial?); pleurisy
Chemical causes - asbestos; drugs; smoking
Parasites
Allergens
How would you approach treating the lungs?
Case history for pathologies
Release emotional centres -
heart centre (grief, anxiety) or physical restrictions;
cardiac plexus
solar plexus - emotional and physical tension
major area for sympathetic outflow T2 to T6 -
pulmonary plexus
check breathing patterns - release diaphragm
shock being held in system or diaphragm? consider birth story
myo-fascial tension in back around T2 to T6 (asthma)
tension in intercostal nerves round ribs
Contacts -
Heart; SP; combined heart and SP
Neck unwinding - goes down to T4
Diaphragm release - phrenic nerve C345
Deepen the breath - check no holding
Vagus Nerve - check pathway; JF - may lead to cranial contact to release foramen if restricted
Bilateral scapula contact
What is the fascial layer covering the heart called?
Pericardium
Where is the heart located?
3rd to 5th left intercostal space
What would you consider when thinking about the heart?
Sympathetic nerve supply T1 to T5
Parasympathetic - Vagus
Cardiac Plexus
Case History and pathologies
Emotional factors - trauma - grief/loss
Thymus gland sits anterior to heart
Name some pathologies of the heart
Angina; Coronary Thrombosis; Myocardial Infarct; Congenital hole in heart; heart surgery; high or low blood pressure; palpitations.
What are the symptoms of a heart attack but what may it mimic?
Pain in chest, difficulty breathing and speaking; pale; sweating; clutching at the chest area. May mimic brachial plexus symptoms of left side - arm or rib lesions, intercostal muscle pain.
How would you approach treating the heart area?
Case history - emotional traumas
Heart centre - cardiac plexus at front and upper thoracic spine at posterior contact for sympathetic outflow from T1 to T5.
Scapula contact
Neck unwinding - connecting with fascia down to heart and pericardium
Fascial unwinding of the heart
Release diaphragm - central tendon attaches diaphragm to pericardium - every expansion of the diaphragm massages the heart = improved mobility = improved arterial blood supply and free fluids and venous drainage back at the heart.
Emotional tensions in heart can present as neuro sensations in left arm and little finger with tightness in upper left chest.
Vagus nerve and pathway
Heart Chakra
What do you know about the diaphragm?
Not a true organ
Dome shaped - transverse structure
Divides the thorax above from abdomen below
Top is level with xipi -sternum
Attachments to ribs 7 to 12
Attaches to L123 via the crura (tendinous legs)
There are 3 openings
Attaches to the heart (pericardium) via fascia via central tendons which attach to the lung pleura.
Part of the reciprocal tension membrane system - tensions in any of the transverse membranes will be reflected
Tendency to hold shock in diaphragm
Name the 3 openings in the diaphragm
Aortic opening
Oesophageal opening
Vena Cava opening
Which opening in the diaphragm does the vagus nerve pass through?
Oesophageal opening
What is the nerve supply to the diaphragm?
Phrenic Nerve C345 - tension in the neck may affect or be affected by the diaphragm
How would you approach treating the diaphragm?
Fascial unwinding of neck - for release of phrenic nerve
Tensions held in neck will affect diaphragm so releasing neck will release diaphragm
Myofascial release - inferior borders of ribcage - sink deep
Check breathing - stuck/ held/ upper thoracic
Releasing other transverse structures eg tentorium - mastoid tip = reciprocal tension membrane system.
Emotional centres
What is the oesophagus?
10 inch long tube.
Originates from epiglottis
Food passes from pharynx to stomach
Passes through aortic opening and then oesophageal opening
Level with T11
What are some oesophageal pathologies?
Heartburn - inflammation from acid reflux from stomach through cardiac opening in diaphragm.
Hiatus hernia - upper part of stomach protrudes through cardiac opening in diaphragm.