Visceral Manipulation
“The purpose of Visceral Manipulation is to recreate, harmonize and increase proprioceptive communication in the body to enhance its internal mechanism for better health.”
- Jean-Pierre Brarral, DO, MFO(F), RPT
Visceral Manipulation is:
in short, organ specific fascial mobilization. “Viscera” relates to the internal organs of the body, such as the liver, kidneys and intestines. Visceral Manipulation, or VM, is a gentle manual therapy that aids your body’s ability to release restrictions and unhealthy compensations that cause pain and dysfunction. Visceral Manipulation does not focus solely on the site of pain or dysfunction, but evaluates the entire body to find the source of the problem. The therapist feels for the altered or decreased motion within the viscera, as well as restrictive patterns throughout the body, and then applies the manual visceral therapy techniques. Visceral Manipulation helps re-establish the body’s ability to adapt and restore itself into health.
Learn More
Case studies, easy to understand explanations about the CranioSacral System, Visceral Manipulation, products to use between sessions, and much more.
How Many Sessions Does it Take?
As each person’s situation is different, the number of visits will vary. Many people experience significant improvement within three to five therapy sessions; others may require additional treatment. You and your practitioner will develop a plan based on your needs and how your body responds to treatment. Visceral Manipulation may be offered as a stand-alone treatment or integrated into other therapeutic sessions to enhance the benefits.
What does it Feel Like?
Visceral Manipulation is a soft, hands-on manual therapy. Underneath the pain or diagnosis is a compensatory pattern created in the body with the initial source of dysfunction often being far from where the pain is felt. Because of this, the practitioner searches for this pattern and its source, and treats the related tissues. The treatment is a gentle compression, mobilization and elongation of the soft tissues. As the sources of the problem is released, the symptoms will start to decrease.
Emotions are Stored in the Organs
It is well known that our emotions have a great impact on how our body functions, and this is greatly due to how receptive organs are to our feelings. Different emotions affect different organs. Emotional restrictions can translate into simple spasms in the gallbladder or heartburn, vomiting, feeling faint, ulcers, and serious diseases. When the brain receives negative emotions it sends tension to the related organ, the organ then sends tension back to the brain resulting in a viscous cycle. Conversely, a physically damaged or imbalanced organ can stimulate emotional upset. Visceral Manipulation can break this cycle, enhance the health of the organs, and restore emotional balance.
Here’s what the research says:
✔️ About 80% of the vagus nerve fibers are afferent (sensory), carrying information from your organs up to the brain, and about 20% are efferent (motor), carrying commands from the brain back to the body. Learn more, here.
How Do Organs Contribute to Pain and Dysfunction?
Your body is made up of many interrelated components — bones, muscles, nerves, a thin connective tissue called fascia, as well as internal organs (viscera). Your organs are in perpetual motion. When you breathe, walk and stretch, your organs move in your chest and abdomen. For example, when you take a breath, your kidneys move one inch; and with deep inhalation, they move 4 inches. In a day, they move over 1/2 mile. That’s around 19,000 miles in a lifetime!
This movement of organs is transmitted through fascia to other structures of the body. When you are healthy, all the structures move with fluidity. This movement is important as it influences activities throughout the body from the tiniest cellular pulsations to rhythmic contractions of the heart and blood flow. Optimum health relies on this harmonious relationship.
Organs lose mobility due to physical trauma, surgery, lifestyle, infections, pollution, diet, posture, pregnancy and such. When an organ is restricted and fixed to another structures, the body is forced to compensate. This creates abnormal points of tension and chronic irritation gives way to functional and structural problems throughout the body.
Imagine scar tissue around the lungs. Every breath requires movement but the scar tissue alters the normal pattern. This could shift rib movement creating pulls on the spine resulting in mid-back and neck pain, and limit shoulder movement. This scenario highlights just one of hundreds of possible ramifications each day. This also explains how pain can often be far removed from the actual cause.
Who Benefits from Visceral Manipulation (VM)?
VM is for you if you have:
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Whiplash, Seatbelt Injuries & Neck Pain
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Sports Injuries including Concussions & Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
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Orthopedic Issues
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Spinal Dysfunction
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Lower Back Pain & Sciatica
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Headaches & Migraines
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Carpal Tunnel
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Joint Pain
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Swallowing Dysfunctions
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Digestive Disorders
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Post-Operative Scar Tissue Pain
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Women’s & Men’s Health Issues including Chronic Pelvic Pain
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Pediatric Health Issues including Colic
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Anxiety & Depression
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Immune Disorders including Chronic Fatige
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And More
The Flow State Lymphatics Experience
Your session is a sacred space to reconnect with your body. Through gentle, intentional touch, we’ll:
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Create flow where there is stagnation
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Ease puffiness, heaviness, and discomfort
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Invite your body’s innate healing wisdom to awaken
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Offer you deep rest, nervous system regulation, and a renewed sense of lightness
Book Your Session
Step into the flow. Experience what it feels like to be lighter, clearer, and more at ease in your body.
📍Proudly Serving Licking County, Ohio and East Columbus Ohio area
Information and content sourced through the Barral Institute and The International Institute of Healthcare Providers
