Gut Feelings

Since the conception of my business 4 years ago, I have been led fully and completely by my “gut feelings”. I’ve leaned into and stepped away from opportunities that my mind could talk me in and out of for days, but my gut could decipher clearly and immediately. I believe trusting (and acting on) gut feelings leads to living a more authentic, fulfilling life. 

While emotions don’t originate in the gut, our bodies automatically react to our environment, circumstances and thoughts without our conscious control. When we choose to block out the chatter of the mind and drop into our bodies, we often arrive at the right decision with more clarity and resolve. 

The theme of this month is the gut, specifically ways that you can work with your own gut from a manual therapy perspective. I find that working with the gut not only leads to happier, healthier digestion, but also a deeper sense of interception (knowing what’s happening in the body) and more clarity on your own gut feelings. Thanks for being here and I hope you enjoy!

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Most discussion around gut health revolves, rightly so, around diet and nutrition. But as a manual therapist, I have more to add to the story. We have a saying in the field that “structure determines function”, which means that the way structures are shaped and arranged, including each and every organ, determine its purpose and what it's capable of. When an organ has enough anatomical space within and around it, it can do its job better.  

Our organs fit inside of us like a complex puzzle. Every organ is surrounded by a web of connective tissue tissue, or fascia, that protects and nourishes the organ as well as keeping it more or less “in place”. The fascial web creates a relational, tension-based field throughout the whole body. Ideally this tissue has enough tension to hold things where they need to be but not so tight that it restricts the movement of the organ. When there is some type of restriction in the tissue surrounding an organ, it creates a pull and can impede the function of that organ.

The lymph also plays several roles in the gut. We have specialized lymphatic structures, called GALT, or “gut associated lymphoid tissue” scattered throughout our intestines that serve as a layer of protection and immunity. Our bodies, after all, are hollow tubes, and although our intestines are hidden from sight, they are exposed to the outside world through the food we eat. GALT makes sure stuff we don’t want in the body stays out and can even activate immune cells to respond to antigens and create antibodies that help our body fight back from anything harmful. The lymphatic system within the gut also assists in the digestion of fats and transports those fats to the bloodstream to be used in various ways. Each organ also has its own set of lymph vessels that keep the area around the organ as free from debris and waste as possible.

These are just SOME of the lymph nodes in the abdomen, there are so many more!

As a manual therapist, I feel for both fascial restriction and lymphatic congestionwhen treating the abdomen.

Fascial restriction can be felt as a pull, tension or density in the tissue. Lymphatic congestion can be felt as excess fluid, swelling or even heat in the tissue.

The two aren’t mutually exclusive, either. When fascia is restricted, lymphatic fluid can’t flow as easily through the tissues. This creates a backup of unnecessary or harmful components in the tissue, leading to sluggish digestion and inflammation. If its lymphatic congestion that started the party, the body will start to recognize this area as needing protection, which can result in fascial patterns.

Addressing both fascial restriction and lymphatic congestion in the abdomen not only helps with digestion but also helps create more blood flow in the abdomen, can decrease pain from all over the body, especially back pain, and can even help you take deeper breaths! 

What To Do About It:

1. Opt for warm or room temperature water rather than iced

   -Iced drinks decrease circulation to the gut and detract from the heat our bodies need to produce to properly digest. (You may notice a decrease in gas and bloating when you switch)

   
   

2. Go for a walk after meals (or at least do some type of light movement)

   -This not only helps balance your blood sugar but also helps to kinda “wring out” your intestines and help move things through with more ease

   
   

3. Explore abdominal self massage and lymph drainage

   Here are some ways you can work with your own abdomen safely at home: