Liver

The Liver

The liver is the largest digestive gland of the body. It is protected by a thin covering called “Glisson’s capsule”. This organ helps with metabolism, synthesis and storage of nutrients, detoxification, balancing hormonal levels, heat production, and the synthesis and secretion of bile. It also produces triglycerides, stores B12, iron and copper, as well as being the main site of red blood cell production in a fetus. It absorbs nutrients, chemicals, toxins, insulin, and prepares them for use by the other tissues in the body, or for elimination. A liver weighs between 2.5-5lbs and is highly vascularized, with as much as 1.5L of blood per minute passing through it. The veins in the abdomen, and lower extremities drain through the liver and diaphragm via the inferior vena cava before they pass to the heart. It along with the kidneys, is an important center and source for our life energy. This organ has tremendous regenerative properties. When as much as 60% of it’s tissue is damaged, it can regenerate fully in less than 30 days.  With approximately 500 identifiable functions, the liver has a very demanding role within the overall function of our bodies.

Visceral Manipulation, and the Liver:

Visceral Manipulation is a gentle, and supportive manual therapy. Working with the ligaments, and tissues surrounding the organs. If you’re curious about the therapy in general, click this link to read more: https://www.wtwmassage.com/post/visceral-manipulation

When evaluating any of the viscera, we check for alterations in the proper physiologic placement of the organ. We tune into the mobility & motility of the organ, ensuring it has adequate space to utilize its full and proper axis of movement on its own, as well as in relation to other viscera. If we tune into these movements, and find that there are no discrepancies, that everything seems to be moving as it should be-we simply move on to another area.

When working with the viscera, we do so with the thinking of “less is more”. Working with each organ a maximum of 3 cycles of mobilization in each plane of movement, so as not to overwhelm it. The beautiful thing about our bodies, is that they are always working. The changes we support through these mobilizations will continue to take place over hours, days, and weeks going forward as your bodies continue to do the work.

Who can benefit from Visceral Manipulation of the Liver?

Those who present with spasms of the bile duct, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, high cholesterol, or gastric bile reflux. Anyone who has had an appendectomy, as this procedure can increase tension at the ascending colon, which affects the right lobe of the liver. People struggling with chronic cough, associated with bronchitis or asthma. Chronic recurrent sinusitis (mainly R side). Those who have had gallbladder removal (because of the livers close articulations with the gallbladder). Sciatic issues on either the L or R side of the body, problems with the R scapula, R side glenohumeral periarthritis, hormonal dysfunction, R side frontal headache, photophobia (light sensitive), hyperthermal (hot during sleep), low mental energy, and brain fog. Patients with liver dysfunction, can explode with uncontrollable anger, and just as quickly calm down. They can sometimes display chronic fatigue, a lack of energy, lack of enthusiasm, inability to enjoy life, and hypersensitivity to various types of stress.

Nervous depression is another indication for manipulation of the liver. The relationship between depression and the liver is well known in traditional Chinese medicine.

Those who have been in a motor vehicle, or inertia based trauma (whiplash, high velocity impacts etc.) As our bodies have to brace our internal organs upon impact, and as a result, may have developed areas of restriction. Those who have undergone an abdominal or pelvic surgery, as this creates scar tissue, and a drying out of the tissues making them less pliable, and more prone to adhesion. Pregnancy, as our organs have to do a lot of rearranging in order to make space for a growing baby.

Sources:VM1-Barral Institute

Visceral Manipulation: Jean-Perre Barral & Pierre Mercier

Physiological and Clinical Applications of Visceral Manipulation: Ron Mariotti