The Throat And
Brain Therapy
© 2005 Dr. Barry R. Gillespie
Outside of the cranium, the neck contains the highest
concentration of important structures in the body.
We are very familiar with muscle therapy on the lateral and
posterior portions of the neck, but conditions relating to
the anterior contents may be less well known and treated.
This article reviews important structures in the throat that
are in the realm of the massage therapist’s practice.
Trauma And Neck Dysfunction
Trauma is the most important aspect of neck dysfunction.
It can start at birth with the umbilical cord wrapped around
the throat. These “blue babies” are fighting for
their lives, but once they are saved, the fascial strain in
their throat is quickly forgotten. They can live with the
consequences for the rest of their lives.
During delivery the head may have been forcefully pulled
out, and the neck strained. In childhood siblings may have
forcefully applied a choking hold around the throat. These
and other traumas can create pressure and dysfunction with
many important neck structures.
Fascial Strain And The Vagus Nerve
Of all the cranial nerves, the vagus is the most interesting.
Vagus means wandering; the nerve passes out of the skull
between the temporal and occipital bones and plays a role
in swallowing, vocalizing, breathing, heart function, and
digestion.
The primary area of fascial strain to the vagus occurs as
it drops out of the skull into the neck. This area can be
palpated directly below the earlobe in a small V-space between
the mastoid process of the temporal bone and the mandible.
Many people are suffering with bizarre situations because
the medical model never checks this area for fascial strain.
The Hyoid Bone And Fascial Strain
The second area is the hyoid bone.
Sitting in a mass of muscle and fascial attachment without
osseous articulation, this bone is known as the gyroscope
of the body. Since the tongue primarily feeds into the hyoid,
any strain here can easily affect the swallowing process.
This area is important for children who cannot take the nipple,
have speech problems later, and who eventually develop tongue
thrusts. They will present to the orthodontist with an open
bite, a noticeable space between the upper and lower front
teeth upon jaw closure.
Fascial Strain And The Vocal Cords
Another important area contains the vocal cords.
Fascial strain here may cause a problem with the voice. A
client may come to you and say that she loves to sing in the
church choir every Sunday but is unable to because she loses
her voice. Nearby is the thyroid gland, the main regulator
of metabolism.
In our craniosacral dental fascial world if a client had
a thyroid problem, I would check two factors.
- The brain needs to have excellent motion
allowing the pituitary gland to communicate with the thyroid
gland. If the hypothalamus-pituitary complex is not working
correctly, the whole endocrine system can go haywire, including
the thyroid gland.
- I would also check the thyroid gland for direct
fascial pressure, which may be impairing its function.
Fascial Strain And The Trachea
The last area I would evaluate in the throat is the trachea.
Fascial strain here can contribute to an asthmatic or bronchiole
condition. Generally speaking these five areas of contention
in the throat receive little, if any, attention from health
care providers. We as massage therapists need to fill the
void.
In treatment the throat fascia is in close proximity to
the brain/craniosacral and the TMJ/dental structures. So when
we are doing throat therapy, the other two areas must also
be interconnected.
Care In Treating The Throat
When I went to massage school, this area was avoided therapeutically
because of the carotid artery presence. If a client has arteriosclerosis
and a narrowing of these arteries, this therapy may not be
indicated. But if a child has a problem in this area, the
arteries would not usually be a factor. You need to make a
professional judgment as to the appropriateness of this therapy
in the throat area.
Strain Patterns
In The Throat Can Change
When I am treating the throat, I will check for fascial strain
in the trachea, vocal cords, hyoid, and vagus area as it relates
to the brain.
As I see the client over a period of weeks, the strain patterns
in the throat can change. I like the onion metaphor, where
I am just assisting the body in peeling the old layers of
trauma. Just because an area of the throat is quiet one week
does not mean the area is clear of all old trauma. We may
be at layer thirty-two and this area has other traumas at
layers twenty-one and sixteen.
The most important principle of therapy is to
remember that the body knows best how to heal itself.
My job is to facilitate the body and allow it to do whatever
it has to do to heal itself. The body knows this better than
what is in my rationale, thinking, scientific, analyzing mind.
I need to quiet my mind, similar to meditation, and go into
my heart. It is not my responsibility to fix, heal, or cure
anyone; I just help a client peel her onion.
Throat therapy reminds me of the dark side of the moon;
hardly anyone ever sees it or goes there. Because of all of
the important structures in the area, we as massage therapists
need to evaluate the throat for our clients and use sound
professional judgment in treatment.
Discover
more articles about the role of Brain Therapy in correcting
chronic conditions in children and adults .
. .
For
more information about the "Brain Therapy for Children
and Adults" seminar for health professionals
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