International College for Research on Equine Osteopathy
EINDWERKEN
EINDWERKEN
Natalie Eliasson:
Visceral motility of the digestive system in the horse
I decided to delve into this subject due to two simple reasons. For one, I am fascinated by this exceptional innate “intelligence” which drives the cells to differentiate from their uniform basic tissue to create bones, muscles, fascia, skin, nerves, the liver, the spleen etc. All of this happens in a quasi perfect way as aberrations are on the whole relatively seldom. This growth is carried out by means of a strong pulsating rhythm which is the natural basic rhythm of a developing organism.
Thanks to our perception of touch, we are able to sense the quality of this rhythm and find out whether or not we are perceiving a balance or imbalance in the body or in a particular part of the body. This is the basis for motility.
Secondly, I noticed that literature does not provide much written info rmation on this topic which made it even more inviting for me to study this subject.
Anatomy, dealt with in chapter three, is the foundation of knowledge in order to understand the inherent natural motion of the organs, also known as motility. It is essential to be aware of the connections and relations between the organs in order to understand their influence on each other.
In the fourth chapter I take a closer look at neurology, in particular the nerves that supply the abdominal organs, their ganglions and plexuses and of course the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
The subsequent chapter is dedicated to visceral motility and manipulation. As literature does not reveal any substantial info rmation in the equine field I have reverted to human literature. I believe however that this human section can be applied to the horse in general.
Finally, in the practical part, which is based on experience only, I have attempted to explain, based on what I felt while “listening” to the digestive organs and then ascertaining why the organ moves in this specific direction.
By expanding my knowledge on visceral motility in the horse I have realized that in order to become experts at what we do we require a solid foundation in anatomy as we need to know exactly where each organ is positioned within the body and which structure it relates to. As each organ influences its neighboring structures, which if not in balance over time will profoundly influence the well-being of the animal. While having the anatomy of each structure and its connections to nearby structures in mind, we may not forget the globally united oneness of the body we are treating. Therefore, by treating one structure we are at the same time influencing the whole body.
In addition, we require a distinct sense of touch with profound experience in the field of visceral osteopathy. Moreover, we need to be aware that the body itself has the overall healing capability which through our help can be activated if the system has been brought out of balance.
By knowing what healthy motility for a specific organ is, and being able to differentiate between a healthy motion and an organ in lesion we are able to provide the body with correction by enhancing the balanced movement onto the organ. Having said this, we should never forget that we cannot force a movement on an organ. In a similar manner we always have to respect the natural time it takes for an organ to reach the state of equilibrium.
Finally, it is essential to maintain a healthy and critical mind at all times.