More miracles. I have been blessed with so many miracles on this journey. Let me share this one.
Melissa had signed up for a CranioSacral for Cranial Nerves class at least 6 months ago. Here’s some basic information from the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators (IAHE) website (http://shop.iahe.com/Workshops/CranioSacral-Therapy-for-Cranial-Nerves-1-CSCN1):
The 12 cranial nerves are a key part of our nervous system and contribute greatly to our wellbeing. They oversee the five senses of smell, sight, hearing, touch, and taste. They help to maintain homeostasis and regulation of our heart rate, breathing, digestion, and blood pressure. They assist in maintaining our equilibrium and balance. New research shows that they play an important role in social engagement, trauma recovery, and human survival in mammalian social groups. Like any other nerve or physiological structure in the body, cranial nerves can become dysfunctional due to a number of different reasons: osseous or membranous restrictions within the cranium or cervical region; inflammation; injury, disease, or trauma; demyelination; poor intracranial pressure; or poor vascularization and blood flow. CranioSacral Therapists are in a unique position to be able to directly affect the recovery and function of cranial nerves through their structural and energetic practices. This course focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the 12 cranial nerves, how they might become dysfunctional, and how to help restore function using new and existing techniques and protocols derived from Upledger CranioSacral Therapy. |
When she got back from class, Melissa applied her newly acquired techniques on my head. The real profound changes came when she worked with my Vagus nerve.
Vagus nerve, also called X cranial nerve or 10th cranial nerve, longest and most complex of the cranial nerves. The vagus nerve runs from the brain through the face and thorax to the abdomen. It is a mixed nerve that contains parasympathetic fibres. The vagus nerve has two sensory ganglia (masses of nerve tissue that transmit sensory impulses): the superior and the inferior ganglia. The branches of the superior ganglion innervate the skin in the concha of the ear. The inferior ganglion gives off two branches: the pharyngeal nerve and the superior laryngeal nerve. The recurrent laryngeal nerve branches from the vagus in the lower neck and upper thorax to innervate the muscles of the larynx (voice box). The vagus also gives off cardiac, esophageal, and pulmonary branches. In the abdomen the vagus innervates the greater part of the digestive tract and other abdominal viscera. The vagus nerve has the most extensive distribution of the cranial nerves. Its pharyngeal and laryngeal branches transmit motor impulses to the pharynx and larynx; its cardiac branches act to slow the rate of heartbeat; its bronchial branch acts to constrict the bronchi; and its esophageal branches control involuntary muscles in the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, and small intestine, stimulating peristalsis and gastrointestinal secretions. Vagus nerve stimulation, in which the nerve is stimulated with pulses of electricity, is sometimes used for patients with epilepsy or depression that is otherwise untreatable; the technique has also been explored for conditions such as Alzheimer disease and migraine. |
I felt all sorts of movement in my abdomen as she worked. I heard gurgling, popping and various other odd noises. I felt muscles contract, peristalsis (involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine), and abnormal movements. And then release. My diaphragm relaxed, and like butter melting in a pan, it took the shape of the container. And, I took my first full deep breath that I recall ever taking. I was able to feel the breath from my pelvis all the way up to my collar bones. Melissa said that she “unwound” my vagus nerve. Wow! What amazing results. I felt relaxed in a way that I never have before. I felt like I was in a different body.
What a tapestry of events. My daughter had her skull fractured during the birth process. I learned about CranioSacral Therapy. I went to a class. That’s where I met Melissa. We became friends and she moved to Houston within 10 minutes of my house. We saw each other regularly. Melissa continued her coursework with the Upledger Institute. She gave me massages, always practicing her new techniques. I was diagnosed with cancer. She signed up for a CranioSacral for Cranial Nerves class. I was diagnosed with abdominal epilepsy. She took my information to her class, came home, applied the techniques to my body, and my gut stopped seizing. Crazy.
The connection of Life’s events is sometimes too much to fathom.
My daughter’s skull was fractured so that I could walk a path that would allow me to heal. Thanks for taking one for the team EM!