You may have heard the term that the GUT is the second brain! Ever been stressed and decided that “I need that chocolate bar right now”…and there goes the diet you’ve been doing really well at all day? This part of the nervous system in the gut dubbed as the “second brain” comprises of over 500 million neurones and goes from your oesophagus to your anus, approximately 9 metres long, known as the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). The Enteric NS modulates immunity, endocrine functions, blood flow, digestive enzymes, motor function and so on.
Many of us in the Western world are working/living/functioning at a fast pace, on the go or living highly stressful lives, causing our nervous system to be on hyper alert a large percentage of the time. Even when we are sitting down to eat we often have lots of activity going on around us, TV’s, electronic devices, getting up and down from the table, talking about stressors at work, or eating on the run, causing us to stay in this hyper aroused state.
We all have a nervous system that is divided into different functions and for the purposes of this article we are going to look at the “Sympathetic Nervous System” SNS (fight & flight) and the Para Sympathetic Nervous System PNS (rest, recuperation & regeneration) How does this impact our digestion?
Well, if we are eating whilst in this state of hyper arousal (fight & flight) we aren’t able to, firstly, stimulate the correct digestive enzymes to be available to assist our food’s path, secondly, we can’t absorb the correct nutrients that our body so desperately needs for good health and well-being.
BioCranioSacral Therapy can help to balance the nervous system by both Practitioner and Client coming into awareness of how the nervous system is impacting the client’s body, and then working towards settling the sympathetic nervous system and strengthening the parasympathetic nervous system.
When the system is in balance “The Vagus Nerve “- cranial nerve 10 (which emerge from the brain stem) then communicates… “Ok guys, it’s time to slow down and focus on digesting, no need to rush right now, we’ve got an important job to do”!
When we feel safe our body relaxes and our Para Sympathetic nervous system is able to work effectively. In a BCST treatment, it is my main goal to help you feel safe and comfortable and able to let your body find its own state of balanced awareness.
Written by Amanda Dickie Dip Rem Mass, Dip BCST (PACT member)
About Amanda Dickie:
I love to connect with people on a deep level, creating a healing environment for clients to feel safe in. I’ve been a practitioner in Natural Therapies for 25 years, predominately as a Massage Therapist and teacher, Reflexologist and Flower Essence Practitioner and facilitator of Mind Body medicine courses.
I was drawn to Craniosacral Therapy in the 90’s and studied some of this work then. However, it wasn’t until 2015 I decided to undertake a 2-year Diploma in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy through Body Intelligence – an Internationally recognised training organisation. I can honestly say, I’ve found what I am meant to be doing, I love this work and what it offers, and I’m excited to be able to offer this incredible therapy here at Simply Natural Therapies.
Qualifications:
Diploma of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (2017)
Diploma – Remedial Massage (1992 UK & 2014 Aus)
Cert Reflexology (1994)
Cert & Dip-Flower Essence therapy, Mind Body Medicine (Life Academy)
Amanda is available for appointments at Simply Natural Therapies. Call us on 9842 7033 to book