What does the word healing mean to you? In this informative article from the LCM Archive Massage therapist and bodyworker Dawn Lipinski describes the body’s process of healing and invites us to consider that healing happens on many levels…
What does the word ‘healing’ mean to you?
One “traditional” definition states that to heal means:
“to make sound or whole especially in bodily condition.”
(www.merriam-webster/medical/heal)
Other such resources include words such as restoring, returning integrity to tissue, and curing. Implied in all descriptions and definitions is that healing is a process. A journey is involved. Imbalance is present and the bodymind, in its wisdom, seeks a re-balancing of systems.
LCM’s Editor, Anya, recently asked me to describe the body’s process of healing from physical injury. My mind flew through the multidimensional process of healing and quickly returned to this rather straightforward and linear explanation. First the injury occurs and the body may register pain in that area. The body then recruits some of its other parts to aid in supporting the wounded area.
For example, pain may radiate to other areas. Natural splinting may occur, caused, in part, by the release of additional fluids(swelling) for protection of the injury. Neurological pathways are involved as impulses are communicated between the injured area and the brain.
Ultimately, as the interconnected systems of the body act to maintain some form of balance (homeostasis), compensatory imbalances may occur. For example, you may have developed a limping gait to protect the ankle you sprained last week. You can no longer flex your toes and pain is radiating into your knee. Movement in your opposite hip is restricted, as well.
Injury treatment, whether externally applied through manipulative means, or applied internally with the use of medications to re-balance the body chemistry, complements the body’s natural healing processes. Healing sometimes occurs inversely to the manifestation of injury symptoms, meaning the areas of referred pain and/or alterations of normal movement patterns, often resolve first. In my experience symptoms present at the original injury site may be the last to heal.
Now consider that healing occurs on many different levels, which we will explore in future postings.
For now, here’s an invitation: Feel the word healing. Hear yourself speak the word out loud. Really feel the vibration in your throat and throughout your body. What are your tissues telling you?
Now notice the activity in your brain and your mind in this moment. Are you at peace with these ideas? Is your nervous system calm? Are your thoughts easy and freely flowing? Is your breath peaceful?
If not, what is your experience? Check in with your breath? How deeply are you breathing? What’s the pace of your breath? Is your body calm? Are you able to focus on these words or is your consciousness drifting around?
What is the state of your wellness as you read these words? Are your systems generally in balance, slightly out of balance? Are you healing on any level?
Until next time…
Move as if your life depended on movement …because it does.
Sense as if your movement depended on those sensations …because it does.
Be present as if your sensations depended on presence …because they do. LCM
Key Points:
- Move as if your life depended on movement …because it does.
- Sense as if your movement depended on those sensations …because it does.
- Be present as if your sensations depended on presence …because they do.
View the original post in the LCM Archive HERE