Can bodywork help us digest and use our food more efficiently? Yes, says Judy Huxmann, CMT, one of the partners in “Awake and Aware.” (www.awakeandaware.net) The modalities she uses include massage, craniosacral therapy to work with the central nervous system, lymphatic drainage to stimulate the release of waste products and myofascial release – working with the body’s web of connective tissue. “Detoxing and cleansing the body is an important part of becoming healthy,” Huxmann says. To that end, she applies Ayurvedic massage techniques to help her clients better eliminate the “gunk” that has built up in their bodies. This type of gentle massage works the natural pressure points that correspond to different systems or regions of the body, similar to reflexology.
“A lifetime of accumulation in the digestive tract can interfere with proper digestion over time,” Huxmann says. “You have to clear out the old so that when you start to feed yourself healthier, organic foods and drink purer water, it doesn’t have to filter through collected waste on the sides of the colon and intestines.” Along with some suggested herbal remedies to help that process along, Huxmann suggests eating high bulk foods that help “sweep” along your internal passageways to eliminate any plaque buildup. “With a cleansed system, you will be able to better digest the healthy foods you eat and extract all their nutrients. Eating organic fruits and vegetables in the season in which they are grown also helps you get in tune with the rhythms of life.”
Huxmann’s approach to bodywork and cleansing is intended to help her clients gain an intimate awareness of what is going on within their own bodies – including digestion. “If you’re really serious about being healthy, you need to know what those rhythms feel like and to get a sense of when something is not functioning properly,” she says.
If trouble with your diet is an issue, acupuncture may also help. According to Dr. Ronald Zapf, the ancient Chinese practice uses patterns of needles inserted into the body’s energy flow to cause a change or restore normal functioning. Dr. Zapf uses acupuncture in his Otsego medical practice to treat problems ranging from irritable bowel syndrome to indigestion and acid reflux. “I have been asked to treat patients with digestion abnormalities or difficulty processing food due to an underlying gut problem,” he adds. “The Chinese have been using acupuncture for gastrointestinal disturbances for millennia. If energy pathways are blocked to specific organs or systems of the body, like the digestive system, acupuncture may help open those pathways to allow a normal flow of energy to resume throughout the body. Even Western medical studies have shown acupuncture to have an immune enhancing effect.”
It’s not exactly known how acupuncture works, but Dr. Zapf says it seems to alter various body chemicals and processes to affect change in how our body works. He cautions against the concept of a “quick fix,” for digestive difficulties though, stating that it takes time to eat healthier and embrace a holistic lifestyle integrating body, mind and spirit. “Unfortunately, many people want me to treat their symptoms and aren’t interested in changing their lifestyle or eating habits.”
Overall, Dr. Zapf suggests we try to balance our body for long term functioning by eating well, exercising and finding some time in our busy lives to be quiet. “That quiet time could be meditation, massage therapy or various other alternative treatments,” he says. “Balance and relaxation help promote healing and long term functioning, whether you have digestive problems or any of the other difficulties that may occur during your lifetime.”
