A childhood accident can affect a patient for a lifetime.
A twenty-year-old man presented with headaches, neck pain, and lower-back pain. His major issue was ulcerative colitis, starting at age sixteen.
Fortunately, one of my students worked on him as an infant, but he had a bad accident as a four-year-old child. His dad leaned a large tractor wheel against the barn. While he was jumping off of it, the wheel fell on his chest.
He suffered a slight concussion, and hospital testing showed that the force of the wheel had cut his liver, resulting in internal bleeding. He remained in the hospital for four days for observation.
He had seen many professionals about his ulcerative colitis without resolution. I offered the following hypothesis:
He presented with a 60-second brain cycle and exceptional tightness around his liver. Anatomically, the large intestine ascends from the ileocecal sphincter and takes a right angle at the hepatic (liver) flexure to become the transverse colon.
Using the analogy of a garden hose, if the opening allows for normal passage of waste, the colon can function well. I theorize that the blow to that flexure area restricted the passage of contents similar to a kink in a garden hose.
I spent the entire visit working that area locally and also feeling for full-body strains passing through it. The tissue started to release well, and I am hopeful that, as the area normalizes with more therapy, his colon function can significantly improve.
For therapists, it is important to take a full history and have a good working knowledge of anatomy. It would have been great if he had had therapy right after the accident.
Gillespie Approach Training is a great tool to have in your toolbox.
Sign up for Gillespie Approach Training Opportunities
Foundation Trainings
Gillespie Approach Foundation Training is designed for students to work with children and adults.
2026 Dates:
- January 22–24 | Melbourne, FL
- March 19–21 | Greenville, SC
- May 14–16 | Westfield, IN
- June 25–27 | Bozeman, MT
- August 6–8 | Boise, ID
- October 1–3 | Olathe, KS
- November 9–11 | Newtown Square, PA
- November 12–14 | Newtown Square, PA
Infant Trainings
Gillespie Approach Infant Training is designed for students to work with infants.
2026 Dates:
- January 25–27 | Melbourne, FL
- March 22–24 | Greenville, SC
- May 17–19 | Westfield, IN
- June 28–30 | Bozeman, MT
- August 9–11 | Boise, ID
- October 4–6 | Olathe, KS
- November 15–17 | Newtown Square, PA
New to Gillespie Approach–Craniosacral Fascial Therapy?
Read a collection of articles handpicked by Dr. Barry Gillespie to help you grasp core information and understand training and treatment options.
Make a Gillespie Approach Appointment to Get the Help You Need
Talk About the Gillespie Approach With Our Community on the Gillespie Approach Forum
Catch Every Story! Get a Free E-book and Infographic With Your Email Newsletter Subscription
Explore Gillespie Approach–Craniosacral Fascial Therapy Articles Based on Hundreds of Health Conditions and Anatomical Regions
Enjoy Many Powerful Testimonials for Babies, Children and Adults
From fussy babies experiencing breakthroughs and children excelling in school to adults emerging triumphant over mystery health conditions, get inspired by these heartwarming and soul-stirring testimonials.
