I want to take another look at the term, “peristalsis.” The definition from Wikipedia is what we learned in school:
“In the human gastrointestinal tract smooth muscle tissue contracts in sequence to produce a peristaltic wave, which propels a ball of food (called a bolus while in the esophagus/upper gastrointestinal tract and chyme in the stomach) along the tract. Peristaltic movement comprises relaxation of circular smooth muscles, then their contraction behind the chewed material to keep it from moving backward, then longitudinal contraction to push it forward.”
But are the smooth muscles running the show? What is the “intelligence” of that contraction?
I am strongly suggesting that the unrestricted craniosacral fascial system (great craniosacral motion and a freed fascial web) in conjunction with the enteric (intrinsic or second brain) division of the autonomic nervous system is that “intelligence.” Acting as one unit, this system covers, connects, and controls every smooth muscle cell of the gastrointestinal tract.
I believe that birth trauma can restrict the peristaltic wave and cause constipation; the Gillespie Approach can free up this system for normal function. We have clinically seen this phenomenon hundred of times in our research where constipated babies have normal daily bowel movements after therapy. We will have to wait for basic science research to confirm this hypothesis.
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