Today I’d like to revisit the topic of scars, especially post-surgical ones. If you have them, please do not pass this by without attention, because this is a significant trauma for the entire system. When I begin working with someone, I start with an intake interview, and scars are among the first things I ask about. Let me explain why.
Our whole body is built on the principle of wholeness, sustained by circulation. If you are skeptical about subjects connected with energy and the circulation of Qi through the meridians, you certainly believe in the circulation of blood through veins, vessels, and capillaries. When circulation is impaired, no treatment will hold for long: a blockage has formed in the body, and it will keep aggravating the process. This logic applies to every dysfunction: impaired organ function, inflammatory processes, adhesions, wounds, and scars belong in that category too.
Every suture is a stoppage of movement. When tissues are stitched together, free gliding disappears – skin, fascia, and muscle are all affected. The body is then constantly drawn toward that area. The entire structure begins to adapt to the trauma, subconsciously protecting and immobilising the zone. Little by little, the scar area becomes excluded from the body’s movement patterns. Movement is then organised around the scar, and so the body is no longer whole. This is one reason core work can be ineffective after scars from an appendectomy or a caesarean section; in many cases people simply overload the lower back instead.
Scars affect:
- metabolic processes in the body, as one or more organs may become caught in a state of stasis;
- the formation of adhesions;
- intestinal peristalsis;
- the emotional sphere, because the body adapts to the scar and develops compensatory postures and patterns;
- our overall reserves, because it takes energy to keep compensating for dysfunction and restoring balance.
As you can see, scars matter, and they deserve attention. Massage them yourself, stroke them gently, and include this area back into the whole system. When we are whole, we see the world differently.
How can you tell whether a scar is significant for your system?
Criteria:
- The tissue around the scar differs from uninjured areas nearby. Gliding is absent, and movement is restricted in one or more directions. A visible fold or overhang above the scar is often a sign of stopped movement.
- The scar is tied to strong emotional experiences and to the story of the original trauma.
- You feel strong emotions when you think about the scar, avoid looking at it, or find touching it difficult or distressing.
- Breath changes when you touch the scar. If your breathing pauses or falters, it is worth working with.
- With deep scars, the fundamental pattern of movement changes. If the direction of movement of an arm or leg runs into a scar, muscular tone and coordination begin to weaken, and the body compensates by overloading other muscles and joints.
Scars are worth attending to. Massage, acupuncture, hirudotherapy, taping, and osteopathic correction can all help. Bring this zone back into the system with patience and gentleness.