Surprising Functions of Fascia

 Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, binding some structures together while allowing others to slide smoothly over each other. This connective tissue is found throughout the body and plays a crucial role in movement, flexibility, and pain management. Fascia also supports our body with many other unexpected functions as it is highly innervated and rich with blood vessels, lymphatics, hormone, and neurotransmitter receptors.

What does fascia do?

Posture: Fascia provides structure and support for our body. When our posture becomes lax, the connective tissue becomes restricted, leading to ongoing misalignment, tightness, and discomfort.

Pain reduction: With proper care fascia maintains elasticity and promotes ease of movement. Repetitive movements, injury, poor posture, tension, and dehydration can bind fascia. When fascia is restricted in one area, it causes tension on other parts of the body. This affects nerves, muscles, and circulation.

Hormones: Fascia contains hormone producing endocrine cells, such as sex and stress hormones. Fascia is needed to distribute and excrete hormones, and restrictions will impede the delivery of hormones. Conversely, low levels of estrogen make the fascia more brittle. this may be noticeable during the beginning of the menstrual cycle and during menopause.

Emotions: The fascia has a high concentration of nerve endings, which can release neurotransmitters (ie, dopamine, serotonin). The release of these "feel good" chemical messengers can be impacted by fascial restrictions, increasing stress and anxiety. In reverse, high stress causes myofascial tension, increasing physical and emotional discomfort.

Blood pressure: There is a rich supply of blood vessels in deep fascia. Relaxed and hydrated fascia allow vessels to be unstrained, whereas tight fascia constricts vessels, limiting circulation, and increasing blood pressure.

Lymph: The lymphatic system, which helps our body detox, is housed within the fascia. Restrictions in the fascia slow down draining toxins from our body, increasing inflammation, and reducing immune function.

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Freeing Fascia

Fascia flexibility is crucial for overall health and well-being.Here are some techniques that can increase elasticity in connective tissue, increase circulation and lymphatic drainage, and trigger your body's natural healing process

Stay active - stretch - yoga - pilates - foam rolling - heat therapy - posture awareness - avoid repetitive movements - hydrate -anti-inflammatory and collagen rich diet

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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Fascial Health

Cupping provides gentle suction, drawing fascia away from the body, invigorating circulation of blood, oxygen, and lymphatic flow to stimulate healing. Cupping therapy helps encourage tissue repair, remove cellular waste, reduce inflammation, and promote muscle and facia relaxation.

Acupuncture helps release fascial adhesions by promoting micro-circulation to the injured area, This brings a supply of blood and lymph, helping remove cellular debris and reducing inflammation. Acupuncture speeds up healing time by supporting the body's natural healing abilities.

Gua Sha helps break up fascia adhesions by running a tool along connective tissue. This releases tightness and knots, improves blood and lymph circulation, and helps eliminate metabolic waste.

Infrared Sauna therapy offers a host of healing benefits as the heat from infrared wavelengths penetrate deep in to the body. The heat from infrared light helps to revitalize cells and relax and release tension in the fascia, promoting flexibility and reducing tension.