Palpation: Examine (a part of the body) by touch, especially for medical purposes. (Oxford)

Palpation is the process of using one's hands to examine the body, especially while perceiving/diagnosing a disease or illness. ...Palpation is an important part of the physical examination; the sense of touch is just as important in this examination as the sense of sight is. (Wiki)

Palpation: In cases of chronic and undiagnosed pain and restriction, vision is useless; most diagnostic tests are, as well, but skilled touch can reveal the truth. (Mae)

A picture may say a thousand words,
​but a touch can reveal the truth and heal

Photo by veterinarian Delfino Guevara, Isla Mujeres, Mexico, 2002

The veterinarian handed Paula the sick puppy at his hospital clinic, fascinated by what he felt in its abdomen and wanting her to feel it too. All she felt was furry warmth and bloat. They immediately prepped for emergency surgery. A short while later, a monstrous spleen as big as the puppy was extracted, and an itch to learn palpation was born.

A charming fellow from Atlanta had just showed Paula how to feel the energy of a tree and it wasn’t imagination, it was a physical sensation that was warm and fuzzy and reminiscent of that puppy.
 
An entertaining character from long ago, actress-mystery-writer-guest-bartender-tarot-card-reader-from-New-England (and if you know her, please tell her that Paula would like the opportunity to thank her,) felt Paula’s hands on her old and painful internal wound and said, "How the hell did you know to touch me there?" Then commanded her, “You have a gift,” she said, “You should become a massage therapist!” 

A dying woman’s feet felt like they had no bones causing Paula to quietly beg to have her chemo reduced for fear of her dying. They reduced her chemo; she recovered and lived. Too often, it happens the other way 'round: By the time a dear friend came to Paula for help after doctors refused to listen for decades, it was too late. 

People’s bodies fascinated Paula. Not one felt the same. And none could be judged accurately by using the eyes, only touch. Touch education occurs over time, like learning to buy the best fruit. During the long internship of touch, data gets collected, then needs to be sorted and prioritized. Paula has been collecting touch data for over 17 years, now. The internship is over, but the learning will never end.

If you have ever suffered from sinus trouble, whether a runny nose, congestion, pain, or inflammation, you know how uncomfortable and draining it is. Well, here’s the shocking truth about the human body: edema, congestion, pain, and inflammation can set in, anywhere, not just in our nasal sinuses; and unless it is severe, only listening hands can find it for you and help you clear it. And just like blowing the nose clear, it feels wonderful when your body is clear, too.

If you have ever been to the dentist with a tarter or plaque issue, you know how hard and sometimes sharp those ridges can be; they can even draw blood. It’s trickier and time-consuming, but hands can palpate the bones for irritating ridges and the sharpness can be tapped away, and the the soft muscles, fascia, nerves, or other tissues that were being scratched by it, will feel relieved and relax and heal on their own.

Please don't wait until it's too late. If you need help identifying what’s going on in your body, from superficial to deep, visit Paula’s Body Shop where identification and treatment of your palpably real fascia-connected issues are a specialty. 

The body never lies.

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