What is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy is an exceptionally gentle yet extremely powerful hands-on technique that relaxes, energises and restores balance to the central nervous system. It works with the flow of the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), that which bathes the brain and spinal cord. CSF is constantly being pumped from the ventricles in the brain, flowing up and down the spinal cord and in doing so gives off a rhythm which the practitioner can feel. When there is a traumatic experience, whether physical or emotional, which can be deeply seated right from birth, this can cause the body tissues to contract and thereby cause symptoms. The practitioner is trained to find these areas of contraction, restriction or compression, to reflect back what the body needs thereby facilitating and enabling the tissues to return to proper healthy function, eliminating disease and restoring health.

As Craniosacral Therapy works gently to relieve restrictions in the connective tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord, it often reaches tensions not treated by other modalities. The practitioner rarely uses enough pressure to stir up the body's resistance, so it is less likely to aggravate any condition, and can frequently bring about more lasting changes. Craniosacral Therapy encourages and restores the body's own self-correcting capabilities.

Who can Craniosacral Therapy help?

Craniosacral Therapy is helpful to most people and in most conditions - from minor aches and pains to severe and persistent chronic health problems. It is suitable for all ages from newborn babies to the elderly, including all ages in between. It is particularly valuable in babies and children since the establishment of healthy patterns at an early age sets up patterns for the whole future of that individual, both in their health and in their abilities. Babies can be treated whilst cradled in the mother's arms and even better, whilst asleep. There is no need to disturb the child by undressing them, since the craniosacral patterns can be clearly felt through clothes. It is also particularly renowned for its profound influence on the effects of Birth Trauma.

Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy influences many different structures within the body, working on all levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It influences the musculo-skeletal system, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, immune system, the organs, the connective tissues, fluids and the energy systems of the body. It therefore has extensive and profound effects on conditions affecting all of these systems. Craniosacral Therapy is also particularly valuable in solving and resolving difficult and persistent conditions.

The following are just a few examples of the many conditions that might be helped from a craniosacral treatment:

• Headache, Migraine, Period Pains,
• Asthma, Sinusitis, Bronchitis, Cystitis
• Frozen Shoulder, Arthritis, Sciatica, Chronic Sprained Ankle
• Fibromyalgia, Joint Disorders
• Digestive Problems, Whiplash Injuries, Spinal Curvatures
• Back Pain, Neck Pain, Persistent pain anywhere in the body
• Tension, Anxiety, Insomnia, Visual Disturbances
• Lack of Energy
• Problems during and after Pregnancy, Depression, Post-Operative Effects, Adhesions
• Baby Care, Colic, Pyloric Stenosis, Feeding Difficulties
• Ear Infections, Glue Ear, Tonsillitis, ENT Problems
• Compression of the skull due to a difficult birth, with its many after effects
• Learning Difficulties, Dyslexia, Squint, Lazy Eye
• Hyperactivity, Autism, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy
• Behavioural Disorders, Tantrums, Obsessional Behaviour
• Dental and TMJ Problems
• Head Injuries, and their subtle influence on personality and mental state
• Meningitis and its chronic consequences
• Post Viral Syndrome, ME, Glandular Fever, Fatigue
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• The after effects of any chronic illness or debilitating disease.

Craniosacral Therapy and Birth Trauma

One area to which craniosacral therapy is particularly important is birth trauma. Many of the problematic symptoms which children experience frequently, such as constant ear and throat infections, mucous congestion or colic or more severe disabilities such as spasticity, epilepsy and learning difficulties, can be as a result of birth trauma.

During the birth process, the baby's head is forcefully compressed as it twists through the narrow birth canal. As the cranium of a new-born baby is soft and membranous, this will allow the head to compress, however, intense compression of this delicate structure over many hours can push the bones of the head against each other. Should the bones not re-bound back into the correct position, this new arrangement can prevent the proper formation of the skull and affect development of the brain or impact on other structures such as nerves and blood vessels. As the body is connected from head to toe via membrane, this can then cause other problems further down in the body. The body's inherent self-healing powers usually allow self-correction, however, this is not always the case. If the labour has been long and hard, with the baby stuck in the birth canal with its head engaged, or the baby perceives something to be traumatic, this can imprint physically, mentally or emotionally, possibly inhibiting full and proper growth and development of the baby as a whole.

The effects of these cranial bone restrictions can vary significantly. The most severe cases can lead to cerebral palsy, autism, or epilepsy; less severe cases may result in dyslexia, learning difficulties, ADD, and squint. It can also be linked with other minor common childhood complaints, such as allergies and asthma, as well as general health and well-being.

History of Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is based on osteopathy, the study of the skeletal system. The theory behind Craniosacral Therapy originated with William G. Sutherland, an osteopath from Missouri who discovered, unlike popular belief, that the bones of the skull are not fused. He believed that in order for the brain and central nervous system to function properly, the bones must move slightly. He experimented on himself with the use of a self-designed helmet, and discovered that by changing the pressure of the helmet on different areas of his head, created changes in different parts of his body. Sutherland's system became known as Cranial Osteopathy. More recently, in the late 1970's, Dr. John E. Upledger, DO, an Osteopathic physician, further developed Sutherland's observations and has incorporated them into a treatment now called Craniosacral Therapy.

What you can expect during your Craniosacral Therapy session

A session lasts approximately 60 minutes. The first session, however, takes longer in order for a full evaluation to take place. You remain fully clothed, in preferably loose fitting clothing. You lie comfortably on a massage bed, with the option of a sheet or blanket to cover you and will be taken through a relaxation or meditation in order for you to completely relax. The practitioner will spend a couple of minutes gently palpating or 'listening' to areas of the body to get a feel of what to work with. The head, spinal column and sacrum with the cerebrospinal fluid i.e. central nervous system are normally the main focus of a treatment, however, the practitioner will work with any other part of the body such as a limb or organ, with which to attain release and balance. Treatment is generally soothing, comforting and is usually experienced as a very deep relaxation that creates a sense of ease, calmness and well-being.

After the treatment, most people feel a sense of improved alignment; mental and emotional lightness and clarity; physical relaxation; increased energy, and a continued lessening of pain and restriction. Some symptoms may be experienced after a treatment, however, this is part of the healing process and clears quite quickly.

Check out this story of Craniosacral Therapy at work.

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