WHAT IS CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY?

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CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. It was pioneered and developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University where he served as professor of biomechanics.

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Using a soft touch which is generally no greater than 5 grams, about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and it's effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.

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During each session, clients are fully-clothed and comfortably lie face-up on a massage table.

 

HOW DOES CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY WORK?

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Few structures have as much influence over the body's ability to function properly as the brain and spinal cord that make up the central nervous system. And, the central nervous system is heavily influenced by the craniosacral system, which include the membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord.

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Every day your body endures stresses and strains that it must work to compensate for. Unfortunately, these changes often cause body tissues to tighten and distort the craniosacral system. This can create a barrier to the healthy performance of the central nervous system, and potentially every other system it interacts with.

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Fortunately, such restrictions can be detected and corrected using simple methods of touch. With a light touch, the CST practitioner uses her hands to evaluate the craniosacral system by gently feeling various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. Soft-touch techniques are then used to release restrictions in any tissues influencing the craniosacral system.

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By normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord and muscles and enhancing the body's ability to self-correct, CranioSacral Therapy is able to alleviate a wide variety of dysfunctions, from chronic pain and sports injuries to stroke and neurological impairment.

 

 

WHEN WAS CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY DEVELOPED?

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It was in 1970, during a neck surgery in which he was assisting, that osteopathic physician, Dr. John E.Upledger first observed the rhythmic movement of what would soon be identified as the craniosacral system. 

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His curiosity piqued, Dr. Upledger began searching for the answer. He started with the research of Dr. William Sutherland, the father of cranial osteopathy. For some 20 years beginning in the early 1900s, Sutherland had explored the concept that the bones of the skull were structured to allow for movement.  Dr. Upledger believed that if Sutherland's theory of cranial movement was in fact true, this would help explain, and make feasible, the existence of the rhythm he had encountered in surgery.

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It was at this point that Dr. Upledger set out to scientifically confirm the existence of cranial bone motion. From 1975 to 1983 he served as clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics at Michigan State University, where he supervised a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers in research and testing. The results not only confirmed Sutherland's theory, but led to clarification of the mechanisms behind this motion - the craniosacral system. Dr. Upledger's continued work in the field ultimately resulted in his development of CranioSacral Therapy.

 

CONDITIONS IT HELPS                         

Craniosacral Therapy frees the central nervous system and body to work at its best, helping to relieve a broad spectrum of pain, illness and imbalance, including:

• Stress, Anxiety

• Anxiety, Depression

• Migraines and Headaches

• Chronic Back or Neck Pain

• Chronic Fatigue

• TMJ Syndrome, grinding/clenching

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Concussions 

• Gastrointestinal Problems

• Fibromyalgia

• Discomfort from Scoliosis, Kyphosis, Lordosis

• Sinus Problems                                         

• Chronic Neck and Back Pain

• Orthopedic Problems

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS

This gentle touch is one of the primary reason CST is such a viable health care option for people of all ages and conditions.

That being said, there are a few contraindications for CranioSacral Therapy. Specifically, they are acute intracranial hemorrhage, intracranial aneurysm, recent skull fracture, and herniation of the medulla oblongata - in essence, any physiological condition in which slight changes in intracranial pressure could negatively affect your client. It is best to allow time for the brain and body to heal from this pressure before receiving CST.

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To learn more about the positive impact CranioSacral Therapy can have on your health and life, please refer to my Client Stories and Testimonials.  Another great resource is www.upledger.com.