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CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY (CST) is a potent tool using the functions of the
Craniosacral system. It is an effective form of bodywork and of Neuromuscular
Therapy which uses gentle movements to unlock tension and relieve pain. There
are no rapid adjustments, painful contortions, or deep muscle probing.
Craniosacral Therapy was
developed in the early 1900's by Dr. William Sutherland, an Osteopath who
discovered that the skull bones are designed for movement. This therapy is
continually being researched today by the Colorado Cranial Institute, the
Upledger Institute, and the Society of Ortho-Bionomy®, just to name a few.
The cranial bones are connected
to the sacrum by a continuous membrane system of connective tissue that houses
the brain and spinal cord. The spinal fluid is pumped through the membranes,
creating a rhythm which can be monitored and balanced.
The rhythm, or Craniosacral pulse, is similar to the heartbeat, but it results
from the rhythmic pumping of the spinal fluid in the head and spinal column. The
whole body expands and contracts with this rhythm, but the cranial pulse can be
felt most easily on the head. The core of your being, motor function, learning
patterns, emotions, and ways of perceiving the world are affected by the balance
of your Craniosacral system.
As your Craniosacral system comes into balance, you will usually feel a release
of accumulated stress and a general sense of well-being. Some specific
complaints and physical problems will also clear up with Craniosacral work.
Craniosacral Therapy can be effective in shifting emotional holding patterns and
draining accumulated stresses in the nervous system. Clients often experience
relief from headaches and other problems located in the head, jaw, neck, pelvis,
and diaphragm. Conditions as diverse as learning disability, poor concentration,
biomechanical dysfunction, and palsy can start to clear up using Craniosacral
Therapy.
CST was pioneered and developed by osteopathic physician
John E. Upledger following extensive scientific
studies from 1975 to 1983 at Michigan State University, where he served as a
clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics.
CST is a gentle, hands-on method of
evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called
the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid
that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Using a soft touch generally no greater
than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release
restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the
central nervous system.
By complementing the body's natural healing
processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its
ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of
medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including:
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Migraine Headaches
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Chronic Neck and Back Pain
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Motor-Coordination Impairments
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Colic
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Autism
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Central Nervous System
Disorders
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Orthopedic Problems
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Traumatic Brain and Spinal
Cord Injuries
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Scoliosis
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Infantile Disorders
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Learning Disabilities
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Chronic Fatigue
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Emotional Difficulties
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Stress and Tension-Related
Problems
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Fibromyalgia and other
Connective-Tissue Disorders
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Temporomandibular
Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
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Neurovascular or Immune
Disorders
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Post-Surgical Dysfunction
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Many sinus problems
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Birth trauma for babies and adults
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Tinnitus
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It works on the body as a whole to
clear out dis-functions that can relate to many different areas of the body.
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