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CranioSacral
Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, noninvasive, yet effective type of bodywork.
Seldom does the therapist use more than five grams of pressure (the weight
of a nickel).
The validity of the cardiovascular and respiratory rhythms are certainly
not disputed today. Yet for eons, the very existence of these systems
sparked debate in medical communities around the globe. Now for nearly
25 years, osteopathic physician and researcher John E. Upledger, has been
a proponent of using the rhythm of another body system - the cranciosacral
system - to enhance body functioning, and help alleviate pain and dysfunction.
The history of CranioSacral Therapy dates back to the early 1900s, when
osteopathic physician William Sutherland was struck by the unusual idea
that the bones of the skull were structured to allow for movement. For
more than 20 years he explored this concept, eventually developing a system
of examination and treatment known as Cranial Osteopathy. Then in 19702,
Dr. John E. Upledger observed the rhythmic movement of the craniosacral
system firsthand during surgery.
The
Craniosacral System
The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and fluid that surround
and support the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the
head (cranium) down to the bones at the base of the spine (sacrum). The
fluid within the membranes is continuously draining and refilling. The
filling and draining creates gentle, rhythmic, expanding and contracting
movements that can be felt anywhere in the body by the trained therapist.
These movements are the craniosacral rhythm. They occur at a rate of about
six to twelve complete cycles per minute. The therapist gains valuable
information about where the body would most benefit from change by monitoring
the craniosacral rhythm. The source of pain isn't always obvious.
A
Typical Session
You rest fully-clothed on a massage table while the therapist monitors
your craniosacral rhythm with her hands. She conducts other gentle assessments
and corrects the sources of pain and dysfunction using gentle manipulative
techniques. This sets the stage for your body to most efficiently use
its own power to heal. Because the body exerts considerable energy to
adapt to its restrictions, most people find the sessions to be deeply
relaxing.
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Benefits
For All Ages
CranioSacral Therapy is helpful for people of all ages. It has successfully
been used to treat such diverse conditions as headaches, TMJ dysfunction,
chronic middle ear infections, vertigo, depression, back pain, joint immobility,
neck pain, sinus congestion, migraines, learning disabilities, the effects
of childhood trauma and negative touch. In infants, it is used to treat
colic, sleep disorders, feeding problems, breathing or digestive difficulties,
various congenital, neurological and genetic problems, plus the effects
of forceps, vacuum extractor or cesarean delivery.
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