Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy 

‘My belief is in the blood and flesh as being wiser than the intellect. The body-unconscious is where life bubbles up in us. It is how we know that we are alive, alive to the depths of our souls and in touch somewhere with the vivid reaches of the cosmos.’

D H Lawrence

What is Cranio Sacral Therapy?

History-

Acupuncture and Ayurveda systems of medicine have long recognised the subtle movements which occur throughout the body.

Chi, Qi or Prana are defined as life force or energy. This was also traditionally taught in Russian physiology. Historically western countries did not recognise cranial motion.

Dr William Sutherland was a final year student of osteopathy around the start of the 20th century. He had been taught that adult cranial bones do not move because the sutures become fused. From experimentation on himself he realised that all cells of the body need to express a rhythmic movement in order for them to function optimally. He also discovered that the movement of cranial bones is connected to other tissues of the body with which they are closely associated,and the central nervous system and the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds it,also has a rhythmic movement.

As he explored more into the origins of these rhythms, Dr Sutherland realised that there was no external muscular agency that contributed to this movement.

So he concluded that this motion is produced by the body’s inherent life force which he began to refer to, as the ‘breath of life.’

Tenets of craniosacral work

1- Life expresses itself as motion.

2- There is a clear relationship between motion and health; if it moves well it functions well.

‘ All life is manifested in an energy or motion. Without motion in some degree there can only be death . Furthermore motion is essential to function. But that motion must be intelligent and purposeful for the living organism to successfully compete with its environment. Hence that motion must be guided and directed by a supreme being. There must be a channelling of the universal intelligence down to the individual cell or organism. Otherwise all would be chaos. What is the supreme intelligence? How does the channelling take place? No one knows for sure. The fact remains that the existence of such, is a positive and irrefutable fact which is emphasised by the worlds greatest scientists.’

Dr Harold Magoun D.O.

Scope of Craniosacral Therapy.

Craniosacral therapy can help, and is safe and effective to use with all ages for acute and chronic complaints. It helps to reduce pain, regulate the nervous system,enhance the recovery process after surgery or injury, improve circulation, breathing, digestion, organ function, muscular skeletal issues as well as increasing feelings of well-being and vitality.

The process can also encourage the body to release unresolved emotions and trauma

Using a light touch with specific contacts, the practitioner is able to identify any areas of restriction in the body, and assist the patient’s own healing ability.

What to expect during a session 

• You will lie fully clothed on a massage table, usually on your back, or in a position that is comfortable for you.

• The therapist will then apply a light touch to particular areas of your Craniosacral System that need attention, using specific gentle contacts.The most common contacts are to the cranium (head) and the sacrum (lowest section of the back) which are the top and the bottom of the spine and nervous system.

• It is common to become deeply relaxed during a Craniosacral Therapy session, and often people sleep better in the interim after treatment.

• A series of treatments is recommended for best results.

• Working with children, the therapist will work around the child to make the environment safe, calming and inclusive.

• Babies can receive cranial sacral therapy while lying on the therapy table, sleeping in their car seat, or being held by their caregiver.

• Toddlers usually don’t like to be contained, so the session can be mobile and interactive around play, while the therapist maintains a shorter duration of contact.

• Younger children may want to read a book or do a puzzle, while older children and teens can rest on the bed while reading or listening to music if that puts them more at ease.

Conditions that CST may be beneficial for , in babies

Breastfeeding difficultiesCaesarean birthsBaby colicConstipationDifficult birth experiences Baby digestive issues - wind, constipation, discomfortExcessive cryingHead shape irregularity (Plagiocephaly)Premature birthRefluxSleep issuesTorticollis (head to one side)Unsettled babiesVery short or very long labours

Conditions that CST may be beneficial for, in children

AnxietyBed-wettingChildren's behavioural issuesConcentrationConfidence issuesDigestive system issuesDifficult experiencesEar infections​Growing painsHeadachesImmune support during medical treatmentInjury recoveryNervousnessRecovery after surgerySleeping problemsSore tummiesTraumatic experiences