Craniosacral Therapy

Dr Dunn and Janice Latham have both completed extensive work in the field of CranioSacral Therapy. It is a wonderful therapy that has shown to be effective for many childhood disorders, including the autistic spectrum of disorders, learning difficulties, hyperactivity, and related problems. It is a result of the pioneering work of John Upledger (D.O., F.A.A.O.), at the Centre for Autism in the United States.

Due to the success of the work at the Centre for Autism, Upledger went on to open his own clinic for brain-dysfunctioning children at Michigan State University. Here he received and had positive results with patients suffering from a wide array of problems including paralysis of all types, with causes ranging from birth trauma to cerebral palsy, nerve root compressions, head injuries and spinal cord injuries. Seizure disorders of all types, hyperkinetic (hyperactivity) disorders, attention deficit disorders, dyslexia, dyscalcula, and a wide range of developmental delay problems were also responsive to CranioSacral Therapy. The results demonstrated by Upledger and his team have since been duplicated around the world.

CranioSacral work has been clinically shown to prove helpful in a large number of cases. All cases cited by Upledger reported a minimum of an improved state of wellbeing, and as it is non-invasive and gentle, no harm can be done.

What Is CranioSacral therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy is a subtle and profound healing form, which aids the natural bodily intelligence (both the central and the autonomic nervous systems), by assisting to remove impedements to the flow of cerebrospinal fluid which have been created within the cranium and spinal cord. A nervous system, which is free of impingement, allows fuller support of the natural processes of healing, and balance is the key to normal function.

A very gentle touch is used to 'listen' to the slow pulsation generated by the cerebrospinal ebb and flow throughout the whole body tissue to find where the motion is disturbed or affected by constriction or resistance within the body structure and consequently where the body function is being affected. The therapeutic side of the work is in helping the body to re-establish the original movement flow by assisting in the resolution of any resistance patterns.

The gentle procedures used in CranioSacral work are geared toward bringing ease to the body and in turn to bring the body’s own healing potential to bear on the affected tissue, organ or structure, thus allowing a return of optimal functioning. Cranial work is client-led; the body sets the pace of work so that the person receiving Craniosacral Therapy remains comfortable and in control and able to integrate the changes that occur. The receiver may feel a deep sense of relaxation combined with sensations of heat, tingling, and pulsation during the session.

CST works with the natural rhythms of the body. It is non-invasive -a light touch is usually all that is needed to achieve a response. As frequently found in structural bodywork approaches, distortional patterns in one part of the body may be compensatory for imbalances in another area. For example, a condition in the pelvis may arise from the cranium. It is quite usual for symptoms in one part of the body to originate elsewhere, and for distortions to be corrected, when other apparently unrelated distortions are normalised.

Clinical Significance

The rhythmic cerebrospinal fluid movement is generated in the central axis of the body, to which all the other bones and the organ systems relate. This motion, therefore, is transferred to and taken up by the more peripheral bones of the body, the connective tissue and all the organs. Hence, the motion becomes a whole body motion.

An important bodyworker's axiom is that "form affects function". This means that if our form or structure is affected by restriction or congestion, then its function is affected.

Who Can Benefit from Craniosacral Therapy?

Everyone can benefit from receiving Craniosacral Therapy. As the touch used is gentle, but firm and reassuring, everyone who has received CST reports a feeling of ease, comfort and relaxation, and increased feelings of general wellbeing long after the session.

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:

Seizure Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Cerebral Palsy and Spacticity
Learning Disabilities
Hyperkinesia (hyperactivity)
Attention Deficit Disorder
Dyslexia and Dyscalula
Developmental Delay
Motor-Coordination Impairments
Emotional Difficulties
Stress and Tension-Related Problems
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Migraine Headaches
Tinnitus
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
Chronic Pain Syndromes
Arthritis and Joint Pain
Neuraligia
Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders
Low Back Problems and Backache
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
Traumatic Injuries including Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Central Nervous System Disorders
Stroke and Post Operative Rehabilitation
Assisting
Assisting in Cases of Difficult Labour

Is Craniosacral Safe?

The answer here is - most definitely!. Craniosacral therapy is quite different from standard massage and structural forms of chiropractic and osteopathic adjustments. Within different positions on the head, the bones are invited by gentle pressure to move into ease. The movements are extremely subtle and sensitive; they are not at all hard, sharp or quick.
Craniosacral Therapy is not Cranial Osteopathy or Chiropractic - although its principles are similar in many respects. Instead of imposing physical forces to effect a change in the body, the body's natural waves and rhythms are followed, and monitored for the ease, which develops. Craniosacral Therapy is so gentle that it is suitable for babies, children, and the elderly, and in fragile or acutely painful conditions.

The weight of a single coin is about the same amount of gentle pressure used in a wholistic session of Craniosacral balancing. This very gentle pressure and monitoring of the 22 bones in the cranium and sacrum is performed over an extended period of time. Craniosacral therapy is based on the understanding of the human energy field and how to achieve the proper flow and balance of this energy - the goal being to assist the body in restoration of the flow of CSF and the development of spinal flexibility, ease of the nervous system, and improved general health and wellbeing.

The subtle qualities of touch used in Craniosacral work is what makes it one of the safest methods for use with a wide range of presenting problems. It is typically non-directive, non-invasive in its approach—essentially the art of listening and enabling the body to heal itself.

Please find below some References & Further Reading:-

Ornstein, R., & Thompson, R.F., (1984) The Amazing Brain, Houghton, Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts

Upledger, J., (DO,O.M.M.), A Brain is Born, 1996, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California

Tortora, G.J.(MA.BS), and Grabowski, S.R.(Phd), Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 1993, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, USA

Cohern, D., (D.C.), 1995, An Introduction to Craniosacral Therapy, North Atlantic Books, Berkley, CA

Upledger, J., (DO,DC, F.A.A.O.), Vredevoogd, J.D., (M.F.A.), 1983, Craniosacral Therapy I, Eastland Press, Seattle, Washington.

Upledger, J., (DO,DC, F.A.A.O.), 1987, Craniosacral Therapy II, Beyond the Dura, Eastland Press, Seattle, Washington.

Upledger, J., (DO,DC, F.A.A.O.), 1997, Your Inner Physician and You, North Atlantic Books, Berkley, CA

Krebs, C., (Dr.), A Revolutionary Way of Thinking, 1998, Hill of Content Publishing, Melbourne, Australia

Sutherland, W.G., (D.C.), The Cranial Bowl, 1948, Mankat, MN Free Press Co

Stone, R., (DO, DC), Polarity Therapy - Vol I, - 1986, CRCS Publications, Somertown, TN, USA

Stone, R., (DO, DC), Polarity Therapy - Vol II, - 1987, CRCS Publications, Somertown, TN, USA