CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

What is CranioSacral Therapy?

CranioSacral Therapy is a light-touch approach that can create dramatic improvements in your life. It releases tension deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance.

Attention is paid to tension within the dura mater, the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This membrane attaches to the inside of the skull (or cranium) and to the tailbone (or sacrum), hence the name. The craniosacral system (the dura mater, the bones to which it is attached, and the cerebrospinal fluid inside) controls the internal environment in which the brain and spinal cord operate and thus exerts a powerful influence upon the functioning of the entire body.

All the nerves and blood vessels going to and from the brain and spinal cord pass through the dura mater membrane. Abnormal tension in this membrane puts pressure on the nerves and can disrupt the functioning of the central nervous system, causing many neurological problems. The central nervous system is responsible, among other things, for transmitting pain impulses to the brain. Pressure on veins coming out of the skull can decrease fluid drainage out of the skull, reducing the nutrition and oxygen to the brain and spinal cord. In addition, the pituitary gland, the master hormone gland of the body, sits at the base of the brain directly on the dura mater. Thus abnormal membrane tension can have profound effects not only on the brain and spinal cord, but on the rest of the body as well.

CranioSacral Therapy releases those tensions to allow the entire body to relax and self-correct. By freeing the central nervous system to perform at its best, CranioSacral Therapy naturally eliminates pain and stress, strengthens your resistance to disease, and enhances your health and well-being.

Because CranioSacral Therapy is so gentle, it is effective for all ages, from newborns to elders

What Conditions Does CranioSacral Therapy Address?

CranioSacral Therapy helps to relieve a full spectrum of pain, illness and dysfunction, including:

• CranioSacral Therapy addresses Migraines and Headaches
• Chronic neck and back Pain
• Stress and Tension-Related Disorders
• Motor-Coordination Impairments
• CranioSacral Therapy addresses Infant and Childhood Disorders
• Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
• Chronic Fatigue
• Fibromyalgia
• TMJ Syndrome
• Scoliosis
• Central Nervous System Disorders
• Learning Disabilities
• ADD/ADHD
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Orthopedic Problems
• And Many Other Conditions

What Can I Expect From a Session?

A typical CranioSacral Therapy session takes place in a quiet, private setting. You remain fully clothed as you relax on a comfortable, padded table.

The CranioSacral therapist acts primarily as a facilitator, tuning in to subtle patterns of tension within the client’s body and guiding the body towards release. By carefully listening with the hands to locate areas of weak fluid flow or tissue motion, the therapist can trace those areas of weakness through the body to the original source of dysfunction. Delicate manual techniques are then used to release those problem areas and improve the form and function of the central nervous system.

Often the principal area of restriction may not be the area in which the client feels the pain or dysfunction, and people are often surprised when, for example, their headache or neck pain eases as the therapist works on their tailbone, or even on their ankle.

I always tell my clients that cranial work is never done when the session is over and to expect that the body will continue to release over the next few days.

How Many Sessions Does It Take?

As each person’s situation is different, the number of visits will vary. Many people experience significant improvement within three to five therapy sessions; others may require additional treatment. Many love the relaxing effect CranioaSacral Therapy has on their overall well-being so much that they visit on a regular basis.

The number of sessions will vary according to a number of factors which may include the severity of the condition and how long the problem has existed.

You and your therapist will develop a plan based on your needs and how your body responds to treatment. Find out how easy it can be to finally feel better and enjoy your life more. Call your CranioSacral Therapy practitioner for an appointment today.