CranioSacral Therapy Explained

Over 100 years ago Dr. William Sutherland made an amazing discovery regarding the existence of subtle breathing motions of every living tissue in our body. According to Sutherland, these motions were produced by the life force that exists in every living organism’s body; he called this life force “The breath of Life.” The spinal fluid is believed to carry this breath of life within and around the central nervous system.

A few decades later Dr. John Upledger used these findings to develop what is today called CranioSacral Therapy (CST).

According to the generally accepted CST philosophy, stress, traumatic events and physical injuries create blockages, preventing the fee flow of the spinal fluid. This in turn has a direct impact on our natural health and well-being. The ebb and flow of this spinal fluid is called the craniosacral rhythm. Craniosacral therapy involves feeling these rhythms and balancing them in order to restore a person’s health and well-being.

During a typical CranioSacral Therapy session the patient lies on a table and the therapist places his/her hands on key body points at the ankles, thighs, midriff, shoulders and head to detect the source of blockage. Once the blockage is detected, the therapist manipulates the soft tissues surrounding those areas using very light pressure in order to release the stress and tension stored therein so that the spinal fluid can flow freely.

A typical session lasts between 45-60 minutes, and most people who have experienced a session of this modality swear by its relaxing and therapeutic effects. The therapy is believed to be especially effective for treating problems like migraines, chronic headaches, back aches, colic, emotional disturbances, problems of the central nervous system, as well stress and anxiety. Some therapist also suggests CST sessions to autistic individuals and most recently have seen improvements with those diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

Though the therapy does not enjoy complete scientific validity, it has gained popularity thanks to its non-invasive and side effect-free nature. It is, in fact, considered safe for kids, infants and newborns as well. Since there are no known side effects of CST, it can be used to complement conventional treatment for chronic diseases. However, it is advisable not to use the therapy as a replacement for conventional allopathic medical treatment and to always seek the advice of your doctor when seeking to embrace new forms of treatment for ongoing health and wellness issues.

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen