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RATINGS
A
diagnostic and healing approach based on the application of corrective
pressure to the cranium and spine (the craniosacral system),
Craniosacral therapy grew out of work with cranial osteopathy in the US
during the 1970s. It goes further than cranial osteopathy in claiming
that the cranial rhythmic impulse affects every cell in the body.
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| HISTORY
Dr. John Upledger, an osteopath at Michigan State University, developed this approach in the late 1970s. While incorporating some of the techniques practiced in cranial osteopathy, Upledger distinguishes it from osteopathy in being "soft tissue-oriented," "fluid-oriented," and "membrane-oriented" rather than "bone-oriented." The approach is still considered controversial in the UK, though more widely practiced in the U.S. KEY PRINCIPLES
Using a soft touch generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system. 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:
EVIDENCE & RESEARCH
Numerous case studies and articles have been published in journals showcasing the benefits of CST in a wide variety of areas including severe structural malformations, chronic pain, and soft tissue diseases.
MEDICAL OPINION
While some medical doctors still remain skeptical of CST due in part to the subtle energy work aspect of the modality, the practice is gaining wide respect in the chiropractic and medical massage community.
CONSULTING A PRACTITIONER While the bones of the cranium are the focus of
cranial osteopathy, Craniosacral therapy focuses on the membranes
encasing the brain and spinal cord. Practitioners believe that it is
these membranes that generate the cranial rhythmic impulse (cRi) of
cerebrospinal fluid, which affects the connective tissues linking all
the organs, bones, and muscles of the body. The aim of treatment is to
ensure an even, rhythmic flow of cui.
You will be asked to lie clothed on a treatment
table while the practitioner applies subtle pressure with his hands,
usually, but not always, on your head or at the base of your spine (the
sacrum). Many people report feeling deeply relaxed during treatment,
though some experience a spontaneous "unwinding" of tension, believed
to result from the release of physical or emotional trauma in the body.
One or two treatments of about an hour may be sufficient, but often
more sessions are recommended.
PRECAUTIONS There are certain situations where application of CST would
not be recommended. These include conditions such as acute aneurysm, cerebral hemorrhage or other
preexisting severe bleeding disorders
that could be affected by small intracranial pressure changes.
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Compatibility
