CranioSacral Therapy is another tool to encourage physical, emotional, and spiritual health through alignment with the cranium and the sacrum. The brain is connected to the sacrum by the spinal cord, which creates the central nervous system. Cerebral spinal fluid is produced within the CranioSacral system and maintains the physiological environment in which your brain and nervous system develop and function. Just as the ocean has a tidal flow, so does the cerebral spinal fluid within the spinal column.
The goal of CranioSacral Therapy treatment is to listen to this “tidal flow” and gently encourage the body to open up blockages, which cause pain, emotional conditions, and diminished health.
Often issues within the lower pelvis are related to compressions, or reduced flow, in the skull, and visa versa. A classic example would be someone suffering chronic headaches and migraines after a car accident or from the “slow whiplash” of working at a desk and leaning forward for many years at work. Often there is a subtle pressure of the nerves from the posture that may not show up in an MRI. This in turn can affect the flow of blood, Qi, and cerebral spinal fluid at the sacrum resulting in decreased function.
CranioSacral Therapy is designed to listen to the dynamically changing physical body and encourage positive change.
What to Expect During a CranioSacral Treatment
CranialSacral treatments are non-invasive and performed with the client fully-clothed. Treatment begins with a general “listening” to the body’s flow of energy or cerebral spinal fluid with the hands at minimal pressure. Then the practitioner will aim to relax the fascia, which is the fabric that holds muscles and organs in place. A gentle release may make the area feel lighter and less tense.
The practitioner will spend quite a bit of time holding the head, gently facilitating the release restrictions in the head. One may experience a feeling of deep relaxation or one may feel nothing at first. Despite not feeling much at first, the results can be profoundly therapeutic resulting in improved range of motion, decreased pain, and an overall improved sense of well-being.
Some conditions that are treated with CranioSacral Therapy are:
- Headaches/ Migraines
- Hyperactivity in Children
- Chronic Congestion
- Depression
- Menstrual Irregularities, Hormonal Imbalances
- Pelvic Pain (cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic infections)
- Postural dysfunctions
- TMJ syndrome
- Tinnitus
- Pain
- Digestive Issues
