CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on technique used to evaluate and enhance the function of the craniosacral system - the physiological body system comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. This vital system extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth, which make up the cranium, down to the sacrum or tailbone area. Since the craniosacral system directly impacts the central nervous system, it's easy to see how an imbalance there could cause any number of sensory, motor or neurological disabilities. CranioSacral Therapy helps correct those restrictions so the body can release the effects of stress - naturally.

CST can be easily integrated into a wide range of treatment plans with potentially profound effects. Among the many medical conditions for which CranioSacral Therapy has shown to be effective are chronic headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ dysfunction, chronic fatigue, eye problems, motor-coordination difficulties, hyper-activity, attention deficit disorder, and central nervous system disorders.

 

CranioSacral Therapy for Infants and Children

No journey in life is as complex as the one that brings us into it. Childbirth can certainly be a challenge for Mom. Yet it barely compares to the shock and potential long-term effects in store for the child. Thankfully, there's a way to soothe your baby that offers even more than comfort and relief. It's a gentle form of compassionate touch called CranioSacral Therapy, and it can forge a lifetime of good health.

Research strongly suggests that the birth process is responsible for many brain dysfunctions and central nervous system problems. CranioSacral Therapy carried out in the delivery room or within the first few days of life could potentially reduce a wide variety of difficulties, many of which might not become apparent until your child is in school. Even problems with head shape and skull-bone override can be corrected with the skillful use of CranioSacral Therapy. The bottom line is, when properly applied, CranioSacral Therapy is essentially risk-free. So no matter how old your child is, it's never too late to benefit from this essential therapy.

Conditions that may be avoided or improved by treating newborns

Colic – Vomiting – Hearing Problems – Motor Problems – Seizures – Strabismus – Pylorospasm – Cerebral Palsy – Erb’s Palsy – Klumpke’s Palsy – Torticollis – Chronic Otitis – Dyslexia – Aphasias – Hyperkinetic Behavior – Spasticity – Down’s Syndrome – Autism – Hydrocephalus – Abnormal Fears – Failure-to-thrive Syndrome – and more.

 

How is CranioSacral Therapy performed?

CranioSacral Therapy is performed on a fully clothed body. Using a light touch - generally no more than the weight of a nickel - the practitioner monitors the rhythm of the craniosacral system to detect potential restrictions and imbalances. The therapist then uses delicate manual techniques to release those problem areas and relieve undue pressure on the brain and spinal cord. A CranioSacral Therapy session can last from about 15 minutes to more than an hour, and the initial evaluation alone is often enough to correct a problem. The result? A central nervous system free of restrictions. And a body that's able to return to its greatest levels of performance.

 

How did CranioSacral Therapy begin?

CranioSacral Therapy dates back to 1970 when osteopathic physician John E. Upledger first witnessed the rhythmic movement of the craniosacral system during a spinal surgery. Yet none of his colleagues nor medical texts could explain the phenomena.

Two years later, Dr Upledger attended a short course on cranial osteopathy developed by Dr. William Sutherland. The course focused on the bones of the skull and the fact – surprising at the time – that they weren’t fused as doctors had been taught in medical school. Instead, Sutherland’s material demonstrated that skull bones continue to move throughout a person’s life.

Recalling the odd pulsing rhythm he’d observed years before, Dr. Upledger theorized that a hydraulic system of sorts was functioning inside the craniosacral system that encased the skull and spinal column. He then set out to confirm his theories.

In 1975 he joined the Osteopathic College at Michigan State University as a clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics. There he led a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers to test and document the influence of therapy on the craniosacral system. For the first time they were able to explain the function of the craniosacral system, and demonstrate how light-touch therapy could be used to evaluate and treat malfunctions involving the brain and spinal cord. Indeed, some of Dr. Upledger’s most effective results came from work done with hundreds of school children.

In 1985, Dr. Upledger went on to establish The Upledger Institute to teach the public and healthcare practitioners about the benefits of CranioSacral Therapy. To date, The Upledger Institute has trained more than 50,000 healthcare practitioners world wide in the use of CranioSacral Therapy. The Upledger Institute is a health resource center located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, that’s recognized worldwide for groundbreaking continuing education programs, clinical research and therapeutic services.



For further information on the Upledger Institute – the HealthPlex Clinical Services – International Association of Healthcare Practitioners listing - see www.upledger.com

Please contact Claudette for a healing session.