What is CranioSacral Therapy?

The Cranial Pulse

CranioSacral Therapy grew out of an osteopathic tradition and recognizes a pulse or rhythm of spinal cord/cranial fluid movement unrelated to heart beat or breathing.  This subtle movement has a corresponding joint and skeletal body movement communicated through the fascia/connective tissue of the body. The arms move/rotate ever so slightly with each “pulse” as does the pelvis, ribs and even the cranial bones that form our skull.  With gentle and subtle palpation, the trained practitioner can feel this movement in various locations and assess and treat any restrictions that are perceived.

The Importance of Fascia

The body is completely enveloped in fascia/connective tissue that hold our organs in place, connect our skin to deeper organs, traverse in and around our brain, and run from our head to our toes.  Therefore, restrictions in one area may telescope a problem to other distant areas of the body.  It is not uncommon to seek out a therapist for a neck or shoulder issue only to discover the root cause being a restriction in the hip area.

Upledger

While there are now several schools dedicated to the science of Craniosacral Therapy, credit for co-developing the techniques currently in use around the world is given to the Osteopathic Physician, John Upledger, who founded the Upledger Institute. This is where John has studied.

Personal Experience with CranioSacral Therapy

Two years ago, John had an unpleasant auditory “whoosh” sound that wouldn’t go away.  He sought out the services of a local functional neurologist, a massage therapist, an acupuncturist, and a chiropractor.  He was told there was no detectible obstruction in his carotid arteries, and none of the above techniques produced much change.  He then sought out the services of a CranioSacral Therapist.  After the first session, the six months of “whooshing” stopped.  John left the session without this sound in his ears.  The practitioner worked predominantly on his torso and chest – where she found he held tensions and constrictions.  That tension produced a stress pattern that created a block or constriction that became audible.  In the end, the constriction had very little to do with his ears.