Introducing Craniosacral Therapy Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive holistic natural therapy, which is beneficial in treating a wide range of conditions. It is a powerful and effective alternative health treatment that can bring about profound healing at all levels of our integrated being: physical, mental, energetic and emotional. Anyone searching for alternative healthcare would be well advised to try this natural therapy. The underlying foundation of craniosacral therapy is a recognition of the “breath of life”. |
The Breath of Life What Is Craniosacral Therapy Treatment Session What Can be Treated Treatment For Babies History |
Life expresses itself as motion. All living tissues of the body "breathe" with the motions of life, producing subtle, rhythmic impulses that can be felt under the sensitive hands of a trained therapist.
At the core of the body, the cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes and cushions the brain and spinal cord, expresses this motion in a tide-like ebb and flow involving all the surrounding tissues and bones. All bones, organs and other structures of the body follow their own particular rhythms. These help to maintain balance and integrity throughout the entire body, distributing the healing and ordering properties of the "breath of life".
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy offers a powerful way to connect with the body's natural wisdom. The body's own priorities for change are listened for and encouraged to arise creating tangible adjustments that are physiological, energetic and psycho-emotional. The art of the therapist is to connect with the underlying forces of health and facilitate a process of natural reorganisation. These forces express as subtle motion of tissues and fluids that can be felt by sensitive hands.
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy takes a whole-person approach to healing and the inter-connectedness of mind, body and spirit are deeply acknowledged. In a typical treatment session the therapist will make contact with a light, receptive touch that produces a spacious relational field. In this space the body will reveal patterns of experience that the sensitive therapist will recognise through an experiential knowledge of the body's anatomy and bioenergetic forces. Often the acknowledgement of these patterns is enough to bring about transformation however sometimes the therapist will facilitate by using intention. The sensations generated by the contact are commonly experienced as an increase in internal and external space, a heightened sense of body tissue movements and a shift to stillness and rest.
The therapy is efficacious for many conditions and often results in a permanent dissolving of the symptoms. It seems to work particularly well with trauma, facilitating a safe resolution of shock and held experiences that has originated from recent events or much earlier ones. This makes the therapy a powerful way into many conditions that have their origin in trauma: such as birth, accidents, abuse, and illness. The deep listening that is offered in the therapy allows a connection to the constitutional forces of the body leading to a deep reordering of our whole system that can result not only in a change of condition but also deeper changes to our constitutional health. Often, after a series of treatments the client will experience more energy and robustness in their body along with new ways of relating to themselves and others, and a clarity about the direction of their life. Many people report a calmness and peace as a result of treatment.
It is a non-manipulative, gentle whole body therapy usually carried out sitting or lying on a treatment table fully clothed. The practitioner listens with their skilled hands to the body's intrinsic movement, health, rhythms, pulsations and patterns of congestion and resistance.
During this process the client may feel energy movements or even bones or organs re-aligning. This is normal and to be welcomed, as the body begins to return to perfect health and balance. Alternatively, the client may feel nothing, or may feel a deep sense of relaxation. This, too, is an expression of craniosacral therapy as it facilitates the needs of the body in that moment.
Craniosacral therapy is deeply relaxing. It assists the body's natural healing processes, increasing physical vitality and well-being.
It aids in pain relief and encourages the nervous system, organs and musculoskeletal system to balance and heal. Craniosacral therapy is client-led, allowing the individuals' system to set the pace at which the work progresses. In general a series of sessions is advised.
The list of conditions which may benefit from this therapy is long and comprehensive, as most imbalances, whether physical, emotional or spiritual in origin, respond to Craniosacral Therapy. The following is a selection from the many conditions which respond favourably.
| Allergies Arthritis Asthma/Bronchitis Autism Back Pain Birth Trauma Bladder conditions Bone disorders Breathing disorders Cerebral Palsy Chronic Fatigue Colic Dental/jaw/TMJ trauma Depression |
Digestive problems Emotional issues Exhaustion Fibroids Fluid retention Headaches Hormonal problems Hyperactivity High blood pressure Infertility Insomnia/sleep disorders Joint disorders Low immunity ME |
Menstrual pain Migraines Morning sickness Muscular pain Nervous disorders Neuralgia Postnatal depression Premature birth Sciatica Sinusitis Sprains/strains Stress Stroke Visual problems |
Babies respond very well to Craniosacral Therapy and it is particularly beneficial to rebalance the whole body system within the first year. Craniosacral Therapy is extremely gentle and respectful to the baby, and recognises that babies are conscious and very aware.
Many babies experience strong compressive forces during birth, which can cause a contraction within their system. This can manifest as shock and trauma, leading to other conditions. If treated at this stage the birth trauma can be resolved before traumatic holding patterns become set within the physical body.
Birth trauma can lead to a myriad of conditions experienced by babies and if not corrected these can lead to significant life long health issues. The wisdom of dealing with any trauma experienced during birth, as soon as possible after birth, is obvious.
Conditions which can benefit from Craniosacral Therapy.
| Breastfeeding difficulties Colic Reflux Constipation |
Sleep issues Distress/crying Difficulty settling Irregular head shape |
| Shock/overwhelm or discomfort resulting from: | |
| Premature birth Caesarean birth |
Assisted birth Separation from parents |
U.S. Osteopath Dr. William Garner Sutherland first recognized craniosacral motions and their relevance to health in the early 1900's. He went on to study the cranial system for 50 years. During the last 21 years he trained many skilled osteopathic clinicians. In the 1970's Dr John Upledger was the first person to teach craniosacral therapy to non-osteopaths or medical staff. Franklyn Sills and the Karuna Institute teaching team have spent many years developing the biodynamic craniosacral model. Their work has created a number of other schools in the UK , USA , Spain , Switzerland , Germany , India , Japan , and more recently New Zealand and Australia .
The development of this therapy continues as more understanding is gained and new approaches and perspectives are adopted.
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