CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of the craniosacral system. The craniosacral system includes the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. This fluid has a rhythm or pulse, much like the blood or the breath. This rhythm is about 6-12 cycles per minute in a healthy person.
By using a gentle touch of generally no more than 5 grams of pressure (about the weight of a nickel), Suzanne feels the rhythmic flow of the craniosacral fluid and releases the restrictions in bones and fascia that contain the fluid. Restrictions may be the result of either physical or emotional trauma such as an accident or daily stress. They lead to pain of many kinds because they decrease the flow of all vital fluids and inhibit nerve transmission. It can also have a positive effect on the energy systems.

The CST technique is gentle and non-invasive. Even children, the elderly, and those suffering from fibromyalgia can receive it. The client is fully clothed and usually lies supine on the massage table. Additionally, CST can be combined with other modalities such as full-body massage or Reiki. A treatment lasts from 60-90 minutes.

By complementing the body’s natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure because of its ability to bolster resistance to disease.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a light-touch manual approach that enhances the body’s natural healing capabilities. For nearly 30 years is has been shown to be effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and loss of function. CST is useful as both a primary treatment method and combined with other traditional or complementary techniques.

How CST Works

The CranioSacral Therapy practitioner works with the patient to assist the body’s self-correcting mechanisms. Generally using about five grams of pressure, or about the weight of a nickel, the practitioner evaluates the body’s craniosacral system. This system plays a vital role of maintaining the environment in which the central nervous system functions. It consists of the membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord as well as the attached bones – including the skull, face and mouth, which make up the cranium, and the tailbone area, or sacrum. Since the brain and spinal cord are contained within the central nervous system, it is easy to see that the craniosacral system has powerful influence over a wide variety of bodily functions.

The CranioSacral Therapy practitioner essentially helps the body release restrictions – which it has been unable to overcome on its own – that inhibit the body’s normal, self-correcting tendencies. Rather than deciding how these changes should be made, the therapist follows cues from the body on how to proceed. When the therapist follows this gentle approach, the method is extremely safe and effective. The few contraindications to CST are aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, and other conditions where altering intracranial fluid is not recommended.

It is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including:

Migraine Headaches
Chronic Neck and Back Pain
Motor-Coordination Impairments
ADD/ADHD
Colic
Autism
Central Nervous System Disorders
Orthopedic Problems
Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Scoliosis
Infantile Disorders
Learning Disabilities
Chronic Fatigue
Emotional Difficulties
Stress and Tension-Related Problems
Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
Neurovascular or Immune Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Surgical Dysfunction