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What is the History of CranioSacral Therapy? What Is The Physiological CranioSacral System? What Is SomatoEmotional Release®? How Does CranioSacral Therapy Work? What Are The Goals Of CranioSacral Therapy? What Are Some Benefits Of CranioSacral Therapy? Experiencing A CranioSacral Session Scheduling a CranioSacral Therapy Session
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CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on method of enhancing the function of the craniosacral system. The membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord make up this physiological body system. CST is a calming, gentle, subtle bodywork that uses light touch to enhance the body's natural healing processes and relieve chronic pain patterns and dysfunction. It works with the body instead of forcefully imposing changes upon it. This technique is increasingly used as a preventive health measure because of its ability to bolster resistance to disease and sustain overall good health as well as increase energy, enhance sleep patterns and decrease incidences of sickness. For nearly 30 years, it has been shown to be effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and loss of function. CST is useful both as a primary therapeutic method and in combination with other traditional or complementary techniques. Healthcare practitioners using CST in their work include: osteopaths, medical doctors, doctors of chiropractic, doctors of Oriental medicine, naturopathic physicians, dentists, nurses, psychiatric specialists, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, Alexander Technique teachers among others. | |||
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What is the History Of CranioSacral Therapy? The original concepts for what is now known as the craniosacral system were put forth by osteopathic physician William Sutherland in the early part of this century. Dr. Sutherland's studies culminated into a system of treatment known as Cranial Osteopathy. For some 20 years beginning in the early 1900s, Sutherland explored the concept that the bones of the skull were structured to allow for movement. For decades, this theory remained at odds with the beliefs of the scientific and medical communities. Another osteopath, John E. Upledger, is credited with developing CranioSacral Therapy. While assisting during a surgery in 1970, Dr. Upledger observed a rhythmic movement of the dura mater, the membrane that encompasses the brain and spinal cord. Neither his colleagues nor medical texts could explain his observation. Dr. Upledger's curiosity led him to the work of Dr. Sutherland, and later to his own scientific studies that confirmed the existence of the craniosacral system. This work went on from 1975 to 1983, while he served as a clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics at Michigan State University. The findings of the research team he supervised first established the scientific basis for the craniosacral system. It was at this point that Dr. Upledger set out to scientifically confirm the existence of cranial bone motion. With a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers in research and testing, he not only confirmed Sutherland’s theory, but also clarified the mechanisms behind this motion — the craniosacral system. Dr. Upledger's continued work resulted in the development of CranioSacral Therapy, and he is known today as an authority in this field. He formed The Upledger Institute in 1985, to educate the public and healthcare practitioners about the benefits of CranioSacral Therapy. Practitioners include osteopaths, medical doctors, doctors of chiropractic, doctors of Oriental medicine, naturopathic physicians, psychiatric specialists, psychologists, dentists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nurses, acupuncturists, massage therapists, Alexander Technique Teachers and other professional bodyworkers. With a growing body of practitioners, CranioSacral Therapy provides a new healthcare option - one that uses a gentle approach working with the body. For further information you can read YOUR INNER PHYSICIAN AND YOU by John E. Upledger, D.O., O.M.M. (North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, Calif., and UI Enterprises, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 1997). This describes CranioSacral Therapy in greater detail and offers a number of case histories. | |||
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What Is The Physiological CranioSacral System? Most people have never even heard of the craniosacral system. Yet, your health depends on its optimal functioning. Learning a little bit about it can open your eyes to a new way of dealing with and preventing health problems that have not responded successfully to traditional treatments. The craniosacral system is one of the body's primary systems. It is composed of the network of meningeal membranes that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that flows throughout these membranes, and the structures that pump the CSF throughout these membranes. Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless liquid with a watery consistency. It flows through the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and carries vital nutrients that nourish the central nervous system. At the same time, the CSF and its surrounding membranes protect the brain and spinal cord from trauma and injury. The consistency of the CSF enables it to act as a shock absorber for the brain and protect it from the impact of blows from the environment. The craniosacral system surrounds the brain and spinal cord, the central nervous system. The craniosacral system extends from the cranium (skull, head, and face) down to the sacrum (area of the tailbone), hence its name The craniosacral system has an impact on the functioning of all the systems of the body and on the stability of emotions. Optimally, it works at a certain rhythm that helps maintain homeostasis, or balance, throughout the body and mind. The rhythm of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid throughout the membranes of this system is critical to its functioning. Like other bodily fluids, such as blood and lymph, CSF circulates in a methodical sequence. The average person has approximately 125 milliliters (four ounces) of cerebrospinal fluid. It normally circulates within the membranes of the craniosacral system at a rate of six to twelve cycles every minute. If the rate were to slow down, due to trauma or systemic problems, the pumping of the CSF would become inefficient, and the system would eventually become sluggish. As a result, you could suffer from pain and discomfort, motor coordination problems, emotional problems, neurological dysfunctions, a loss of energy, and imbalances in other internal systems. You might also become more prone to illness. What Is SomatoEmotional Release®? SomatoEmotional Release (SER) is a therapeutic process that helps rid the body and mind of the residual effects of past trauma and associated negative responses. In the late 1970s, John E. Upledger, DO, OMM, and biophysicist Zvi Karni, PhD, discovered that the body often retains, rather than dissipates, physical forces resulting from an accident, injury or emotional trauma. The trauma causes the body to isolate the dysfunctional area, creating what Dr. Upledger has termed an "Energy Cyst." Although a reasonably healthy body can work and adapt to Energy Cysts, extra energy will be required to perform normal bodily functions. As years pass, the adaptive pattern of the body loses its effectiveness. Symptoms and dysfunctions begin to accumulate and become increasingly difficult to ignore or suppress. SER works to assist patients toward the physical identification and elimination of these Energy Cysts by enabling the re-experience and thereby resolution of the unpleasant incidents. How Does CranioSacral Therapy Work? CranioSacral Therapy helps the body's natural healing mechanisms dissipate the negative effects of stress on the central nervous system. This is accomplished through the craniosacral system, which maintains the environment in which the central nervous system functions. This system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth (which make up the cranium) down to the tailbone area (or sacrum). The role of this system in the development and performance of the brain and spinal cord is so vital that an imbalance or dysfunction in it can cause sensory, motor and/or neurological disabilities. Like the pulse of the cardiovascular system, the craniosacral system has a rhythm that can be felt throughout the body. Using a touch no heavier than the weight of a nickel, skilled practitioners can monitor this rhythm at key body points to pinpoint the source of an obstruction or stress. Once a source has been determined, they can assist the natural movement of the fluid and related soft tissue to help the body self-correct. This simple action is often all it takes to remove a restriction. Rather than deciding how these changes should be made, the therapist follows cues from the body on how to proceed. This gentle approach is extremely safe and effective. Other times, CST may be combined with other complementary therapies to help restore the body to its optimum functioning level. The few contraindications to CranioSacral Therapy are aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, and other conditions where altering intracranial fluid pressure is not recommended. What Are The Goals Of CranioSacral Therapy? Craniosacral fluid needs to flow smoothly so that it can nourish and balance the central nervous system. Encouraging the proper pumping and flow of CSF to keep the rhythm steady and optimal is the goal of CST. Establishing normal rhythm within the craniosacral system improves the functioning of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), which it surrounds. Keeping the brain and the nerves of the spinal cord humming smoothly is vital to the functioning of the whole mind-body system. Because the craniosacral system also surrounds and stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands, it has an enormous impact on the endocrine system, which controls our hormones, the chemical balance in our bodies, and our moods. Regulating the craniosacral system with craniosacral therapy paves the way for establishing balance throughout the entire person. | |||
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What Are Some Benefits Of CranioSacral Therapy? CranioSacral therapy reestablishes the normal rhythm and flow within the craniosacral system. Because of its influence on the functioning of the central nervous system, its benefits include improved functioning of many systems of the body, including the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the digestive system. This therapy can help relieve muscle tension and release pain. Among CST's largest patient groups are those suffering chronic symptoms that haven't been aided by other approaches. In particular, CST is beneficial to those with head, neck or back injuries resulting from an accident — be it from a car, sports or work mishap or from a fall. CST can also be effective in helping children suffering from attention deficit disorder, autism, and brain injuries CST works to reverse the debilitating effects of stress by providing the conditions in which the nervous system can rest and rejuvenate. It can be used as a preventive measure. Balancing the rhythm of this system helps all the systems of the body, including the immune system, function more efficiently. Maintaining good health and fighting disease and pain depend on the vitality of your body's internal systems. Due to its gentleness and effectiveness, many people include CST as a component in their personal wellness program. They report having more energy, sleeping better and being sick less often. CST has emotional benefits as well. It has been shown to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Recent work has provided relief of constricted areas along the membranes of the systems that hold emotional trauma. Victims of assault and other severe traumatic experiences treated with CST have obtained relief through the release of muscle tension that encapsulates the emotions and memories in the tissue of the craniosacral system. CST has been effective with a wide range of problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including:
Experiencing A CranioSacral Session How Is A CST Session Is Performed? A CranioSacral Therapy session takes place in a quiet, private setting. It is recommended that clients wear loose, comfortable clothing, and always remain fully clothed. The session is performed with the client reclining on a bodywork table while the practitioner stands or sits, positioned at various times throughout the session at the client's head, middle torso or feet. Using highly skilled and sensitive touch, the therapist checks all parts of the craniosacral system for restrictions that may be causing dysfunction and discomfort in the body. The therapist senses with trained hands the rhythm and movement of the cerebrospinal fluid. Through this kinesthetic listening, the practitioner gets feedback and assesses the needs of the client. Once located by the feedback received through the therapist's hands, the restrictions are released through the gentle manipulation of the bones of the skull, spinal column, sacrum, and coccyx (tail-bone). The focus of the therapist is on the soft tissue, the muscles and fascia, surrounding the bones. Only the hands, no instruments, are used. The therapist adjusts the craniosacral system with light but deliberate touch. The amount of pressure used to make corrections is very light. It takes only about 5 grams of pressure to allow the body to correct itself out of the pattern of distortion. The hands-on work is subtle and designed to let the system unravel its own problems and correct itself. Each separate release is achieved at its own time and pace. What Will You Experience During A CST Session? Experiences during a CST session are as individual as the clients and practitioners themselves. They also may differ from session to session. At times, a client may deeply relax or even fall asleep; at other times, he or she may talk a great deal, recalling hidden memories or expressing emotions. Some will remain still during the entire session, hardly noticing the practitioner's evaluation and treatment, while others will experience sensations within the body as the evaluation process is carried out. At various times throughout the session, the practitioner will support a client's limbs and spine while facilitating release of accumulated tension. This process is called energy cyst release or tissue release. During this release, the client might recall circumstances surrounding a past shock, trauma or injury. Releasing and re-experiencing past hurts assists the body in reversing dysfunction and restoring the previous level of mobility. This aspect of the process has been named SomatoEmotional Release®. What Will You Experience After A CST Session? Just as individuals experience CST sessions differently, the immediate results vary as well. The relaxed state may cause some to sleep for many hours after a session. Others may experience an increase in energy. Reduction of pain or an increase in function may occur immediately after the session, or it may develop gradually over the next few days. Since CST helps the body resume its natural healing processes, it isn't unusual for improvement to continue weeks after the session. For some there may be a reorganization phase as the body adapts to the release of previously held patterns. How Many CranioSacral Therapy Sessions Will I Need? Response to CST varies from individual to individual and condition to condition. Your response is uniquely your own and can't be compared to anyone else's — even someone whose case may appear to be similar to your own. The number of sessions needed varies widely — from a single session up to three or more sessions a week over the course of several weeks. While the focus of CST is to uncover the source of the problem, symptom relief also results. The length of time and number of sessions needed is extremely variable and depends, among other factors, on the complex layers of injury and trauma that may mask the original cause of the problem as well as on the body's defense mechanisms. Is There Any Condition For Which CST Should Not Be Used? It is essential that you report your history fully because there are certain situations where application of CST is not recommended. These include conditions where a variation and/or slight increase in intracranial pressure would cause instability. Acute aneurysm, cerebral hemorrhage or other preexisting severe bleeding disorders are examples of conditions that could be affected by small intracranial pressure changes. If you have any concerns about CST you should consult your physician prior to receiving a CST session. Joseph Lee is a skilled and sensitive body worker with over seventeen years of experience. Joseph trained in Craniosacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release® through the Upledger Institute. He sustains a private practice in Virginia Beach VA. Scheduling a CranioSacral Therapy Session
A single session costs $80. (Credit cards are not accepted.)
How Long Does a Session Last? A single session lasts for sixty minutes.
What Should I Wear For a Session? Please wear comfortable non-binding clothes. Do not wear a skirt or dress. Athletic clothing is ideal.
How Do I Schedule a Session? All initial sessions are pre-scheduled by phone at (757) 460-4477.
In Virginia Beach, VA, Sessions Are Conducted At: Neuromuscular Pain Relief & Postural Improvement Studio Dove Landing Professional Building 700 Baker Road Suite 108 Virginia Beach, VA 23462 (Specific directions from your home can be acquired at www.mapquest.com)
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©Copyright
2003 Joseph R. Lee
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