The CranioSacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face, and mouth, down to the sacrum, or tailbone area. CSF maintains the physiological environment in which your brain and nervous system develop, live and function. In other words, CSF nourishes the brain and spinal cord.
Normally, the production and reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid produces a continuous rise and fall of fluid pressure within the CranioSacral system. Since this vital system influences the development and performance of the brain and spinal cord, an imbalance or restriction could potentially cause any number of sensory, motor or neurological disabilities. Any buildup of pressure could contribute to chronic pain, eye difficulties, scoliosis, motor-coordination impairments, learning disabilities, and other health challenges.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, noninvasive hands-on treatment that focuses on the body’s connective tissue network called the fascia. The goal is to release tension in the fascia, which surrounds organs, glands, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, the brain, and spinal cord. It can be a full-body therapy that doesn’t necessarily just involve the cranium (skull).
During CranioSacral Therapy, we use light touch to monitor the rhythm of the craniosacral system, aiming to detect potential restrictions and imbalances. Delicate manual techniques release those problem areas and relieve undue pressure on the brain and spinal cord. It is a gentle method of detection and correction that encourages your own natural healing mechanisms to dissipate these negative effects of stress on your central nervous system. In general, CranioSacral Therapy improves overall health and resistance to disease by restoring balance to the mind, body and spirit.
Dynamic Body Balancing (DBB) techniques, which include Myofascial Unwinding and Biofield Therapy, are a very important part of the CST provided at Opp Family Chiropractic. In addition to specifically working with the cranium and sacrum (tail bone), this technique is typically performed with the patient in the “position of injury”, which is primarily seated or standing. According to Dr. Carol Phillips, this allows the body to re-enact an injury and will move in a gentle dance with their facilitator as their tissues begin the process of restoring a state of balance and harmony within the cells of the body. Emotions stored in every cell involved in the release are allowed to surface and can lead to a more permanent resolution of pain and dysfunction. Being in the position of injury accelerates the healing process, saving time and money.
A session for children and adults may look like any of the following:
- Lying on the table with your doctor’s hand under your head and/or sacrum.
- Standing with your hands on the wall while the practitioner follows movement patterns in your hips and legs.
- Seated on a stool while your practitioner places one hand on your chest and on eon your upper back, moving side-to-side or forward-and-back.
A session for a newborn may look like any of the following:
- Your baby lies down on the table while your practitioner gently moves them until your baby’s expression softens and brightens.
- Your practitioner holds your newborn until their body softens with relief in their arms.
A CranioSacral Therapy session can last 15 minutes to more than an hour – it is often difficult to address all areas in one or two sessions. It strengthens your body’s ability to take better care of you. It helps alleviate a range of illnesses, pain and dysfunction, such as migraines and headaches, chronic neck and back pain, motor-coordination impairments, stress and tension-related problems, infantile disorders, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, chronic fatigue, scoliosis, central nervous system disorders, emotional difficulties, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), learning disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder, orthopedic problems and many other conditions. Our cells hold on to emotion, so even if someone doesn’t have physical trauma, they can still benefit if they have emotional / mental trauma that they want help with.