Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a simple, yet highly effective treatment for a variety of conditions. Patients struggling with anything from ADHD to acute stress to chronic pain can benefit from its non-invasive, accessible nature. The therapy experience is one of gentle, light touch, but its effect is strong.
CST targets the connective tissue that develops around organs, nerves, muscles, and glands – a covering known as fascia. The Latin word for swathe or bandage, fascia’s formation develops a connected network across the body. It covers everything from the brain to blood vessels, and is evidence of the body’s interconnectedness. Craniosacral therapy is about using that interconnectedness – the fluid fascia network – for healing. This network, which includes the craniosacral system, is accessed via the central nervous system. The craniosacral system is the fluid and membrane around the brain and spinal cord. When the mind or body feels stressed or strained, the system is often tightened or skewed. This tension builds up and soon impairs the brain and spinal cord’s mastery over the body. By lightly and methodically activating certain nerves, CST practitioners melt the tight membranes within the fascia network and craniosacral system, thus relieving tension. By freeing the brain, as well as muscles and other organs, CST treats each of the body systems (nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive), not to mention the mind and spirit. Stress and pained emotions are what enrich that fluid, and by medically disarming those reserves, stress and pain melt away with the fascia. Patient testimonies regularly attest to the meditative, relaxing state that accompanies the tangible medical benefits of a craniosacral therapy treatment. CST is not only used to address specific health problems or pains, but also to maximize general wellness so that the body can better heal itself. It’s even a useful preventative measure, as its cleansing and activating qualities aid the immune system and protect against disease.
This treatment was born in 1970, when Dr. John E. Upledger noticed the unexplainable rhythm in the fluid around the brain. Research brought him to Dr. William Sutherland’s work. Sutherland was an early twentieth century pioneer for cranial osteopathy. Upledger took an interest in Sutherland’s hypothesis alleging that the bones of the skull structurally allow for motion and movement. For decades, (not until Upledger’s pursuit of a seemingly sentient cranial fluid) this theory was incongruent with the medical and scientific communities. But after years serving as a researcher and Professor of Biomechanics at Michigan State University, the mid 1980s found Upledger the leader of a team that had not just proven Sutherland’s hypothesis, but also definitively explained the 1970 observation. The phenomena of membrane movement were, and remains, evidence of the craniosacral system. Years of further studies and research have refined the scientific understanding behind the system and its role in the body. Applying that science brings us the gift of craniosacral therapy.