| Craniosacral therapy (CST) was developed about 30 | | | | possible to loosen them during a CST treatment. |
| years ago by John Upledger, DO. Dr. Upledger | | | | Craniosacral therapy is performed with the client lying |
| originally studied the practice of cranial osteopathy, | | | | on a treatment table while the therapist holds the |
| which was devised by William Sutherland, DO in the | | | | head and/or the sacrum. The therapist's hands then |
| early twentieth century, but adapted it based on his | | | | move slightly as they do the needed adjusting. It |
| own research and personal observation during his | | | | may not feel like much is happening during the |
| career as an osteopathic physician. | | | | treatment; the therapist needs to maintain their |
| Craniosacral therapy is based on several theories. The | | | | concentration, so they don't talk much and the client, |
| first of these is that the bones of the skull do not | | | | because they are not moving much themselves, may |
| fuse completely in early childhood as is usually | | | | fall asleep. The effects are subtle and it can take a |
| believed. Also, in his early career Dr. Upledger | | | | lot of sensitivity to notice them at first. |
| observed, while assisting during a surgical procedure, | | | | And what are the effects? To begin with, the client |
| that the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal | | | | may notice that they are calmer and can concentrate |
| cord - the meninges - actually move rhythmically. At | | | | more easily. Their posture or coordination may |
| first it was thought that this rhythm was due to the | | | | improve and they may have less pain; perhaps that |
| heartbeat, but Dr. Upledger discovered that the | | | | nagging headache they've had is now gone. Or |
| rhythm of the meninges is a different pattern from | | | | maybe they feel more optimistic about life in general. |
| that of the heartbeat. | | | | The issues in their life that have been a source of |
| Craniosacral therapists are taught to detect and | | | | anxiety no longer seem so challenging - or hard to |
| evaluate the movement of the meninges by just | | | | get over. (Because it has such a wide range of |
| holding the head and the base of the spine - the | | | | benefits, CST can be used in conjunction with other |
| sacrum - very still and focusing on what they feel | | | | therapies, including emotional treatment.) |
| with their fingers and hand. After the evaluation, it is | | | | Craniosacral therapy can help people of all ages, from |
| possible to very slowly and gently "adjust" the bones | | | | infants to elders. About the only time it is definitely |
| of the skull, so that the cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid | | | | not recommended is when there is a high-risk |
| lining the brain and spinal cord - can flow more | | | | condition located in or affecting the brain or spinal |
| naturally. | | | | cord, like an aneurysm or intracranial hemorrhage. The |
| Craniosacral therapy is used for a wide range of | | | | craniosacral therapist will obtain a medical history and |
| symptoms, including neck and low back pain, chronic | | | | may consult with a physician or other practitioner |
| fatigue, temporomandibular joint syndrome, | | | | before doing a treatment. |
| fibromyalgia and even emotional issues like depression | | | | Craniosacral therapy can be practiced by massage |
| and anxiety. It is especially good for chronic | | | | therapists, but it is not massage. It can be done by |
| conditions that may have a neurological component, | | | | osteopathic physicians, but it's not an osteopathic |
| like coordination problems, hyperactivity and learning | | | | adjustment. It takes special training to do this sort of |
| disorders. It has even been used to treat autism; Dr. | | | | work. But many people - practitioners and clients alike |
| Upledger has found that the meninges of most | | | | - swear by it and would never try anything else. |
| autistic children are unusually tight and that it is | | | | |