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Sometimes
all the body needs to activate the healing process is a
light touch by a skilled hand. CranioSacral Therapy is
a gentle approach that works to alleviate a range of sensory,
motor or neurological disorders.
It’s
no secret that among the keys to good health are proper
nutrition, exercise, a stress-free life (to the extent that’s
possible) and steering clear of harmful habits. But what
about that aspect of health that originates from inside,
within our internal self-healing system? We know that the
body is designed to defend us from disease and assist in
healing, as evidenced every time we “fight off” a cold or
a cut heals. What we may not be aware of are the innovative
hands-on techniques available to facilitate that process.
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.
Benefits
of CranioSacral Therapy
CST
has been shown to alleviate a wide range of conditions,
including traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, migraine
headaches, chronic fatigue, motor-coordination impairments,
chronic neck and back pain, scoliosis, central nervous system
disorders, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), stress
and tension-related problems, and orthopedic problems.
While the focus of CST is to uncover the source of the problem,
symptom relief also is achieved. 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 the body’s defense mechanisms. Due to its gentleness
and effectiveness, many people include CST as a component
in their personal wellness programs. They report having
more energy, sleeping better and being sick less often.
The
Foundations of CranioSacral Therapy
In
the early part of this century, osteopathic physician William
Sutherland put forth the original concepts for what is now
known as the craniosacral system. Dr. Sutherland’s studies
culminated in a system of treatment known as Cranial Osteopathy.
Another osteopath, John 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 develop his
own scientific studies to confirm 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.
Dr.
Upledger’s continued work resulted in his development of
CST. He formed The Upledger Institute in 1985 to educate
the public and healthcare practitioners about the benefits
of CST. To date, the Institute has trained more than 40,00
healthcare practitioners worldwide in the use of CST. Practitioners
include osteopathic physicians, medical doctors, doctors
of chiropractic, doctors of Oriental Medicine, naturopathic
physicians, psychiatric specialists, psychologists, dentists,
physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, acupuncturists,
and massage therapists.
With a
growing number of practitioners, CST provides a new healthcare
option – one that uses a gentle approach working with the
body. By following the body’s lead, the CST practitioner
often can uncover the source of pain or dysfunction that can
open the path to wellness.
Further
Information
Your
Inner Physician and You by John Upledger, D.O. (North
Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA, and UI Enterprises, Palm Beach
Gardens, FL, 1997) describes CranioSacral Therapy in greater
detail and offers a number of case histories.
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