Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle yet powerful hands-on technique. It can be used to evaluate and treat restrictions in the craniosacral system.
The craniosacral system is composed of all the individual bones which make up the skull plus the bones of the spine (vertebrae) including the sacrum or tailbone. Hence, the name; cranio = skull and sacral = sacrum or tailbone. The system also includes a special compartment inside the brain which produces CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). This special fluid circulates around the brain and spinal cord between layers of connective tissue called the dura. In the spinal column, the dura attaches to the base of the skull and the upper 2 or 3 vertebrae in the spine and also to the sacrum. The fluid gets pumped out of the special compartment in the brain, circulates around the brain and spinal cord and then gets reabsorbed. Thus, it acts like a hydraulic pump. This pumping produces a rhythm called the craniosacral rhythm. It is a body rhythm just like your pulse or your breathing.
Restrictions can be caused by a wide variety of things including birth trauma, hitting your head, falls on the buttocks, whiplash, dental work, orthodontic braces, meningitis, an epidural during labour and delivery, childbirth, etc. The following are some conditions that may result from craniosacral restrictions:
migraine headaches
chronic neck & back pain
learning & attention disorders in children
stress & tension related problems
chronic fatigue
fibromyalgia
Craniosacral restrictions may be the primary cause of a problem and sometimes they may be secondary. It is best to have an evaluation done by a trained and skilled practitioner to determine if Craniosacral Therapy should be a part of your health care treatment.
When performed by a trained and skilled practitioner, Craniosacral Therapy is a very safe technique. (The only time a person should not receive this treatment is if they have just had severe brain trauma.) Treatment may temporarily reproduce signs and symptoms you have been experiencing or mild lightheadedness. This usually is brief and is often a good indication that restrictions are being released. Craniosacral Therapy often works well with other forms of treatment such as chiropractic, massage or both. The amount of treatment required depends on the severity of the craniosacral restrictions and how long they have been present.
If you are currently a chiropractic patient, you may book an appointment directly with Dr. Harrison for a Craniosacral evaluation. If you are new to the clinic, it is recommended that you see Dr. Harrison for a complete chiropractic evaluation to determine what care, in addition to Craniosacral Therapy, may be required.
For more information, contact the Upledger Institute web site:
