What is Craniosacral Therapy?
CST, or Craniosacral Therapy, is a therapy that is similar to a massage that works with the spine and cranium, as well as the face. The theory is that these movements and gentle pressures will ease the restriction of nerve passageways in the face, neck, and spinal cord. The therapy is used to treat many different issues including back pain, neck pain, stress, headaches, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, autism, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. The therapy has been around since the 1930’s, although it didn’t take its modern form until the late 70’s and early 80’s.
One important aspect of craniosacral therapy is the theory of tides, or fluctuation of fluids through the respiratory system, as well as through body tissues and bones. The three main cycles are the Cranial Rhythmic Impulse, which occurs 6 to 14 times per minute, the mid-tide, which occurs 2 to 3 times per minute, and the long tide, which occurs 6 times every 10 minutes. Although scientific evidence exists that proves the existence of these cycles, only the discipline of craniosacral therapy makes much of an attempt to explain what these mean and how to use them to our advantage.
The treatment itself takes about one hour to complete. The patient lies down on the floor or on a table in a supine position, while the practitioner works through ten main steps. First, they look at the current cranial rhythm and find out the rate it is already going. Then, they make a still point, through that rhythm, on the back of the head at the bottom of the skull. After that, they gently move the sacrum (a bone at the base of your spine) back and forth for several minutes. The spine is then massaged and manipulated slowly to be longer at the base, which is generally described as quite comfortable and can relieve built up stress. The three main diaphragms are addressed – the pelvic, thoracic, and respiratory. The hyoid bone in the throat is massaged to release, and then the three main cranial bones are massaged one at a time as well. These steps are not always followed in this order, and some are left out depending on the specific condition of the patient, but the general outline is usually the same.
After the treatment is over, patients generally feel relaxed and slightly distant, sometimes even sleepy. The long term effects are generally positive as well, and many people report great benefits in the condition that encouraged them to receive craniosacral therapy in the first place. Although there is some controversy about the effectiveness of this treatment, it is definitely safe (although those with brain trauma should consult their specialist doctor first) and the patients tend to deem it effective.
Craniosacral therapy is currently popular in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. In these countries, Craniosacral Therapy Associations have been formed to train practitioners and inform clients about the therapy. Although science still isn’t sure why exactly why this works for patients, the important thing is that it does.
