CranioSacral Therapy
Here are some commonly asked questions about CranioSacral Therapy along with some of the ways this modality has been used to help others.
What is CranioSacral Therapy?
CranioSacral Therapy is a very gentle noninvasive manual therapy that enhances the functioning of the brain, nervous and endocrine system by removing any restrictions that may be present in the craniosacral system.
The craniosacral system houses the central nervous system. It consists of the membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It includes the bones of the skull, face and mouth which make up the cranium and extends down to the sacrum or tailbone. Cerebrospinal fluid circulates within the craniosacral system. The cerebrospinal fluid has a rhythm and circulation of its own independent of blood flow, lymph flow or breathing. Any restrictions or imbalances in the craniosacral system could lead to a variety of sensory, motor, intellectual or neurological problems.
CranioSacral Therapy is administered over clothing with a light touch which is typically no greater than 5 grams of pressure or the weight of a nickel. The CranioSacral therapist is able to monitor the rhythm of the craniosacral system and by using a variety of gentle techniques, release any restrictions found. This release process enhances the functioning of the central nervous system which will facilitate healing and overall health and has been effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.
CranioSacral Therapy was developed by osteopath Dr. John Upledger in the 1970's. Its effectiveness has been confirmed by research and clinical work for over 30 years.
A CranioSacral Therapy session generally lasts between 30 and 50 minutes. CranioSacral Therapy is practiced by a wide variety of health care practitioners, and over 100,000 clinicians have been trained by the Upledger Institute worldwide.
Fewer than 1% of clinicians who study CranioSacral therapy go on to achieve Diplomate Status. My wife Doris and I completed our Diplomate Certification in CranioSacral Therapy in 2005.
How can CranioSacral Therapy help me?
CranioSacral Therapy can be used as a tool to enhance wellness and overall health. By correcting restrictions of the nervous system, CranioSacral Therapy can improve motor coordination, sensory perception, range of motion and neuromuscular function. Restrictions to normal range of movement or fluid flow anywhere in the body can lead to pain and dysfunction. CranioSacral Therapy removes tissue restrictions throughout the body, and by doing so, circulation of all types is enhanced - blood, lymph, breathing, cerebrospinal fluid. All fluid movement is enhanced, all the way down to a cellular level. CranioSacral Therapy facilitates unrestricted normal activity of physiological functioning which aids the body in its own natural healing process.
CranioSacral Therapy has been shown to help improve functioning and alleviate symptoms of a wide range of physical conditions that may have persisted in spite of treatment by a variety of other therapeutic modalities. CranioSacral Therapy is gentle enough to be used with newborns and infants and can be helpful in correcting adverse effects of birth traumas which can help prevent future problems such as learning difficulties or hyperactive behavior.
What can CranioSacral Therapy be used for?
Here are some of the conditions that can be treated with CranioSacral therapy:
Newborns and Infants
Abnormal fears, Allergies, Aphasias, Autism, Breathing problems, Cerebral palsy, Colic, Constipation, Digestive problems, Down's Syndrome, Ear infections, Failure-to-thrive, Hearing problems, Hydrocephalus, Hyperactive, Immune system issues, Motor problems, Nursing difficulty, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Seizures, Sensory integration issues, Sleep problems, Spasticity,
Strabismus, Swallowing problems, Urinary tract, Vomiting
Children and Adults
ADD/ADHD, Allergies, Anxiety, Autism, Breathing Problems, Chronic fatigue, Chronic pain including neck and back pain, Chronic endogenous depression, Concentration problems, Dental work, Digestive
problems, Dyslexia, Emotional difficulties, Endocrine issues, Eye and vision problems, Headaches, Hyperactivity, Immune system issues, Injury rehabilitation, Insomnia, Learning disabilities, Menstrual pain, Migraines, Motion sickness and other vestibular issues, Motor-coordination problems, Muscle cramps, Nervous conditions, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Postural and cranial distortions, Reflux, Scoliosis, Sleep cycle disruptions, Stress and tension related problems, Tinnitus, TMJ dysfunction, and many other conditions....
How many CranioSacral sessions will I need?
The answer to your question depends upon several factors. People vary in their response to CranioSacral Therapy. Sometimes, a person can receive CranioSacral Therapy for a condition such as chronic headaches or migraines, and the problem can resolve within just a few sessions. Another person with the same diagnosis can take longer to respond to CranioSacral Therapy because he or she may have many more dysfunctions or restrictions present in his or her body that have been maintaining the symptom. While everyone's body has an innate drive to return to a state of balance and wholeness, someone who has a healthy lifestyle including proper diet, exercise, sleep and relaxation will need less of a ‘nudge’ to facilitate healing than someone who does not have these positive lifestyle factors present.
By doing a CranioSacral Therapy evaluation, we can tell you what restrictions we find in your craniosacral system. We still will not be able to give you an exact answer to your question because we still do not know how quickly your body will respond to CranioSacral Therapy. Also, it is possible, depending on the severity of your condition that other restrictions will appear once the initial or superficial (surface) restrictions have been released. Generally speaking, the frequency of sessions can range from once a week to several times a week, and the duration of treatment can be several weeks or longer with chronic conditions.
What is CranioSacral Therapy?
CranioSacral Therapy is a very gentle noninvasive manual therapy that enhances the functioning of the brain, nervous and endocrine system by removing any restrictions that may be present in the craniosacral system.
The craniosacral system houses the central nervous system. It consists of the membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It includes the bones of the skull, face and mouth which make up the cranium and extends down to the sacrum or tailbone. Cerebrospinal fluid circulates within the craniosacral system. The cerebrospinal fluid has a rhythm and circulation of its own independent of blood flow, lymph flow or breathing. Any restrictions or imbalances in the craniosacral system could lead to a variety of sensory, motor, intellectual or neurological problems.
CranioSacral Therapy is administered over clothing with a light touch which is typically no greater than 5 grams of pressure or the weight of a nickel. The CranioSacral therapist is able to monitor the rhythm of the craniosacral system and by using a variety of gentle techniques, release any restrictions found. This release process enhances the functioning of the central nervous system which will facilitate healing and overall health and has been effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.
CranioSacral Therapy was developed by osteopath Dr. John Upledger in the 1970's. Its effectiveness has been confirmed by research and clinical work for over 30 years.
A CranioSacral Therapy session generally lasts between 30 and 50 minutes. CranioSacral Therapy is practiced by a wide variety of health care practitioners, and over 100,000 clinicians have been trained by the Upledger Institute worldwide.
Fewer than 1% of clinicians who study CranioSacral therapy go on to achieve Diplomate Status. My wife Doris and I completed our Diplomate Certification in CranioSacral Therapy in 2005.
How can CranioSacral Therapy help me?
CranioSacral Therapy can be used as a tool to enhance wellness and overall health. By correcting restrictions of the nervous system, CranioSacral Therapy can improve motor coordination, sensory perception, range of motion and neuromuscular function. Restrictions to normal range of movement or fluid flow anywhere in the body can lead to pain and dysfunction. CranioSacral Therapy removes tissue restrictions throughout the body, and by doing so, circulation of all types is enhanced - blood, lymph, breathing, cerebrospinal fluid. All fluid movement is enhanced, all the way down to a cellular level. CranioSacral Therapy facilitates unrestricted normal activity of physiological functioning which aids the body in its own natural healing process.
CranioSacral Therapy has been shown to help improve functioning and alleviate symptoms of a wide range of physical conditions that may have persisted in spite of treatment by a variety of other therapeutic modalities. CranioSacral Therapy is gentle enough to be used with newborns and infants and can be helpful in correcting adverse effects of birth traumas which can help prevent future problems such as learning difficulties or hyperactive behavior.
What can CranioSacral Therapy be used for?
Here are some of the conditions that can be treated with CranioSacral therapy:
Newborns and Infants
Abnormal fears, Allergies, Aphasias, Autism, Breathing problems, Cerebral palsy, Colic, Constipation, Digestive problems, Down's Syndrome, Ear infections, Failure-to-thrive, Hearing problems, Hydrocephalus, Hyperactive, Immune system issues, Motor problems, Nursing difficulty, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Seizures, Sensory integration issues, Sleep problems, Spasticity,
Strabismus, Swallowing problems, Urinary tract, Vomiting
Children and Adults
ADD/ADHD, Allergies, Anxiety, Autism, Breathing Problems, Chronic fatigue, Chronic pain including neck and back pain, Chronic endogenous depression, Concentration problems, Dental work, Digestive
problems, Dyslexia, Emotional difficulties, Endocrine issues, Eye and vision problems, Headaches, Hyperactivity, Immune system issues, Injury rehabilitation, Insomnia, Learning disabilities, Menstrual pain, Migraines, Motion sickness and other vestibular issues, Motor-coordination problems, Muscle cramps, Nervous conditions, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Postural and cranial distortions, Reflux, Scoliosis, Sleep cycle disruptions, Stress and tension related problems, Tinnitus, TMJ dysfunction, and many other conditions....
How many CranioSacral sessions will I need?
The answer to your question depends upon several factors. People vary in their response to CranioSacral Therapy. Sometimes, a person can receive CranioSacral Therapy for a condition such as chronic headaches or migraines, and the problem can resolve within just a few sessions. Another person with the same diagnosis can take longer to respond to CranioSacral Therapy because he or she may have many more dysfunctions or restrictions present in his or her body that have been maintaining the symptom. While everyone's body has an innate drive to return to a state of balance and wholeness, someone who has a healthy lifestyle including proper diet, exercise, sleep and relaxation will need less of a ‘nudge’ to facilitate healing than someone who does not have these positive lifestyle factors present.
By doing a CranioSacral Therapy evaluation, we can tell you what restrictions we find in your craniosacral system. We still will not be able to give you an exact answer to your question because we still do not know how quickly your body will respond to CranioSacral Therapy. Also, it is possible, depending on the severity of your condition that other restrictions will appear once the initial or superficial (surface) restrictions have been released. Generally speaking, the frequency of sessions can range from once a week to several times a week, and the duration of treatment can be several weeks or longer with chronic conditions.