Some tips about Craniosacral Therapy

By Yvonne CraftSpecial to the CSMS MagazineAs powerful directors of the body’s actions, the head and spine contain our most important communications pathways. That is the founding belief of craniosacral therapy, a modern kind of bodywork that was derived from what used to be called cranial osteopathy.            Craniosacral therapy consists of gentle, noninvasive, hands-on massage that corrects imbalances in the fluid system that connects the brain and spinal cord. Unlike Swedish massage, which focuses on the muscles, or Rolf therapy, which focuses on the alignment, craniosacral therapy focuses on a membrane, or sac, that contains cerebrospinal and other important fluids of the nervous system.            The therapy, developed in the early 1970s by osteopath John Upledger, D.O., based on belief in the disputed existence of the craniosacral system, which, like the respiratory system, cardiovascular system or nervous system, is believed to influence the development and performance of the body. Therapists say imbalance or restriction in the craniosacral system, sometimes dating back as far as birth, can potentially cause any number of sensory, motor or neurological disabilities.            The therapist uses a very gentle touch to detect restrictions and then subtle movements, often on the plates of the skull, to assist the hydraulic forces of the craniosacral system and encourage the body’s natural healing powers.            Applied by itself or in concert with other kinds of bodywork, craniosacral therapy can be used to help relieve whiplash, head and neck injuries, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), balance problems, effects of trauma and a host of other disorders. Today, a variety of health professionals perform craniosacral work, including osteopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists and physical therapists.Note: Yvonne Craft teaches Chemistry at the University of North Florida (UNF). She lives in Saint Augustine, Florida. Also see  Snoring May Signal Larger Problems