General comments
Although the list below gives typical locations of problems, each treatment is quite different, and unique to each individual.
Many problems do not arise from the most obvious sites in the body, and I find that many clients receive most benefit from
treatment at the opposite end of their body to where the problem appears to be!
IMPORTANT - CST (and any other form of complementary therapy) should NOT be used to replace the services of a qualified medical practitioner.
i.e. if you suspect you have a medical condition, get it checked out first by your GP!
Treatment sessions in East Anglia are available by booking on 01603 665173 (or 08454 580138 - please leave a message on the answerphone).
You can also Email me
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Allergies
Many allergies and food intolerances are caused by a compression of the cranial base.
This restricts the Vagus Nerve supply to the heart, lungs and upper digestive organs. If the Vagus connection is compromised, then the autonomic nervous system is out of balance, and normal digestion does not easily take place. This correctable condition (compression of the atlanto-occipital joint) may also account for some problems caused by nutritional deficit. I also work directly on the visceral organs, since these often are subject to physical tissue restrictions from their supportive structures (e.g. the omentum, the diaphragm). If they are physically restricted by minor adhesions or muscular tension their physiological function also becomes impaired. Problems caused by small areas of adhesion are very easy to correct using CST techniques.
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Autism
Dr John Upledger has had considerable success with autistic children.
Often the cranial base and temporal bones are locked, and unable to move freely.
This results in a closed personality - which shows as a total avoidance of eye contact in extreme cases of autism.
The less extreme Aspbergers syndrome is often characterised by children who are very intelligent, but not very functional in a social setting.
Treatment is long-term, but an increase in external focus and socialisation is almost always seen to some degree.
A more flexible and open personality becomes apparent as the articulations of the cranial base become more open.
Parents of autistic children sometimes go on to complete CST training themselves so that they can treat their children regularly at home.
Effective treatment often requires work inside the mouth, and even if this is not necessary, it often takes time to build up sufficient trust - in fact
this is one of the most important stages of treatment, and is often difficult for parents who are watching apparently nothing happening.
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Babies and birth
Babies are designed to be born ... and all the squashing and compression they go through during birth are quite natural.
The cerebrospinal fluid system, plus the extraordinary flexibility of the baby's body and its emotional resilience when allowed to make
natural contact with its mother, together are capable of correcting the vast majority of birth-induced cranial bone misalignments.
By the time the baby is about 2 weeks old, the steam has run out of this self-repair mechanism, and any remaining problems may
be present in one form or another for the rest of the childs life, unless corrected using craniosacral or cranial osteopathic methods.
Colic is a typical example of a birth-caused problem.
Experience of craniosacral practitioners suggests that the factors which may cause colic include :
- compression of the upper neck/base of the skull during delivery - particularly in cases of foreceps or ventouse delivery
- residual shock due to (e.g.) the umbilical cord being cut before the baby is ready to breathe on its own
There is no doubt that the the mother and the doctors and midwives present (and the baby!)
all do their best to ensure a safe birth. However, one penalty of modern safe birthing practices (and modern culture)
is that, instead of a high rate of deaths for mother and child, the birth is more likely to leave some sort of shock in the baby's system.
Bright lights, taking the baby away for weighing, and many other apparently trivial things can decrease the feeling of security of the baby,
and this reduces its ability to shrug off the physical impacts of its birth. Medical Research supporting this has been well documented by
Michael Odent (a French Obstetrician and Gynecologist) in his book "The Scientification of Love".
CST is one method of helping the baby to clear its system of birth traumas, and a check-up treatment after the first
2 weeks of birth is always useful, even if there is no apparent problem.
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Mothers and birth
During pregnancy, the release of the hormone oxytocin softens the ligaments of the body, and makes the expansion of the pelvis
possible during labour.
This is an ideal opportunity to have treatment - particularly if there are known spinal or joint problems,
or if there is any discomfort during pregnancy.
This will not only assist longstanding problems more easily, but also prepare for the process of labour and birth.
I regularly work with pregnant mothers to reduce the discomfort experienced as the baby grows inside them -
particularly in the latter stages of pregnancy.
Episiotomies and caesarian sections often leave scar tissue.
This may cause local numbness, and I have also seen the resdiual effect of this scar tissue be a major contributing factor to
symptoms as diverse as back pain,
headache/migraine, dizzyness and menstrual/digestive disorders up to 20 years after the delivery.
Like most other scar tissue problems, CST can often correct these very quickly.
Most mothers come through the birth with some damage to their pelvic area, compression of their digestive system, and sometimes shock.
In the vast majority of completely natural births, the adrenaline and serotonin rush in combination with high levels of oxytocin will correct most of these problems.
However, very few births are now completely natural. Although perhaps in danger of being Rousseauesque, the general opinion in
the CST world is that the additional emotional strains imposed on mother (mainly due to negative cultural messages in the polular press)
have significantly increased the likelihood of residual physical damage and traumatic shock. And it is also evident that a mother in shock or pain,
with all the will in the world, is less able to provide her full resources for the newborn baby.
Post-natal depression is sometimes caused by shock, and is typically seen initially as a mother who is only just coping,
yet keeps telling everyone that she's OK. Its important to make sure there are strong support contacts available -
both family, and local ante-natal groups if possible. In addition to the CST there are several other alternative and complementary aids to birth,
including homeopathy, acupuncture, hypnosis and visualisation, and birth doula support.
A simple device (the " Stillpoint Inducer")
available from this website for just £10 has been reported to ease labour pains, and is used by several of my clients instead of painkilers.
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CST and issues around birth - a summary
Craniosacral Therapy, is particularly useful in many ways for the whole process of birthing and childbearing - both for the baby and the mother. A brief summary of the areas it is commonly used in is provided below....
- a) general fertility work (pre-conception):
- mobility of ovaries and uterus
- mobility of pituitary
- other things which might reduce ability to conceive : migraines, blocked sinuses
- general stress reduction and self-help techniques for relaxation
- b) pregnancy term/antenatal:
- mobility of uterus to ensure that the baby is more likely to engage in the correct way
- release of trapped or crushed soft organs around the womb
- general stress management, postural work
- c) postnatal: Mother
- release of scar tissue from caesarian and episiotomies/tearing/ forceps bruising, including loss of sensation in skin and/or bladder problems - this can all be done fully clothed with skin contact only necessary on the abdomen/belly
- release of damage to coccyx or pelvis during birth
- release of any damage caused by epidurals (may cause local back pain or headaches)
- All the above not only help immediately after the birth, but can help to prevent illnesses which might subsequently begin up to 20 or 30 years afterwards due to accumulation of immobile tissue round local adhesions
- Release of shock / assistance with Post-Natal depression
- d) postnatal: baby
- relief from colic and other distress symptoms (including floppy unresponsive babies)
- may be able to treat some cases of cerebral palsy (better results with rigid type CP)
- treatment of malformed cranium due to excessively long engagement, forceps or ventouse
- treatment of mother - about 40% of babies "symptoms" are a result of the mother being unable to cope (or being in pain or something else not being quite right) rather than the baby itself having a problem - treating BOTH the baby and the mother usually sorts out any distress the baby might be experiencing
- Unusual back-arching or stiffness - or inability to lie on front and initiate crawling - these often arise due to restrictions areound the base of the skull and in the neck - which usually clear very easily with a few CST treatments.
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Back pain
Spinal pain comes in all shapes and sizes, but is most usually in the lower back (Lumbar spine), and closely followed by the neck area (Cervical spine).
Factors which cause back ache which may be corrected using CST include :
- dehydration (but its easier and cheaper to drink plenty of warm water - especially if you drive long distance! Also cut down on alcohol,
and anything containing caffeine)
- poor nerve connection to muscles supporting the lower spine
- minor adhesions - natural or due to surgery or giving birth - in the intestinal area
- misalignment fo the pelvis, shoulders or jaw joint (see TMJ)
- misalignment of the sphenoid bone (the bone in the head immediately behind your eyes)
- damage to the coccyx (tail bone). This is also a common cause of headaches.
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Bone joint disorders, including Arthritis
Arthritis may be local or systemic (i.e. whole body).
Systemic artritis has been treated using CST, but is not straightforward, and this is not one of my speciality areas.
However, local arthritis (e.g. finger joints) often responds very quickly to CST.
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Breathing difficulties, including asthma and bronchitis
Basic CST techniques can be of great help in releasing restrictions to the lungs around the thoracic inlet (shoulder girdle),
and to important baroreceptor sensors in the upper throat/base of the tongue.
Asthma appears to respond well to CST treatments, though often takes more than 6 sesssions before a lasting effect is obtained.
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Cancer
I have a lot of experience working with breast cancer patients, and spent one year as part of the "BigC" complementary
cancer care team at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
Almost all lymph node operations create a condition known as "cording", where tissues tighten into the operation site,
causing pain and immobility through the arm, neck and chest.
Most of the cording cases I have treated have had symptoms permanently reduced by 70 to 80% in just one treatment, and even if only for this,
I would recommend CST for anyone wo has been treated for breast cancer.
Likewise, chemotherapy injections and radiotherapy treatments often
involve a lot of fear. Not just fear of the cancer - but the body itself is very aware that the treatments are highly toxic, and there is a cellular fear
that results in veins closing, and muscles tightening. These symptoms seen so commonly in cancer treatment wards often persist long after
the treatment, causing substantial pain. The reason? The body does not realise that the treatment is over - it is locked in a survival reaction. CST
is also particularly good at releasing these locked-in "tissue fears".
On a slightly more mundane level, I have found that radiotherapy burns respond very well to the Australian Bush Flower Remedy "Solaris",
available from Neals Yard Remedies or any Homeopathic practitioner.
Taking aloe vera both topically and internally is also of great use, as are vitamins E and C.
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Cerebral Palsy
The bones of the skull naturally move against each other, and are connected to very strong elastic membranes inside the skull,
which divide the brain into four major segments.
The joints between cranial bones are called "sutures".
During research at Michigan State University in the 1970's, Dr. John Upledger found that Cerebral Palsy may be caused by an
overlapping of sutures on the newborn cranium.
This is usually found on top of the nead, on one side of the fontanelle.
About 50% of children with CP respond favourably to CST treatment, with better success for rigid (rather than floppy) forms of CP.
Occasionally a near-100% recovery occurs, but more usually the change is gradual, with partial recovery of comunication and coordination skils.
The effectiveness of treatment also (generally) diminishes with age, since neural circuits require stimulation at certain
ages in order to be properly connected. However, there are now therapies available using both movement and sound which are specifically designed
to restore or regenerate developmental nerve function.
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Chronic Fatigue, ME and Exhaustion
I have treated several forms of ME/Chronic Fatigue with varying degrees of success.
I would say that about half of the sufferers of this condition whom I have treated place a lot of mental effort into getting better,
investigating in substantial detail the medical explanations and treatments for their condition.
This effort is sometimes so extreme that it can be counter-prodctive in its intensity.
Ultimately it is the body which repairs itself, and although some effort and "will to be well" is required,
excess effort gets in the way of the natural healing process.
I recognise that this is not an easy "philosophy" to put in to practice.
Another common factor I have noticed is that many if not all ME/chronic fatigue sufferers have cranial systems which "feel" as if
they have been affected by meningitis.
This aspect at least is often easily addressed, and CST can usually reduce headache symptoms quite quickly.
Energy levels take longer to come back. Although I cannot prove this medically, I suspect that most ME/Chronic Fatigue is a
result of a sub-clinical meningitis which may have occurred any time in the patients life, has been successfully dealt with by the immune system,
but which has left behind scar tissue in the structures surrounding the brain.
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Depression
One aspect of clinical depression is a physical compression of three joints in the body. These are
- the lumbo-sacral joint (base of the spine)
- the atlanto-occipital joint (top of the neck/cranial base), and
- a joint close to the pituitary gland in the brain (the spheno-basilar synchrondosis)
The depression may either be caused by physical compression of these joints (as can be caused e.g. by a blow to the head, whiplash,
dental trauma or a hard fall on the taibone), or the depression may be causing this compression.
In either case, it is often possible to provide relief by decompressing these three joints - particularly if the depression is secondary to an accident.
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Digestive problems
Digestive disorders are often caused either by local soft tissue immobility (which prevents the organ from making natural peristaltic movements),
or by restrictions to local blood vessels or nerves.
Blood vessel restriction is again a result of small scale adhesions in the body (see scar tissue).
Nerve restrictions can be either locally in the spine, or as a result of restriction of the autonomic nervous system in the cranial base or sacrum.
Most intestinal problems are either nerve-related, or a result of the pancreas and gall-bladder allowing stomach acids to dissolve the gut lining.
The latter is again usually due to compression of the Vagus nerve in the cranial base, and the sufferer may have had colic when young.
All of the above problems usually respond to CST.
Lower intestinal problems also usually require treatment with a high quality acidophilus supplement,
and a drastic cutback in bread/flour based products, milk, sugar, caffeine and artificial sweeteners.
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Drug withdrawal
The side effects when coming off prescribed medications (e.g. painkillers, antidepressants) or illegal drugs can be unpleasant.
CST is one effective way to reduce cravings and problems with sleep patterns, by directly assisting movement of fluids in the
areas of the brain which produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin. A stillpoint inducer can also help.
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Emotional problems
Emotional problems may stem from misalignment of certain bones in the skull (usually caused to accidental knocks and bangs to the head).
This was demonstrated by WG Southerland in the 1920's as he investigated the mobility of cranial bones, and found that if he deliberately
prevented one from moving, he suffered various emotional and personality disorders, which corrected when he removed the artificial restriction.
A CST check-up may reveal such a misalignment, which is usually correctable.
Alternatively, an adaptation of CST by Dr John Upledger called "Somato-Emotional Release™" may provide an answer.
Emotional patterns sometimes get recorded in body tissue - and so continue to repeat even when an issue has been consciously resolved.
If you think this may be a help, or remember having a blow to the head (or elsewhere on the body) in the year or so
before an emotional problem started, then CST may be able to assist. Please phone for more information.
Many people also use CST as a way to assist their personal and spiritual development. CST is very good at helping you to develop a stronger
sense of presence and connection within your body. As your mind-body integration improves, your personality and behaviour will also become
more integrated, in addition to the obvious potential for improved coordination and physical wellbeing.
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Headaches and migraines
Question : Why do we have headaches? What are they?
Answer It depends on the kind of headache.... (and most of these can be helped by CST)
Sinus headaches are probably caused by fluid pressure changes in the central nervous system, or differential pressures across tissue systems,
which stretch small nerves in the sinuses.
Recent medical research has found the sinuses to be the main outlets for excess cerebrospinal fluid.
Tight membrane patterns can also squeeze minor blood vessels, creating the conditions known to produce migraine.
The second type are headaches that are caused by simple chemical changes within the cerebrospinal fluid.
The CSF is the lymphatic system of the central nervous system, and it needs to be replaced on a regular basis.
In order to do this it needs water, and many headaches are caused simply because there is not enough water available to overcome osmotic pressure.
If the salinity of the CSF increases slightly its pressure goes up, and this creates a fuzzy pressure headache which is relieved a few minutes
after we rehydrate by drinking water!!!
The cause of the ache may be slight changes in neurochemistry, or simply the increased pressure irritating nerve roots.
Elevated blood pressure can also raise the pressure of the CSF, as can more serious things such as tumours.
One common cause of high blood pressure which causes a thumping headache is either tension in the upper neck and base of the skull,
or tension in the respiratory diaphragm (solar plexus) due to stress.
Then there are one-sided headaches that are caused by tension patterns in the dura, the outermost membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
These elastic structures respond to tension changes as small as 20 grams in the spine, thorax or abdomen.
Because the membranes could potentially touch the surface of the brain, and have both cranial and peripheral nerves running through them,
the potential for causing headaches is high.
The source of these headaches may be any relatively minor tension change in the body,
hence the increase in headaches we experience when we are under stress.
This is a very probable cause of migraines.
Membrane tension due to epidurals and lumbar punctures are also a cause of headaches which occur in new mothers.
Headaches can also be caused by nerve damage.
And finally, there are headaches caused by infection of the outer membranes of the central nervous system.
When this becomes serious, it is known as meningitis. CST is also very useful for treatment of post-meningeal syndrome,
In any case of unusual headaches, visual disturbances or problems with balance you are advised to seek a medical
diagnosis before coming for treatment.
Whatever the diagnosis, prompt CST treatment (after you have made an appointment to see your GP)
will probably assist, and will not interfere with conventional medical interventions.
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Impotence and infertility
Both of these distressing conditions can be caused by either unusual membrane tension patterns around the reproductive organs,
or by compression of the major nerves which supply these organs.
In either case, CST may be able to assist. If you are considering having a baby, you are also recommended to contact
Foresight for nutritional advice.
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Immune conditions (e.g. Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatism)
(This web page still to be completed)
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Insomnia
Insomnia may be due to either an overactivated "alarm system", or an incorrectly functioning body clock.
CST can help both of these problems. The exact cause of the overactivation is a large factor in determining treatment effectiveness.
Physical blows (etc.) which have triggered an alarm state are easy.
Alarm states due to post-traumatic shock can be treated, but take longer, and some dialoguing techniques are also required.
I practice Somato-Emotional Release&Copy; in addition to standard bodywork techniques.
The body clock is controlled by the Pineal Gland, situated in the centre of the head.
It releases melatonin into the cerebrospinal fluid in a 3-hour cycle, and a free circulation of fluid through the ventricles is important for sleep,
as is a regular squeezing motion caused by small periodic changes in pressure within the skull.
An overactive alarm system may be caused by an imbalanced Autonomic nervous system (see Vagus Nerve), or by an
overstimulated Reticular Alarm System (RAS).
The RAS may be overstimulated by a misaligned TMJ, which in turn may be caused by a malocclusion
(poor alignment) of the teeth, a pelvic or shoulder misalignment, or many other similar factors.
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Learning difficulties (including Dyslexia and ADHD)
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder was found during studies in the 1970'2 by Dr John Upledger to have three major causes -
restriction of the cranial base (and compression of the Vagus Nerve), food additive intolerance, and distractive behaviour in the family setting.
The most common cause appears to be compression of the vagus nerve, and Upledger found about 50% of cases responded positively to CST.
Dyslexia (and dyscalcia) has been found to be caused in about 70% of cases by a restriction to blood flow in the Jugular Foramen on one side,
and this can be corrected relatively easily up to late teens, and less easily in later life.
There is a fine balance in treating young children for learning difficulties - sometimes it is more important to recognise and accept the child
for who they are, rather than trying to make them "better". This is a very difficult issue in parenting, is very dependent on the childs response,
requires a lot of sensitivity from all adult participants, and there is no "right" or "wrong" answer.
In general, it is preferable to bring in babies for inspection and correcive treatment before problems such as dyslexia become obvious.
Typical signs which may indicate a possibility of this are :
- strong preference to feed on one side (indicates a neck restriction)
- obvious difficulty turning head to one side (babies generally can look slightly backwards across each shoulder if the neck joint is completely free)
- colic
- obvious birth complications such as very long delivery, or use of foreceps
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Menstrual pain and difficulties
Menstrual pain, flooding, irregular or excessively long periods can all be caused by several factors which are treatable using CST :
- restrictions to movement in the area of the pituitary gland (in the centre of the head)
- restrictions to movement of the pelvic floor or internal reproductive organs
- restrictions to the nerve supply to the ovaries
- restrictions to movement of the liver
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Neck and shoulder pain
This is one of my specialities, and I help a lot of patients coming with neck pain deriving from a very wide range of causes, particularly
whiplash. Unlike the more common manipulative therapies, CST works to gently discover the membrane patterns which are holding the neck in
its uncomfortable place. These patterns are then assisted to release themselves, rather than subjecting the vertebrae to an external force.
This gentle approach is capable of affecting very deep structures around the spine without the need for strong physical force, and is particularly
useful where there is a lot of pain or muscular weakness. It is also the best method if repeated strong manual adjustments have been made in the past
in order to keep "putting the vertebra back in place". These repeated adjustments eventually weaken the neck, and the fact that they
are being repeated suggests that the original cause of the misalignment is not being dealt with. One of the satisfying things about practicing (and
receiving) CST is that treatments often have a permanent effect rather than being "palliative".
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Shock, PTSD and major trauma
This is another of my specialities. I use a mixture of bodywork techniques and "dialoguing". Like all of CST, the bodywork is fully clothed, and is kept to a level which is appropriate for the particular type of shock. In addition to CST I have trained in "SomatoEmotional Release" and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1 (for PTSD). In fact, the proportion of people I see for this class of condition has increased gradually over the years, and now accounts for something like 30% of my practice. CST provides a unique approach to PTSD, since many of the elements of it are held in the body rather than in the conscious mind, and so are accessible and treatable through the body. Many forms of PTSD/shock/trauma are also held in a form which is non-verbal, so a body-based approach also makes sense from that point of view. The fundamental basis for all treatments I carry out in this area is to increase resources rather than directly approach the psychological aspects or specific details of whatever happened. Once there are sufficient resources in place, the rest becomes much more straightforward. I work with psychotherapists and trauma specialists, and can also work without a psychotherapist for less serious cases and strongly "somatised" and non-verbalisable symptoms. If you want to discuss any of this before starting treatment, please phone or email.
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Spinal curvatures (Kyphosis, Scoliosis)
When you were born, you had to spiral out of your mothers womb, because this is the only way that the baby skull can fit through the human pelvis.
Serious spinal curvatures are often caused by a torsion remaining in the spine from the time of birth.
Even in later life, this torsion can be released, though treatment is usually more easy on babies, children and teenagers.
Curvatures developing later in life are often a result of local adhesions in soft tissue, muscles and organs near to the spine,
and if this is the case, then the curvature can be corrected before it becomes serious. Once the bones of the spine have changed shape in any
substantial way, some pain relief is still possible within a relatively small number of treatments.
However correction of the spinal shape is a long, slow process and requires a lot of input from the patient through regular practice of exercises
such as Yoga or Tai Chi.
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Scar Tissue
This may be due to surgery, dental work, a wound (e.g. knife or glass), or an accident (e.g. car crash), or burns.
The hard scar tissue which forms often causes local pain by trapping nerves, or can cause many local problems, such as numbness,
or even restricted muscle or organ function. I have never come across a scar tissue which did not show significantly positive response to CST,
often within just one or two sessions. Scars from tearing or episiotomy during labour sometimes cause pain, back ache and menstrual problems for
years afterwards. CST can help these without the need for direct skin contact, and so is also a "safe" and non-threatening form of treatment for women
who have received episiotomies. Because of the physical size of caesarian scars, some skin contact on the abdominal muscles is sometimes more
effective than working through clothing.
If you have any scar tissue, it is well worth having craniosacral treatment to clear it.
Most surgical scars are not exactly matched together when they are stitched (there are too many layers of tissue),
and this leaves small tension patterns which can restrict minor blood vessels and nerves, and so form a potential site for future illness.
I recently treated a case of caesarian scar tissue complicated by a radical ileostomy - with scar tissue sometimes over 1cm wide
running across the lower abdomen and up the left belly past the lower margin of the ribs. The symptoms from this included poor
concentration, headaches, TMJ syndrome and reduced mobility in much of the body, including a
very obvious rotation of the upper trunk and jaw. Over 3 months virtually all of these symptoms disappeared -
simply by adressing the internal tension patterns caused by the scar tissue.
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Sinusitis
Sinusitis is often caused by a correctable restriction to the tissues surrounding the ethmoid bone (a very thin structure behind the bridge of the nose).
It may also be related to salt imbalance (too little or too much), dental work, injuries to the face, emotional issues. Another major cause is
milk intolerance or similar problems affecting mucous production in the large intestine.
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Soft tissue traumas
(This web page still to be completed)
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Stress-related disorders
(This web page still to be completed)
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TMJ and jaw problems
A misaligned TMJ may give no prooblems for life, or may precipitate a bewildering combination of symptoms,
including depresison, poor concentration, palpitations, stress, digestive disorders, back pain, headaches, neck pain, neuralgia,
tinnitus, and many other medical conditions.
A TMJ misalignment may be caused by a trivial matter, which is often compounded by an emotionally stressful event or period in life.
Helping the TMJ to regain a (not necessarily perfect, but) stable position is not often an easy task, but CST provides all of the
tools necessary to complete this. If you have a TMJ misalignment and you suspect that it may be causing a problem, it is worth having
treatment earlier rather than later,
since this decreases the amount of work necessary to re-align this complex joint.
A recent story on the BBC website
(Monday, 18 March, 2002, 16:47 GMT Brace caused girl's "zombie state")
revealed how braces can have an adverse effect on health if they are applied in a way which accidentally locks the skull
in opposite rotations on each side.
Problems due to braces are usually correctable using CST techniques even if the brace is still in position,
and will almost always correct once the brace is removed. It is also possible to contact cranial dentists who carry out cosmetic dental work using small
springs which gradually change the alignment of teeth. This is far less invasive and often much quicker than conventional dental braces. For more information
see the Cranio Website
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Trigeminal Neuralgia
This distressing condition is treatable using CST techniques.
Although is often takes over 6 sessions, this type of approach is recommended because there is a long-term reduction in symptoms.
Short-term pain management methods available include painkillers from your GP,
stillpoint inducers, or home-use TENS/electroacupuncture machines.
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Visual disturbances
These may be caused by either tissue tension round the visual nerves and centres, or a misalignment of the bone (sphenoid)
sitting behind the eye. In either case, correction of the visual disturbance is sometimes possible.
Misalignment fo the sphenoid, or unusual membrane tension patterns can be due to local problems (e.g. a blow to the head),
or more distant conditions such as a pelvic misalignment, twisted shoulder muscle or broken collar bone.
In any case of unusual headaches, visual disturbances or problems with balance you are advised to seek a medical diagnosis before
coming for treatment. Whatever the diagnosis, prompt CST treatment (after you have made an appointment to see your GP)
will probably assist, and will not interfere with conventional medical interventions.
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Critical points of anatomy...
Vagus Nerve
This nerve carries the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nerve supply to the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, gall bladder,pancreas, spleen,
small intestine, and the first half of the large intestine. Its function is to help coordinate normal digestion and metabolism in the body.
The Vagus nerve is one of the Cranial Nerves, and passes through a small hole (the Jugular Foramen) in the base of the skull.
This "foramen" is next to the joint between the base of the skull (occiput) and the top of the neck (1st cervical vertebra).
A slight misalignment of this joint (the "atlo-ocipital joint") places pressure on the Jugular Foramen.
Because the bones of a live skull are flexible, extra pressure causes the hole to close slightly, and CST practitioners believe that this
places a slight pressure on the Vagus nerve itself, reducing its ability to transmit clear signals between the organs and the brain.
This joint can usually be released (often in 2 or 3 sessions, but it may take up to 10 sessions or more, in extreme cases),
and this usually has an immediate effect on the ability of the body to function. Often feelings of stress will also substantially reduce,
as the Sympathetic nervous system is now balanced properly with signals from the parasympathetic Vagus nerve.
I have now treated two severe cases of diagnosed gastric migraine which very obviously cleared up as the cranial base
(and the area round the stomach) became less restricted.
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