Commonly Asked Questions about CranioSacral Therapy
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How does CranioSacral therapy work?
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What conditions can CranioSacral Therapy
help?
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Is there any condition for which CST shouldn't
be used?
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How many CranioSacral Therapy sessions will
I need?
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When was CranioSacral Therapy developed?
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What is The Upledger Institute?
Experience A CranioSacral Therapy Session
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How is a session performed?
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What you may experience during a session
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What you may experience following a
session
For what conditions can CranioSacral Therapy be used?
Miscellaneous facts about CST
Commonly Asked Questions About
CranioSacral Therapy
How does CranioSacral Therapy work?
CranioSacral Therapy works by helping the body's natural healing mechanisms
dissipate the negative effects of stress on the central nervous system.
This is accomplished through utilizing a physiological body system called
the craniosacral system, which maintains the environment in which the central
nervous system functions. It consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal
fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, extending from
the bones of the skull, face and mouth (which make up the cranium) down to
the tailbone area (or sacrum). The role of this system in the development
and performance of the brain and spinal cord is so vital, that an imbalance
or dysfunction in it can cause sensory, motor and/or neurological disabilities.
Like the pulse of the cardiovascular system, the craniosacral system has
a rhythm that can be felt throughout the body. Using a touch generally no
heavier than the weight of a 20 pence piece (or a nickel if you live in the US), skilled practitioners can monitor this
rhythm at key body points to pinpoint the source of an obstruction or stress.
Once a source has been determined, they can assist the natural movement of
the fluid and related soft tissue to help the body self-correct. This simple
action is often all it takes to remove a restriction. Other times, CST may
be combined with other complementary therapies to help restore the body to
its optimum functioning level.
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What conditions can CranioSacral Therapy help?
Because of its influence on the functioning of the central nervous system,
CranioSacral Therapy can benefit the body in a number of ways — from
bolstering overall health and resistance to disease to alleviating a wide
range of specific medical conditions.
Among CST's largest patient groups are those suffering chronic symptoms
that haven't been aided by other approaches. In particular, CST
is beneficial to those with head, neck or back injuries resulting from an
accident — be it from a car, sports or work mishap or from a fall.
The extremely light touch involved in the application of CST makes
it a safe approach as well for children, infants and newborns with early
traumas, including birth trauma. They especially can benefit from the timely
identification and release of restrictions in the craniosacral system, thereby
preventing future difficulties such as learning disabilities or hyperactivity.
Another area of principal effectiveness is with stress-related dysfunction's.
Insomnia, fatigue, headaches, poor digestion, anxiety and temporomandibular
joint (TMJ) dysfunction are just a few examples. CranioSacral Therapy works
to reverse the debilitating effects of stress by providing the conditions
in which the nervous system can rest and rejuvenate. In fact, it's this capacity
to reduce stress that's leading an increasing number of people to include
CST as part of their wellness routines.
Other conditions for which CranioSacral Therapy has shown to be effective
are various sensory disorders. Among these are eye-motor coordination problems,
autism, dyslexia, loss of taste or smell, tinnitus, vertigo and neuralgias
such as sciatica and tic douloureux.
For a condition list - see below
I have personally noticed that many back problems and trapped nerves are due to
relatively minor adhesions in the soft tissues of the digestive system; which pull on the spine. If you have to have regular adjustments to keep your spine aligned, then it's a good bet that
you either have minor abdominal adhesions or minor imbalances in the tension of muscles in the floor of your mouth. Surgical scars anywhere on the body have a similar effect. All of these can often be corrected quite painlessly and quickly using CST techniques - even in the case of mesh-strengthened hernia operation scar tissue. Minor, easily correctable cranial lesions can also cause "permanent" spinal misalignments, because all the weight of the head then pushes down the spine at an angle.
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Is there any condition for which CST shouldn't be used?
There are certain situations where application of CST would not be recommended.
These include conditions where a variation and/or slight increase in intracranial
pressure would cause instability. Acute aneurysm, cerebral hemorrhage or
other pre-existing severe bleeding disorders are examples of conditions that
could be affected by small intracranial pressure changes.
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How many CranioSacral Therapy sessions will I need?
Response to CST varies from individual to individual and condition to condition.
Your response is uniquely your own and can't be compared to anyone else's
— even those cases that may appear to be similar to your own. The number
of sessions needed varies widely — from just one up to three or more
a week over the course of several weeks. This depends partly on your
urgency to get well, and partly on how much treatment your body can handle
before it builds up a backlog of processing from previous sessions.
I have worked on intensive programmes where people receive 20 hours treatment
simultaneously from two therapists over the course of only 3 days. This works
very well indeed. On the other hand, I have seen people with less urgent problems
respond very well with monthly treatments (after a few weekly treatments to start
with). Regular use of a Stillpoint Inducer helps to extend the effectiveness of each treatment.
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When was CranioSacral Therapy developed?
It was in 1970, during a neck surgery in which he was assisting, that osteopathic
physician John E. Upledger first observed the rhythmic movement of what would
soon be identified as the craniosacral system. However, none of his colleagues
nor any of the medical texts at the time could explain this discovery.
His curiosity piqued, Dr. Upledger began searching for the answer. He started
with the research of Dr. William Sutherland, the father of cranial osteopathy.
For some 20 years beginning in the early 1900s, Sutherland had explored the
concept that the bones of the skull were structured to allow for movement.
For decades after, this theory remained at odds with the beliefs of the
scientific and medical communities. Dr. Upledger believed, however, that
if Sutherland’s theory of cranial movement was in fact true, this would
help explain, and make feasible, the existence of the rhythm he had encountered
in surgery.
It was at this point that Dr. Upledger set out to scientifically confirm
the existence of cranial bone motion. From 1975 to 1983 he served as clinical
researcher and Professor of Biomechanics at Michigan State University, where
he supervised a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers
in research and testing. The results not only confirmed Sutherland’s
theory, but led to clarification of the mechanisms behind this motion —
the craniosacral system. Dr. Upledger’s continued work in the field
ultimately resulted in his development of CranioSacral Therapy.
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What is The Upledger Institute?
The Upledger Institute is a health resource center located in Palm Beach
Gardens, Florida (USA), that's recognized worldwide for its groundbreaking
continuing-education programs, clinical research and therapeutic services.
The Institute was founded in 1985 by Dr. Upledger to educate the public and
healthcare practitioners about the benefits of CranioSacral Therapy. It conducts
hundreds of workshops throughout the world each year, educating healthcare
practitioners of many diverse disciplines in CST. To date, more than 38,000
have been trained. Among them are osteopaths, medical doctors, doctors of
chiropractic, doctors of Oriental medicine, naturopathic physicians, psychiatric
specialists, psychologists, dentists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational
therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists and other professional
bodyworkers.
Also located in Palm Beach Gardens is The Upledger Institute, Inc., HealthPlex
Clinical Services. This innovative clinic offers both private sessions and
unique intensive-therapy programs that address such conditions as migraine
headaches, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, chronic neck and back
pain, emotional difficulties, motor-coordination impairments, stress and
tension-related problems, central nervous system disorders, temporomandibular
joint dysfunction, orthopedic problems, chronic fatigue, scoliosis, neurovascular
or immune disorders, infantile disorders, colic, post-traumatic stress disorder,
autism, disabilities, fibromyalgia and other connective-tissue disorders. In addition,
UI HealthPlex provides infancy-to-preschool evaluations and helpful one-day
ShareCare® seminars designed for the general public.
For more information about how CranioSacral Therapy works,
I recommend the book Your Inner Physician and You by Dr. Upledger. In it, he explains the origin
of his discovery along with specific cases and treatment outcomes. The book
also includes a question-and-answer section in which Dr. Upledger addresses
some of the questions most commonly asked of him.
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Experience A CranioSacral Therapy Session
How is a session performed?
A CranioSacral Therapy session usually takes place in a quiet, private setting.
We recommend that clients wear loose, comfortable clothing. Clients remain
fully clothed, though most choose to remove their shoes. The session is usually
performed
with the client reclining on a massage or treatment table while the practitioner
stands or sits, positioned at various times throughout the session at the
client's head, middle torso or feet. I have found that a sitting position is useful for TMJ problems and some spinal misalignments, since the body has greater freedom to re-organise round its vertical axis.
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What you may experience during a session
Experiences during a CST session are as individual as the clients and
practitioners themselves. They also may differ from session to session. At
times, a client may deeply relax or even fall asleep; at other times, he
or she may talk a great deal, recalling hidden memories or expressing emotions.
Some will remain still during the entire session, hardly noticing the
practitioner's evaluation and treatment, while others will experience sensations
within the body as the evaluation process is carried out.
At various times throughout the session, the practitioner will support a
client's limbs and spine while facilitating release of accumulated tension.
This process is called energy cyst release or tissue release. During this
release, the client might occasionally recall circumstances surrounding a past shock,
trauma or injury. Releasing and re-experiencing past hurts assists the body
in reversing dysfunction and restoring the previous level of mobility. This
entire process has been named
SomatoEmotional
Release (SER)®.
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What you may experience following a session
Just as individuals experience CST sessions differently, the immediate results
can be diverse as well. This relaxed state may cause some to sleep for many
hours after a session. Others may experience an increase in energy. Reduction
of pain or an increase in function may occur immediately after the session,
or it may develop gradually over the next few days. Since CST helps the body
resume its natural healing processes, it isn't unusual for improvement to
continue weeks after the session. For some there may be a reorganization
phase as the body adapts to the release of previously held patterns.
(This article has been adapted from The Upledger Institute website)
The Upledger Institute
(Florida)
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For what conditions can CranioSacral Therapy be used?
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and
enhancing the function of a physiological body system called the craniosacral
system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround
and protect the brain and spinal cord.
CST enhances the body's natural healing processes and has been effective
for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction,
including :
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Migraine Headaches
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Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
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Chronic Neck and Back Pain
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Emotional Difficulties
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Motor-Coordination Impairments
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Stress and Tension-Related Problems
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Central Nervous System Disorders
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Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
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Orthopedic Problems
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- Chronic Fatigue
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Scoliosis
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Neurovascular or Immune Disorders
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Infantile Disorders
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Colic
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Post-Surgical Dysfunction
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Autism
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Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders
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Learning Disabilities
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Miscellaneous facts about CST
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The technique is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its
ability to bolster resistance to disease and sustain overall good health.
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Number of UI-trained practitioners - more than 38,000 worldwide.
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Healthcare practitioners using CST in their work include: osteopaths, medical
doctors, doctors of chiropractic, doctors of Oriental medicine, naturopathic
physicians, dentists, nurses, psychiatric specialists, psychologists, physical
therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists and
other professional bodyworkers.
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A typical CST session lasts about one hour.
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CST was developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger, D.O., O.M.M.,
in the 1970s. It's based on the theories of William Sutherland, D.O. (an
osteopath from the early 1900s); Dr. Upledger's research at Michigan State
University (1975-83); and extensive clinical application. Significant
developments of
Sutherlands work have also been made by Franklin Sills of the Karuna Institute.
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To find an Upledger CST practitioner in the UK, contact the
Upledger Institute (UK)
on 01738 444404, or wisit their website.
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CST is taught in the UK by the Upledger Institute as a postgraduate course, and by three other schools as practitioner courses. Graduates from
the latter are members of the CSTA. I am one of the few practitioners
in the UK trained by both CSTA schools and the Upledger Institute.
For information on Craniosacral
organisations (e.g. CSTA),
see the Links page.
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Elsewhere in the world :
the International Association of Healthcare
Practitioners (IAHP) Directory lists professionals, their telephone numbers,
e-mail addresses and levels of training. Copies are available at 1-800-233-5880,
(561) 622-4334, or
www.iahp.com.
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