Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, noninvasive method of evaluating and enhancing the function of a physiological body arrangement called the craniosacral system.
Developed by John E. Upledger, DO, OMM, this manual therapy enhances the body’s natural healing processes and has proven effective in treating a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction. The roots of this therapy are in cranial osteopathy developed by Dr. William G. Sutherland.
The craniosacral system is made up of the membranes and fluid that surround, protect, and nourish the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face, and mouth — which make up the cranium — down to the sacrum or tailbone. Since this system influences the development and function of the brain and spinal cord, any imbalance or dysfunction in the craniosacral system could cause sensory, motor, or neurological disabilities. These problems may include chronic pain, eye difficulties, scoliosis, motor-coordination impairments, learning disabilities, and other dysfunctions of the central nervous system.
When we experience stresses that our bodies must compensate for, tissues in the body often tighten, which in turn distorts the craniosacral system and the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Restrictions in this flow can disrupt the nervous system and essentially every system in our body. In a CST session, the practitioner will gently feel various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. He or she will then utilize soft-touch techniques to facilitate the release of restrictions and enhance the body’s ability to self-correct.
Craniosacral therapy encourages the body’s natural healing mechanisms to improve the functioning of the central nervous system, dissipate the negative effects of stress, and enhance health and resistance to disease.
The craniosacral therapy practitioner uses a light touch to assist the natural movement of fluid within the craniosacral system. Therapists generally use only five grams of pressure, roughly the weight of a nickel, to test for restrictions in various parts of the craniosacral system. It is often possible for the evaluation alone to remove the restriction and allow the system to correct itself.
While Reiki deals primarily with the energetic body, Craniosacral Therapy (CST) addresses blockages in the physical body. CST is a gentle practice that focuses on releasing restrictions to the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in order to balance the body’s nervous system. When we remove blockages, we enhance the flow of fluids, bathing the brain and the channel in essential nutrients. The brain is crucial to our body’s own healing mechanisms; when we bathe it in what it needs to function at its optimal level, the body will respond in kind. In this way, we can access the body’s ability to heal itself. Folks with migraines, anxiety, depression, and physical or emotional trauma may all find relief from CST.
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