Healing Through Hands
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a form of therapeutic bodywork that primarily focuses on the “respiratory” flow of the cerebrospinal fluid that can actually be felt in the body. By using a light therapeutic touch this flow can be used to support and manipulate in the joints of the cranium and more.
During or after a craniosacral treatment, you may notice shifts in your emotional health as your body integrates the structural and energetic shifts in your body. We recommend that you allow enough time after your appointment to take a walk and allow the treatment to settle. Clients may need as little as one treatment to resolve symptoms although several treatments are recommended for optimal results.
A craniosacral t
reatment is different from other massage therapy in that the client is fully clothed and the practitioner applies very light touch to the body, generally about 5 grams or the weight of a nickel. Work is supported in the whole body including the pelvic, spine, face and skull.
Sessions generally last about 45 minutes. Moreover clients report that they feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and their physical pain levels are decreased after treatment.
History and conceptual basis
Osteopath William Sutherland (1873–1954) in 1898–1900 developed Cranial Osteopathy, which is a forerunner of CST. Craniosacral therapy was developed by John Upledger, D.O. in the 1970s, and is loosely based on osteopathy in the cranial field (OCF), which was developed in the 1930s by William Garner Sutherland. The idea that the 
cranial sutures are “beveled, like the gills of a fish, indicating articular mobility for a respiratory mechanism of the temporal bones where they meet the parietal bones” stated Sutherland. John Upledger, DO is the founder of CST in the 1970’s. There are small, rhythmic motions of the cranial bones that are an attribute from the cerebrospinal fluid pressure or arterial pressure. Palpation of the cranium can detect this rhythmic motion and discerning pressures can be used to manipulate the cranial bones to achieve a therapeutic result.
Treatment
Patients often report feelings of deep relaxation during and after the treatment session. This is likely associated with an increase in endorphins, but research shows that the endocannabinoid system may actually benign on the effects. This is the same system cannabis effects. Because the craniosacral system is connected to the rest of the body by its connection to fascia, restrictions can affect many other systems, most notably the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, vascular system, endocrine system, etc. Because of these relationships craniosacral therapy is used to treat many different conditions.
- Neck pain
- Low back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Migraines
- Tension headaches
- Stress and Tension
- Relaxation enhancement in your life
- Sinus congestion
- Gallbladder pains
- Intestinal cramping
- Intestinal adhesions
- Constipation
- Breathing problems
- Memory issues
- Sleep issues and more.
There is an inherent motility of the central nervous system. This fluctuation can affect the body and the rhythm and flow of the cerebrospinal fluid. This is felt in the mobility of the intracranial and intraspinal dural membranes that is described as a slow pulsating movement within the spinal meninges.
Contact Dr. Keri Brown today at 719-539-7065 for more information about craniosacral therapy treatments and/or to schedule an appointment today.
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