Emma Taylor
10 August 2022
This article outlines the major health benefits from using craniosacral therapy in your life, to help solve complex health issues. We explain how it can really help change your life for the better. If you’ve ever wondered about using craniosacral therapy to help treat your health issues, here’s everything you need to know.
Biodynamic craniosacral therapy is a holistic therapy because it cures and prevents illnesses by curing the body as a whole. This therapy looks into the mental, physical and emotional well being of the patient.
What is craniosacral therapy?
Craniosacral therapy or CNS therapy is a complementary health method that uses manual manipulation to alleviate nervous system disorders and pain. Originally developed in the early 1980s by Dr. Linda A. Smith and Karen S. Zuckerman, neuro-parapsychologists, to treat children with autism.
The name comes from the Greek word meaning “crane-like”. This type of massage therapy is characterised by gentle adjustments to the whole body (or shell) with minimal use of painkillers and no recourse to drugs.
The method works by directing the flow of bodily fluids to stimulate specific nerve receptors. Therefore allowing them to act as a buffer and achieve higher levels of normal functioning, and release perceived stress. It has been found that the negative effects of cranial movement are calmed down by releasing the body’s built-up tension through physical and mental exercises.
What is Craniosacral Therapy Used For?
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a method of natural therapy that uses the tension of the body’s tissue to correct health issues. This is most commonly used for conditions such as asthma, migraines, insomnia, fibromyalgia and fibrocystic breast disease. As well as headaches, digestive problems, bladder problems, spasms, muscle cramps. And even to help ease any psychological issues, such as depression or anxiety.
Craniosacral therapy is a form of therapy where the bones of the skull are manipulated to treat a host of health conditions. There are several types of cranial manipulation techniques to improve the overall health of the body.
Experts believe that there is an important rhythm in the human body, which is known as the craniosacral rhythm. This rhythm happens due to an increase and decrease in the amount or volume of the cerebrospinal fluid, around and within the craniosacral system.
What is the craniosacral system?
The craniosacral system consists of the spinal cord and brain, which would include the entire central nervous system. Including the cerebrospinal fluid that keeps the spinal cord and brain lubricated, the surrounding membranes. Plus the skull, as well as the bones of the spine that house these membranes.
The breath of life is believed to be transported through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to the tissues of the body. This fluid heals the organs in the body. Sometimes the pressure of the fluid increases, when the fluid is filtered from the bloodstream, and this causes vibration of the skull and cranial bones. The fluid pressure decreases when the fluid gets reabsorbed in the blood through the inner membranes of the brain. When the fluid pressure decreases, the bones can come back to their original position.
It is important for the craniosacral system to function well as it can promote homeostasis. It is also important for the overall functioning of the body. In craniosacral therapy, the working of the entire system is enhanced by checking the movement of the bones. This locates the restriction points happens because of injury and manipulating the energy manifestation of the back or the anterior part of the human body.
Three styles of craniosacral therapy
Craniosacral therapy uses three distinct methods:
Sutural approach
In this the therapist will manipulate the sutures of the skull to release pressure and increase the mobility of the cranial bones.
Meningeal Approach
This is based on the theory that restriction or tension on the meninges can create certain disturbances in the craniosacral system. Therapists use hands-on contact on the bones to release the restrictions of cranial sutures as well as in the membranes.
Reflex Approach
In this therapy, the nervous system can turn off certain stress signals because of the stimulation of nerve endings between the cranial sutures and the scalp.
Health benefits of Craniosacral therapy
Science has shown that there are many health benefits of using Craniosacral therapy. This long list of massage benefits include:
- Reduction of nervous tension and stress in the body
- Release of internal pressures that can lead to depression, sickness, anxiety
- Removal of physical symptoms of diseases
- Rejuvenation and restoration of internal energy in the body
- Reduction of emotional sensitivity and emotional blockage.
- Improved circulation and decreased stiffness in the joints.
- Lower blood pressure and diabetes mellitus.
- Improved muscle strength and mobility.
- Decreased pain and stress in the body.
- Immediate reduction of overreactive anxiety and panic attacks.
- Improvement of digestive disorders such as constipation, indigestion, and gas.
- Improvement of the liver and gall bladder, and their ability to absorb nutrients.
- Gastric flexibility – helping to ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
- Improvement of joint mobility and movement
- Improving sleep
- Improvement of immune system
- Improving muscular balance and flexibility.
- Learning to work with your body’s energy field will allow you to improve health and wellbeing.
Conclusion
Craniosacral therapy is a holistic, evidence-based, proven system of healing designed specifically to be performed on the cranium and spine. The body is the brain and the brain is the body. If you want to be healed, you need to heal the brain and the body at the same time.
Our goal is to help you achieve the best health you can. We know there are many, many people out there who can benefit from using craniosacral therapy.
Note that not all health professionals recommend that you use craniosacral therapy, as not everyone is using it in the most effective way.
