What is Craniosacral therapy?

 

Craniosacral Therapy (CST), is a system of natural health care, that uses gentle noninvasive touch that supports your body’s innate ability to heal. CST frees up restrictions in the connective tissue restoring balance in your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord). When the central nervous system has more balance and ease, this clears the way for more fluid flow, tissue repair and self healing in your body.

 

In this profoundly effective, very safe and relaxing therapy, we use our educated and well-trained hands to locate restrictions in the fascia. Once these restrictions have been found, as well as using other techniques, we may then very gently use the bones of the cranium and sacrum as handles to access connective tissue deep within the body and the central nervous system. 

 

The beauty of this work is that the therapist doesn't try to ‘fix’. Rather we listen, follow and support your body, releasing restrictions in the fascia so that your body can naturally self repair. 

 

Where does Craniosacral therapy come from?

 

The Craniosacral system is a relatively new system discovered by Dr John Upledger in the 1970s, whilst assisting a surgical operation. He has expanded and developed his work based on the findings of osteopath Dr G. Sutherland. Dr Upledger formed Craniosacral Therapy, establishing its scientific basis with a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers.

 

What is the Craniosacral system?

 

The Craniosacral system is made up of the cranial bones, the spinal column and the sacrum. Connective tissue called the dura, looks a bit like a tadpole shaped bag with fluid in that lines the cranium and is inside the spinal column. This bag is a semi-closed hydraulic system and contains cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid is pumped round the system hydraulically, in a tide-like ebb and flow, cleansing and nourishing your central nervous system by removing waste and providing nutrients. This maintains a healthy environment for your brain and central nervous system and so for the rest of your body. This ebb and flow of pressure is the craniosacral rhythm, and it is what we assess and monitor in CST. If fluid pressure is not maintained, due to tension in facia (connective tissue), then ill health can occur.

 

Your craniosacral system is deeply connected to all of your fascia (the continuous, web-like connective tissue that surrounds and supports all of your muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and organs). Craniosacral therapy is a whole body treatment, where we work to release your fascia and so allowing for every system in your body such as the digestive, endocrine and circulation system (to name but a few), to release and rebalance. 

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SER uses and expands on the principles of Craniosacral Therapy, this helps to release suppressed emotions and the residual effects of physical and emotional trauma that may be inhibiting complete structural release. This is particularly useful for those who have had intense emotional or physical trauma. Please see my SER page for more information.

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For more information, please see links: www.upledger.com & www.upledger.co.uk