CST therapists are trained to release restrictions in the body and as emotions are often linked to tension it can be released along with physical restrictions. CST can help to address these root causes of anxiety and depression and patients have found great relief without the use of medications. In his book ‘Your Inner Physician and You’ Dr. John Upledger asserts that there are consistent cranial restrictions in patients suffering from depression. He explains that by treating the sacrum, along with the sphenoid and occiput bones we see consistent and repeated improvements in a person’s mood disorder. These techniques were studied and published in 2011 in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine.
Since the craniosacral system directly impacts the central nervous system, it is easy to see how an imbalance there could cause any number of sensory, motor or neurological problems. These might include chronic pain, motor-coordination impairment, eye difficulties, learning disabilities, and other health challenges. People who have dyslexia and dysgraphia usually have very quick, sharp minds, but they may have difficulty demonstrating what they know. For people with dysgraphia, CST can reduce te
Craniosacral therapy can relieve many symptoms associated with ADHD. Using a gentle approach CST can help release restrictions that enhance brain function, concentration and calm hyperactivity. For each function the brain must perform, multiple pathways within the brain are activated and require harmony for normal brain processes to occur. When a person is suffering from ADD or ADHD some of these key areas in the brain are over functioning or under functioning. Craniosacral therapy provides the
The stress and trauma of bullying affects the central nervous system, taxes the adrenal glands, and spurs an overactive release of adrenaline into the body. Symptoms can present as anxiety, depression, fatigue, or even be read as laziness. Craniosacral therapy addresses the physical results of this type of stress calming the central nervous system and allowing the body to process out the over abundance of adrenaline that can be harmful and taxing to the human body. Alexander Fenn has personal ex
Long term affects of the overproduction of adrenaline can be harmful and taxing to the body compounding issues already present from the original trauma. The central nervous system becomes over sensitive and adrenal glands are severely taxed having a cascade effect to all hormonal functions in the body. Seemingly unrelated affects can also present which further confuse the individual and making a targeted treatment plan challenging. Some symptoms could include difficulty breathing, eye twitches,
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle hands on therapy that helps the body produce oxytocin, a hormone that calms anxiety. It is produced in the body during skin to skin contact. Because of social challenges and physical discomfort some people with autism or aspergers may produce far less oxytocin than others which can further isolate the person and cause more feelings of disconnectnedness with the world around them. The CST practitioner builds trust with the individual, allowing them to feel comfort
People who suffer from OCD, tics and tourettes can indicate a nervous system imbalance, weak cranial rhythm, cranial restrictions and tight and compressed diaphragm among other things. The nervous system imbalance can be the key to why CST helps so many people. The nervous system affects our bodies greatly and CST can help to balance it thereby decreasing debilitating symptoms. Working with a CST practitioner can aide the body and is able to release stored areas of stress, restrictions, and comp
Over the last 30-40 years, the prevalence of eating disorders has increased to become a widespread problem across the UK and worldwide. The eating disorders charity, Beat, estimates that there are over 1.6 million people struggling with an eating disorder throughout the UK. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, are complex and life threatening – they have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. However, due to societal stigma, many eating disorders go undiagnosed or untreated. Naturopathic practitioners aim to treat the cause of a condition, be that anxiety, depression, trauma and in treating the cause it can offer lasting improvement or in many cases a cure. Because CST practitioners use the therapy to treat the whole body the root cause of the eating disorder can be addressed physically and mentally in a way on craniosacral therapy can address.
Craniosacral therapy helps to calm the body by enabling the patient to enter into a state of deep relaxation, similar to meditation. It helps to induce relaxation and improve sleep by regulating the autonomic nervous system through craniosacral therapy. The body could enhance its functions in digestion, relaxation and induce clearer thinking thus supporting symptoms preventing sleep and allowing a deeper, better quality of sleep.
Craniosacral therapy is an excellent treatment for patients recovering from addiction. Many symptoms can arise for patients in recovery such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, headaches and insomnia. Patients in recovery become more successful when addressing these symptoms and they feel a deep relief thereby replacing unhealthy habits with CST that aides critical systems in the body to function properly.
An individual can experience headaches or migraines for any number of reasons, including stress, stationary positioning in front of a computer, and muscle tightness causing decreased range of motion in the neck and head. Craniosacral therapy helps to calm the body by enabling the patient to enter into a state of deep relaxation, similar to meditation. It helps to induce relaxation and improve sleep by regulating the autonomic nervous system through CST. Many patients have experienced relief in chronic migraines and headaches and have been able to reduce or discontinue medication.
Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia can come on suddenly or be gradual but what causes it? Usually there is a trigger such as an illness or a traumatic incident. These patients have a greatly reduced ability to respond to any stress - physical or emotional. Their system is easily overwhelmed. Craniosacral therapy by its very nature takes away the excess adrenalin in a system, which can have a very therapeutic effect on those with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Settling the nervous system is the top priority so that there is chance for the overactivation of the nervous system to come back into equilibrium. CST can be particularly beneficial for people with chronic fatigue conditions and fibromyalgia because it works gently to build up health and vitality and enables the central nervous system to better regulate stress, pain and fatigue.
Craniosacral therapy takes advantage of our bodies’ inherent ability to self regulate and restore by putting it in a position that resets the neurological input that was injured. Patients report a feeling of deep relaxation during their treatments. Their blood pressure lowers and they talk about feeling an increased clarity in their vision and other senses. Over time this treatment works to regulate the central nervous system and long lasting results have occurred for lowering blood pressure successfully. Patients are able to gradually lower and discontinue their medication with their doctors supervision.
Temporal Mandibular Joint (TMJ) pain can be very difficult to live with for many patients. It can be related to many causes both physical and psychological as it is heavily tied to side effects from stress. Grinding teeth and jaw clenching are common physical signs of stress and can lead to serious pain from TMJ as well as headaches. CST is believed to be one of the most effective treatments of TMJ pain and with the use of dental appliances such as mouth guards. Patients can often stop wearing their appliances or at least wearing them less. As well many are able to enjoy foods that they were unable to eat due to pain and limited motion opening the jaw and mouth.
Sinusitis is a common condition, where the mucus of the sinuses become painfully inflamed and swollen. The swelling often partially, or completely, blocks the small openings to the sinuses, that allow mucus to drain into the nasal passages. The sinuses are normally filled with air. They are lined with epithelial tissue that secretes small amounts of mucus to flush out toxins, pathogens, and allergy producing substances (allergens). However, when the openings become obstructed, the mucus builds up, further blocking the openings.Craniosacral therapy can help the body to release the mucus build up in a gentle and effective way.
The shoulder includes several bony structures, bound together at several joints by numerous ligaments, and covered by layers of muscles enveloped in fascia that overlap each other. These bony structures are the head and neck of the humerus (upper arm bone), the scapulae (shoulder blades), and the clavicles (collarbones). Any restrictions around these joints will therefore impede movement of the shoulder. Craniosacral therapy gently helps the body to release the tension and restrictions in the fascia, thus creating more space for all the structures to return to full function.
Tinnitus is characterized by a buzzing or ringing noise in the ear. Causes can vary from excessive wax build up in the ear, damage to the eardrum, or viral infection of the inner ear with a plethera of less obvious causes. Craniosacral Therapy works with the underlying cause of imbalance in the nervous system. It also aims to reduce restrictions of the bones, especially of the temporal bone which houses the ear, muscles and ligament attachments which when hypertonic (contracted) can exacerbate the problem. CST also removes restrictions on the bones of the skull, spinal column and sacrum allowing the ceribral spinal fluid (CSB) to flow. This flow is unique, like squeezing a water balloon; it flows from the skull down the manigies to the sacram in 3 second, then flows back. When restricted anything connected to this system is in stress, or distress. CST reduces the Tinnitus and the anxiety and stress that go along with it.
CST works directly with the central nervous system, and in turn, the central nervous system influences many systems of the body, including the endocrine, immune, lymphatic, vascular, and digestive systems. When disease or dysfunction occurs in one part of the body, it can affect the body as a whole. For example, after an injury such as falling on the sacrum (tailbone), damage or scar tissue can occur in the membranes surrounding this area, which would likely present as feeling sore from the injury. However, since this membrane system is continuous from the spinal cord to the cranium, additional issues such as back pain often accompany these injuries. When the damage to the membranes is addressed, the craniosacral rhythm is addressed as well, and the body is in a much better state to correct these restrictions and rebalance itself.
In the case of scoliosis patients this is where CST can help. Several Craniosacral techniques are geared towards freeing-up restrictions of the dura within the spine, therefore allowing the potential for improved mobility and decreased pain. Using the few bones that the dura is normally secured to as “handles,” the therapist can gently stretch and lengthen places in the dura that are shortened, pinched, and stuck, taking tension off of nerves, allowing improved flow of the fluid around the spinal cord, and providing a little more space between the bones of the spine. A little gain in freedom of motion for the dura can go a long way towards improved overall spinal mobility. Following this work with gentle physical therapy or yoga exercises prescribed by a skilled practitioner can help the client use and build on these improvements.
Not only does CST appear to aid in better pregnancies and birth experiences, but research shows that some CST methods are also applicable and helpful during the postpartum period. Using CST during pregnancy and/or delivery can make changes on a cellular level that will carry over into the postpartum period. One technique that can be considered CST is that of “Kangaroo Care” or the skin-to-skin bonding that many hospitals encourage, especially in NICU’s.
o CST can be useful in helping infants latch on during breastfeeding.
o CST has been shown to help relieve tension and compression caused by posture changes during pregnancy.
o CST for the mother has been shown to:
o Reduce fatigue
o Improve energy
o Decrease stress
o Decrease pain and inflammation
o Increase confidence
o Improve postpartum depression
o In addition to these promising elements of CST, there are currently ongoing studies examining the impact of CST on postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While research already shows a positive correlation between CST and improved pregnancy and delivery outcomes, researchers note that more information and study is still needed. Any sort of “alternative” or “non-traditional” method in a healthcare setting requires a great deal of study before being integrated. For many expectant parents, however, CST may be the key to unlocking a safe, positive, and healthy pregnancy and delivery experience.
Craniosacral Therapy can help with word associations, memory, recall, nervous disposition, and releasing physical stress on the body from day and night rehearsals.
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