| Cranial osteopathy, although | | | | technique is increasingly being |
| well-established, is a contested issue | | | | recognised as especially suitable for |
| within the profession; it is not known | | | | newborn babies and young children, with |
| what proportion of osteopaths are | | | | particularly good results in the |
| practitioners. Some medical insurance | | | | treatment of colic and crying.[citation |
| companies may not reimburse for | | | | needed] It is claimed that as their |
| 'cranial' treatment due to the lack of | | | | bones have not fully fused and hardened, |
| awareness of research in the field. | | | | they are more susceptible to the |
| Cranial osteopaths are trained to feel a | | | | treatment.[citation needed] All in all, |
| very subtle, rhythmic shape change that | | | | this practice appears to be popular with |
| is present throughout the head and body. | | | | patients with an increasing demand for |
| This is known as the involuntary | | | | experienced practitioners. |
| mechanism or the cranial rhythm. The | | | | Craniosacral therapy is based on the |
| movement is said to be very subtle, and | | | | same principles but the practitioners |
| it takes practitioners with a very | | | | are not qualified osteopaths, and do not |
| finely developed sense of touch | | | | have the same depth of training in the |
| (palpation) to feel it. This rhythm was | | | | clinical sciences and differential |
| first described in the early 1900s by | | | | diagnosis. Chiropractor & Osteopath, |
| Dr. William G. Sutherland. The theory | | | | M.B. Dejarnette further developed |
| underlying cranial osteopathy is | | | | craniopathic techniques inside of a |
| rejected by many osteopaths and orthodox | | | | complete Chiropractic system known as |
| medical doctors because it was | | | | Sacro-Occipital Technique or simply |
| previously understood that cranial bones | | | | "S.O.T."[5][6] |
| fuse by the end of adolescence. However, | | | | Visceral osteopathy |
| histological studies have demonstrated | | | | Proponents of visceral osteopathy state |
| the presence of Sharpey's fibres between | | | | that the visceral systems (the internal |
| the adjacent bones forming the sutural | | | | organs: digestive tract, respiratory |
| margins, and it is known that these | | | | system, etc.) rely on the interconnected |
| specialised fibres form only at areas | | | | synchronicity between the motion of all |
| where tissue movement is allowed. It is, | | | | the organs and structures of the body, |
| of course, accepted by most modern | | | | that at optimal health this harmonious |
| osteopaths working within the cranial | | | | relationship remains stable despite the |
| field, that the spheno-basilar symphysis | | | | body's endless varieties of motion. The |
| (a large joint in the skull base) does | | | | theory is that both somato-visceral and |
| indeed ossify (turn to bone) and the | | | | viscero-somatic connections exist, and |
| original principles of cranial | | | | manipulation of the somatic system can |
| osteopathy have thus evolved alongside | | | | affect the visceral system (and |
| increasing knowledge. Cranial | | | | vice-versa). |
| osteopathic teaching refers to movement | | | | Visceral osteopathy is said to relieve |
| remaining within the thin bone of the | | | | imbalances and restrictions in the |
| sutures, and that flexibility within | | | | interconnections between the motion of |
| living bone occurs, in contrast to dried | | | | all the organs and structures of the |
| specimen bones. The brain does pulsate, | | | | body--namely, nerves, blood vessels, and |
| but some research suggests this is | | | | fascial compartments. During the 1940s, |
| related to the cardiovascular system.[4] | | | | osteopaths like H.V. Hoover and M.D. |
| The same study looked at inter-operator | | | | Young built on the pioneering work of |
| reliability of palpating the 'cranial | | | | Andrew Taylor Still to create this |
| rhythm' and found there to be little | | | | method of detailed assessment and highly |
| agreement, although modern | | | | specific manipulation. The efficacy and |
| understandings in the cranial field | | | | basis of this treatment remains |
| describe a number of simultaneous | | | | controversial even within the |
| rhythms with differing rates, relating | | | | osteopathic profession. Visceral |
| to different aspects of | | | | manipulation was further promoted within |
| function.[citation needed] | | | | osteopathic treatment by Jean-Pierre |
| How this mechanism is related to health | | | | Barral in his recent series of books on |
| disease has not been scientifically | | | | the subject. |
| established. Some osteopaths believe | | | | While neither cranial osteopathy nor |
| that healing dysfunctional cranial | | | | visceral manipulation are the mainstay |
| rhythmic impulses enhances cerebral | | | | of most osteopathic practices, there is |
| spinal fluid flow to peripheral nerves, | | | | increasing interest in both of these |
| thereby enhancing metabolic outflow and | | | | areas from patients and practitioners |
| nutrition inflow. Many without direct | | | | alike. Training in Cranial osteopathy in |
| experience of the benefits of treatment | | | | the UK has now reached validated MSc. |
| dismiss cranial osteopathy as | | | | Level, which aims to improve standards |
| pseudo-science. However, patients of | | | | and contribute to the body of evidence |
| cranial osteopaths have reported | | | | with research-based studies carried out |
| emotional releases, lightness and | | | | from within the profession. |
| buoyancy, and visualizations. This | | | | |