| Craniosacral therapy (CST) was developed | | | | is possible to loosen them during a CST |
| about 30 years ago by John Upledger, DO. | | | | treatment.Craniosacral therapy is |
| Dr. Upledger originally studied the | | | | performed with the client lying on a |
| practice of cranial osteopathy, which | | | | treatment table while the therapist |
| was devised by William Sutherland, DO in | | | | holds the head and/or the sacrum. The |
| the early twentieth century, but adapted | | | | therapist's hands then move slightly as |
| it based on his own research and | | | | they do the needed adjusting. It may |
| personal observation during his career | | | | not feel like much is happening during |
| as an osteopathic physician.Craniosacral | | | | the treatment; the therapist needs to |
| therapy is based on several theories. | | | | maintain their concentration, so they |
| The first of these is that the bones of | | | | don't talk much and the client, because |
| the skull do not fuse completely in | | | | they are not moving much themselves, may |
| early childhood as is usually believed. | | | | fall asleep. The effects are subtle and |
| Also, in his early career Dr. Upledger | | | | it can take a lot of sensitivity to |
| observed, while assisting during a | | | | notice them at first.And what are the |
| surgical procedure, that the membranes | | | | effects? To begin with, the client may |
| surrounding the brain and spinal cord - | | | | notice that they are calmer and can |
| the meninges - actually move | | | | concentrate more easily. Their posture |
| rhythmically. At first it was thought | | | | or coordination may improve and they may |
| that this rhythm was due to the | | | | have less pain; perhaps that nagging |
| heartbeat, but Dr. Upledger discovered | | | | headache they've had is now gone. Or |
| that the rhythm of the meninges is a | | | | maybe they feel more optimistic about |
| different pattern from that of the | | | | life in general. The issues in their |
| heartbeat.Craniosacral therapists are | | | | life that have been a source of anxiety |
| taught to detect and evaluate the | | | | no longer seem so challenging - or hard |
| movement of the meninges by just holding | | | | to get over. (Because it has such a |
| the head and the base of the spine - the | | | | wide range of benefits, CST can be used |
| sacrum - very still and focusing on what | | | | in conjunction with other therapies, |
| they feel with their fingers and hand. | | | | including emotional |
| After the evaluation, it is possible to | | | | treatment.)Craniosacral therapy can help |
| very slowly and gently "adjust" the | | | | people of all ages, from infants to |
| bones of the skull, so that the | | | | elders. About the only time it is |
| cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid lining | | | | definitely not recommended is when there |
| the brain and spinal cord - can flow | | | | is a high-risk condition located in or |
| more naturally.Craniosacral therapy is | | | | affecting the brain or spinal cord, like |
| used for a wide range of symptoms, | | | | an aneurysm or intracranial hemorrhage. |
| including neck and low back pain, | | | | The craniosacral therapist will obtain a |
| chronic fatigue, temporomandibular joint | | | | medical history and may consult with a |
| syndrome, fibromyalgia and even | | | | physician or other practitioner before |
| emotional issues like depression and | | | | doing a treatment.Craniosacral therapy |
| anxiety. It is especially good for | | | | can be practiced by massage therapists, |
| chronic conditions that may have a | | | | but it is not massage. It can be done |
| neurological component, like | | | | by osteopathic physicians, but it's not |
| coordination problems, hyperactivity and | | | | an osteopathic adjustment. It takes |
| learning disorders. It has even been | | | | special training to do this sort of |
| used to treat autism; Dr. Upledger has | | | | work. But many people - practitioners |
| found that the meninges of most autistic | | | | and clients alike - swear by it and |
| children are unusually tight and that it | | | | would never try anything else. |