CRANIAL SACRAL THERAPY (CST) is a potent tool using the functions of the Cranial Sacral system. It is an effective form of bodywork and of Neuromuscular Therapy which uses gentle movements to unlock tension and relieve pain. There are no rapid adjustments, painful contortions, or deep muscle probing.

Cranial Sacral Therapy was developed in the early 1900's by Dr. William Sutherland, an Osteopath who discovered that the skull bones are designed for movement. This therapy is continually being researched today by the Colorado Cranial Institute, the Upledger Institute, and the Society of Ortho-Bionomy®, just to name a few.

The cranial bones are connected to the sacrum by a continuous membrane system of connective tissue that houses the brain and spinal cord. The spinal fluid is pumped through the membranes, creating a rhythm which can be monitored and balanced.

The rhythm, or cranial sacral pulse, is similar to the heartbeat, but it results from the rhythmic pumping of the spinal fluid in the head and spinal column. The whole body expands and contracts with this rhythm, but the cranial pulse can be felt most easily on the head. The core of your being, motor function, learning patterns, emotions, and ways of perceiving the world are affected by the balance of your Cranial Sacral system.

As your Cranial Sacral system comes into balance, you will usually feel a release of accumulated stress and a general sense of well-being. Some specific complaints and physical problems will also clear up with Cranial Sacral work.

Cranial Sacral Therapy can be effective in shifting emotional holding patterns and draining accumulated stresses in the nervous system. Clients often experience relief from headaches and other problems located in the head, jaw, neck, pelvis, and diaphragm. Conditions as diverse as learning disability, poor concentration, biomechanical dysfunction, and palsy can start to clear up using Cranial Sacral Therapy.

Books to read on Cranial Sacral Therapy:
Click on the links below for more information.

Craniosacral Therapy 1

Craniosacral Therapy II : Beyond the Dura

Your Inner Physician & You

An Introduction to Craniosacral Therapy

 

This page was last updated:  June, 2004