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CranioSacral Therapy
When a nickel’s weight is worth a pound of cure....
Sometimes all the body needs to activate the healing process is a light
touch by a skilled hand. CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle approach that
works to alleviate a range of sensory, motor or neurological disorders.
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Celebrate The Healing Power Of A Gentle Touch:
Discover CranioSacral Therapy
It’s no secret that among the keys to good health
are proper nutrition, exercise, a stress-free life (to the extent that it’s
possible) and steering clear of harmful habits. But what about that aspect
of health
that originates from inside, within our internal self-healing system?
We know that the body is designed to defend us from disease and assist
in healing, as evidenced every time we “fight off” a cold
or a cut heals. What we may not be aware of are the innovative hands-on
techniques available to facilitate that process.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a light-touch manual approach that enhances
the body’s natural healing capabilities. For nearly 30 years it
has been shown to be effective for a wide range of medical problems associated
with pain and loss of function. CST is useful as both a primary treatment
method, and is often combined with other traditional or complementary
techniques.
How CST Works
The CranioSacral Therapy practitioner works with the
patient to assist the body’s self-correcting mechanisms. Generally
using about five grams of pressure, or about the weight of a nickel,
the practitioner evaluates the body’s craniosacral system. This
system plays a vital role of maintaining the environment in which the
central nervous system functions. It consists of the membranes and fluid
that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord as well as the attached
bones –- including the skull, face and mouth, which make up the
cranium, and the tailbone area, or sacrum. Since the brain and spinal
cord are contained within the central nervous system, it is easy to see
that the craniosacral system has powerful influence over a wide variety
of bodily functions.
The CranioSacral Therapy practitioner essentially helps the body release
restrictions – which it has been unable to overcome on its own – that
inhibit the body’s normal, self-correcting tendencies. Rather than
deciding how these changes should be made, the therapist follows cues
from the body on how to proceed. When the therapist follows this gentle
approach, the method is extremely safe and effective. The few contraindications
to CST are aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, and other conditions where
altering intracranial fluid is not recommended.
Benefits Of CranioSacral Therapy
CST has been shown to alleviate a wide range of conditions,
including traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, migraine headaches,
chronic
fatigue, motor-coordination impairments, chronic neck and back pain,
scoliosis, central nervous system disorders, temporomandibular joint
dysfunction (TMJ), stress and tension-related problems, and orthopedic
problems. While the focus of CST is to uncover the source of the problem,
symptom relief also is achieved. The length of time and number of sessions
needed is extremely variable and depends, among other factors, on the
complex layers of injury and trauma that may mask the original cause
of the problem, as well as the body’s defense mechanisms. Due
to its gentleness and effectiveness, many people include CST as a component
in their personal wellness programs. They report having more energy,
sleeping better and being sick less often.
The Foundations Of CranioSacral Therapy
In the early part of this century, osteopathic physician William Sutherland
put forth the original concepts for what is now known as the craniosacral
system. Dr. Sutherland’s studies culminated in a system of treatment
known as Cranial Osteopathy. Another osteopath, John Upledger, is credited
with developing CranioSacral Therapy. While assisting during a surgery
in 1970, Dr. Upledger observed a rhythmic movement of the dura mater,
the membrane that encompasses the brain and spinal cord. Neither his
colleagues nor medical texts could explain his observation. Dr. Upledger’s
curiosity led him to the work of Dr. Sutherland, and later to develop
his own scientific studies to confirm the existence of the craniosacral
system. This work went on from 1975 to 1983, while he served as a clinical
researcher and Professor of Biomechanics at Michigan State University.
The findings of the research team he supervised first established the
scientific basis for the craniosacral system.
Dr. Upledger’s continued work resulted in his development of CST.
He formed The Upledger Institute in 1985 to educate the public and healthcare
practitioners about the benefits of CST. To date, the Institute has trained
more than 40,000 healthcare practitioners worldwide in the use of CST.
Practitioners include osteopathic physicians, medical doctors, doctors
of chiropractic, doctors of Oriental Medicine, naturopathic physicians,
psychiatric specialists, psychologists, dentists, physical therapists,
occupational therapists, nurses, acupuncturists, and massage therapists.
With a growing number of practitioners, CST provides a new healthcare
option –- one that uses a gentle approach working with the body.
By following the body’s lead, the CST practitioner often can uncover
the source of pain or dysfunction that can open the path to wellness.
Further Information
Your Inner Physician and You,
by John Upledger, D.O. (North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA, and UI Enterprises,
Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 1997), describes CranioSacral Therapy in greater
detail and offers a number of case histories. Tom Bianco MSPT practices
CranioSacral Therapy in Springfield and Wilbraham, MA, and can be reached
at 413-221-4956. He specializes in acute and chronic pain, musculoskeletal
injuries and neuromuscular conditions.
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