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Discover CranioSacral Therapy
No journey in life is as complex as the one that brings us into it. Childbirth can certainly be a challenge for Mom. Yet it barely compares to the shock and potential long-term effects in store for the child. Thankfully, there's a way to soothe your baby that offers even more than comfort and relief. It's a gentle form of compassionate touch called CranioSacral Therapy, and it can help forge a lifetime of good health.
What Is CranioSacral Therapy?
Craniosacral Therapy is a light-touch manual therapy that addresses restrictions in the craniosacral system the membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. This vital system extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth, which make up the cranium, down to the sacrum, or tailbone area. Since the craniosacral system directly impacts the central nervous system, it's easy to see how an imbalance there could cause any number of sensory, motor or neurological disabilities. CranioSacral Therapy helps correct those restrictions so the body can release the effects of stress— naturally. Research strongly suggests that the birth process is responsible for many brain dysfunctions and central nervous system problems. CranioSacral Therapy carried out in the delivery room or within the first few days of life could potentially reduce a wide variety of difficulties, many of which might not become apparent until your child is in school. Even problems with head shape and skull-bone override can be corrected with the skillful use of CranioSacral Therapy.
The bottom line is, when properly applied, CranioSacral Therapy is essentially risk-free. So no matter how old your child is, it's never too late to benefit from this essential therapy.
How Is CranioSacral Therapy Performed?
Craniosacral Therapy is performed on a fully clothed body.
Using a light touch— generally no more than the weight of a nickel— the practitioner monitors the rhythm of the craniosacral system to detect potential restrictions and imbalances. The therapist then uses delicate manual techniques to release those problem areas and relieve undue pressure on the brain and spinal cord.
A CranioSacral Therapy session can last from 15 minutes to more than an hour, and the initial evaluation often goes a long way to help correct the problem. The result? A central nervous system free of restrictions. And a body that's able to return to its greatest levels of performance.
"I have found dramatic results using CranioSacral Therapy on children with learning disabilities in areas such as reading and math."
— F.S., Carlisle, PA
How Did CranioSacral Therapy Begin?
Craniosacral Therapy dates back to 1970 when osteopathic physician John E. Upledger first witnessed the rhythmic movement of the craniosacral system during a spinal surgery. Yet none of his colleagues nor medical texts could explain the phenomena.
Tvo years later, Dr. Up ledger attended a short course on cranial osteopathy developed by Dr. William Sutherland. The course focused on the bones of the skull and the fact— surprising at the time— that they weren't fused as doctors had been taught in medical school. Instead, Sutherland's material demonstrated that skull bones continue to move throughout a person's life. Recalling the odd pulsing rhythm he'd observed years before, Dr. Upledger theorized that a hydraulic system of sorts was functioning inside the craniosacral system that encased the skull and spinal column. He then set out to confirm his theories.
In 1975 he joined the Osteopathic College at Michigan State University as a clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics. There he led a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers to test and document the influence of therapy on the craniosacral system. For the first time they were able to explain the function of the craniosacral system, and demonstrate how light-touch therapy could be used to evaluate and treat malfunctions involving the brain and spinal cord. Indeed, some of Dr. Upledger's most effective results came from work done with hundreds of school children.
In 1985, Dr. Upledger went on to establish The Upledger Institute to teach the public and healthcare practitioners about the benefits of CranioSacral Therapy. To date, The Upledger Institute has trained more than 65,000 healthcare practitioners worldwide in the use of CranioSacral Therapy.
"I am thoroughly convinced that one of the best things we can do for our children is to have them begin life with smoothly functioning CranioSacral systems, a removal of physical restrictions so their body issues aren't burdened by destructive or traumatic memories, and clean, clear, energy fields. This can all be accomplished in a very short time within the first few days of life. "
—John E. Upledger, DO, OMM
Developer of CranioSacral Therapy
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