The Gentle Touch
An article by Maggie Allen, published in "Top Sante", May 1999
Don't let aches and pains get you down; CranioSacral therapy can help
We all suffer from pain, particularly headaches, from time to time, but if you get them regularly you could end up popping painkillers several times a week - which can itself cause rebound pain. Here, we look at how craniosacral therapy can bring instant relief and restore your body's balance.
What is craniosacral therapy ?
It is a relatively new form of manipulation therapy which grew from the practice of cranial osteopathy. but involves the spine as well as the skull. In the Thirties, American osteopath Dr William Sutherland saw that the bones of the skull could move and that pressure on different parts of the head affected head pain, co-ordination and even mood and personality. He went on to develop the therapy we now call cranial osteopathy.
These techniques were refined by in osteopathic physician and surgeon, Dr John Upledger. who showed how the craniosacral system could be used to treat malfunctions involving the brain and spinal cord, plus numerous other health problems. Dr Upledger's research led to the development of the light-touch technique of craniosacral therapy (CST) where the therapist seldom applies pressure in excess of five grams (about the weight of a 20p coin) - this is believed to correct imbalances in the body, combating ill health.
How it works
The name craniosacral comes from the bones associated with the cranium, which include the bones of the face and skull: and the sacrum a triangular bone situated between the two hip bones. near the base of the spinal column. Within the cranium is a tube-like membrane called the dura mater, which surrounds the brain and all the spine, and encloses the fluid that surrounds the brain and all the spine, and encloses the fluid that surrounds both.
The craniosacral system has its own rhythm and moves in and out at about ten cycles per minute, in a similar way to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems - although unlike these, it operates without our awareness and can only be felt by a trained professional.
It does, however, influence many body functions - an imbalance can adversely affect the brain and spinal cord and result in a wide range of symptoms.
Craniosacral therapy involves gentle manipulation of bones and/or soft tissue to stimulate the system and correct imbalances. This s thought to enhance the body's self-healing mechanisms and speed recovery.
What is it good for?
Craniosacral therapy is ideal for dealing with chronic pain, stiff joints, low energy, headaches and migraines, jaw problems, neuralgia, learning difficulties such as dyslexia, menstrual and menopausal problems, and clumsiness. In babies and children, it can help with colic, feeding and sleeping problems, hyperactivity, developmental problems and physical conditions such as glue ear. It can also ease subtle strains that may have occurred during birth.
Many health professionals use this therapy, including doctors and dentists, but those most likely to practice it are physiotherapists, massage therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors midwives, acupuncturists and vets.
Artist Anna Kennedy, 48, found that the therapy relieved her headaches
'For years, I'd been getting headaches and migraines but by last summer, they'd become more frequent and severe. Almost anything seemed to trigger them, from irregular meals to intense concentration. I'd heard that cranial osteopathy could help, and got the name of a local osteopath, Pinal Patel, via the Osteopathic Information Service.
'At our first session, Pinal told me that she uses a combination of osteopathy and craniosacral therapy (CST), manipulating both the bones and the craniosacral system, which runs from the skull down the spinal column. She began by taking details of my medical history - not just the headaches and migraines, but other illnesses, allergies and even family medical history - my mother also used to suffer from severe headaches. I explained that I'd had headaches and migraines for a third of the previous month.
‘Pinal asked me to stand straight but relaxed, so she could assess my normal posture; and then lie on the treatment table. She explained that the craniosacral system has a rhythmic cycle (like breathing), in the middle of which is a still point - a neutral zone, rather like a car with the gears disengaged - that occurs naturally but which she would induce with her hands, at the nape of my neck. She then began to gently manipulate my skull. She hadn't been working long when, to my embarrassment, my stomach began gurgling like a drain. "This happens sometimes," said Pinal, explaining that CST releases energy that can travel, via a membrane called the dura mater, along the spinal column and through the whole of the body. As if to confirm this, I experienced a sharp pain down my right leg and into my big toe - which Pinal said was simply my body "working through" what was happening - and indeed, the pain soon disappeared.
'As the treatment continued, I felt as if I were being gently stretched from my neck. At one point I experienced a sensation as though the whole area around my rib cage had suddenly opened up and I could take more air into my lungs - it felt great. 'Towards the end of the treatment, Pinal asked me to place a couple of fingers on my right temple, which was pulsating wildly! "It's releasing a lot of energy that's been blocked," Pinal explained. She said I should drink plenty of plain water when I got home to help flush out toxins and, ideally, lie down for at least ten minutes. In fact, I fell asleep for an hour!
'As the treatment course progressed, I felt less exhausted and the headaches lessened in frequency and severity. It also released a lot of tension. I've had six sessions in total, rarely get headaches now, and haven't had a migraine for ages. I intend having a six monthly "maintenance" session, as Pinal recommended.'
