CranioSacral
Therapy is based on the theories of William Sutherland, D.O., an osteopath from
the early 1900s. It was further developed by another osteopathic physician John
E. Upledger following extensive scientific studies from 1975 to 1983 at
Michigan State University, where he served as a clinical researcher and
Professor of Biomechanics. He later founded the Upledger Institute, the
national center for CranioSacral Therapy. It is a form of holistic healthcare.
CST is a
gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a
physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the
membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and
spinal cord.
Using a
soft touch, generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel,
practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the
functioning of the central nervous system.
CranioSacral
is named for the cerebrospinal fluid that flows up and down the spinal cord
from the cranium
(head) to
the sacrum (tailbone). As it slowly flows, it creates a rhythm throughout your
body. The therapist assists this rhythm to self-correct dysfunctions in your
body. Where there is a dysfunction, the rhythm is “stuck” and you feel pain,
immobility, tension, etc. This can occur anywhere in the body. The cause is
usually the result of a recent or past physical or emotional trauma. The
therapist uses a very gentle, non-invasive light touch to locate the “stuck”
areas and to assist the return of the healthy rhythm to these areas. As this
occurs, there is a deep feeling of relaxation, more freedom of movement, and
less pain. It is very quiet and passive. You remain fully clothed for this
therapy. This is a very relaxing technique because it works with the fluid that
nourishes all the nerves in your spinal cord.
By
complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as
a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease,
and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and
dysfunction, including:
- Migraine
Headaches
- Chronic
Neck and Back Pain
- Motor-Coordination
Impairments
- Colic
- Autism
- Central
Nervous System Disorders
- Orthopedic
Problems
- Traumatic
Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
- Scoliosis
- Infantile
Disorders
- Learning
Disabilities
- Chronic
Fatigue
- Emotional
Difficulties
- Stress
and Tension-Related Problems
- Fibromyalgia
and other Connective-Tissue Disorders
- Temporomandibular
Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
- Neurovascular
or Immune Disorders
- Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder
- Post-Surgical
Dysfunction
Jeannette Raskin, RMT CST is at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer
403-347-3261