CranioSacral Therapy and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that may be experienced by anyone who has undergone a traumatic event. PTSD occurs when the body/mind has not yet recognized that a traumatic event is over. As a result, the body's sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight) is activated and the body responds by continuously mobilizing muscles and other body systems for defense and/or numbing (a freeze response).

CranioSacral therapists have been treating people with PTSD for many years now.  The Upledger Institute has done studies with Vietnam veterans as well as Gulf War Veterans with very positive results. (http://www.upledger.org/programs/ptsd-relief.php).  But it is not only war that can cause PTSD any trauma can leave a lasting effect on the body.  

CranioSacral Therapy is an alternative approach to the treatment of PTSD involving gentle, non-invasive touch that supports the self-correcting ability of the body. Craniosacral Therapy works to support the part of the body that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. Craniosacral Therapy acknowledges that emotions can become locked in the body's connective tissues as emotional memories and emotional pain. A CranioSacral therapy approach can help release the energy the body may have retained after a traumatic physical or emotional experience. A Craniosacral Therapy session is deeply relaxing to the body's central nervous system as the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) is activated and balanced. In a parasympathetic state the body decreases production of the stress hormones linked to sleep and digestive problems and a suppressed immune system. It becomes easier for people receiving Craniosacral Therapy to remain more calm and focused.

Jeannette Raskin practices at Family First Chiropractic, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta.  403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca.

Who does CranioSacral benefit?

Who is CranioSacral Therapy for?

People may come for CranioSacral Therapy because they have acute physical problems like headaches or bad backs, or long-standing problems both physical and emotional. Others come for ongoing support in their busy lives and for help to meet life’s challenges.

Because it is so gentle and non-invasive, CranioSacral Therapy is suitable for everyone from newborns to the elderly. Mothers and babies often come for problems associated with difficult or traumatic births. Letting go of tension and fear held in the body enables both to settle into calmness.

CranioSacral Therapy supports your body’s innate ability to balance, restore and heal itself, as well as helping to reduce stress and build your underlying energy. The practitioner senses tensions in the body and helps them to release in a supported and comfortable way. During or after a session you may feel calm and energized, with increased clarity of mind and a feeling of well being.

CranioSacral Therapy and Children

I often hear from parents that they would like for their child to receive CranioSacral therapy but are not sure how that is possible.  Adaptability by the therapist is probably the most important thing when treating children.  There are many ways in which I adapt my techniques to effectively treat children. 

Most importantly the child needs to be comfortable.  Often that is in their parents arms or with them close by.  They can be lying down, in a chair or I have even spent half an hour following toddlers around the room.  Toys, books, etc, are also great distractions that can aid the practitioner in getting effective work done.  When working on children I often shorten the treatment to half an hour.  For most children that provides enough time to get an effective treatment and not to over stimulate the system.

Jeannette Raskin practices at Family First Chiropractic, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta.  403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca. 

CranioSacral Therapy and Pregnancy

Pregnancy complications are part and parcel of your pregnancy. Most women get through their pregnancies very healthily - they manage their nutrition, exercise and overall healthcare both by themselves and with the help of healthcare professionals. CranioSacral Therapy offers women a very gentle and effective way of complementing the natural work that their body is doing as well as complementing the work of Obstetricians, local Doctors and Midwives.

When we look at pregnancy week by week, there are many natural conditions that come and go as you progress through your pregnancy. Conditions such as early nausea through to lower-back pain can all occur during a healthy pregnancy.

An area that is found especially later in the pregnancy is discomfort in the legs or sciatica. I have found that the majority of clients experience relief from these symptoms for weeks at a time following a CranioSacral Therapy treatment. Probably one of the areas of most discomfort in Pregnancy is back pain - both of the middle and upper back - during the early stages of pregnancy, and lower back during the later stages. The discomfort of back pain during pregnancy can be effectively relieved by CranioSacral Therapy sessions.

Jeannette Raskin practices at Family First Chiropractic, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta.  403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca. 

CranioSacral Therapy and Caesarean Section

CranioSacral Therapy and Caesarean Section

Ensure your health following a C-section or other birth intervention

Every winter with my children’s’ birthdays I am reminded how my birth plans were changed by things that were not in my control. All my children were born by C-section and have benefited greatly from CranioSacral Therapy.

Caesarean Sections (or C-sections) are becoming more numerous every year among my clients.
You may have planned and hoped for a natural vaginal delivery but what happens if complications arise during birth? These complications during labour may result in your baby being delivered by:

·         Caesarean-section (C-section).

·         With the help of vacuum pump or suction.

·         With the help of forceps.

Interventions such as these, when necessary, often save lives. In my experience with Craniosacral Therapy - it helps to eliminate, or minimise, complications that arise as a result of these types of deliveries.

With CranioSacral Therapy, I work on the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect a person's brain and spinal cord, extending from the bones of the skull (which make up the cranium) down to the tailbone area (or sacrum).

The role of this system in the development and performance of the brain and spinal cord is so vital that an imbalance or dysfunction in it can cause sensory, motor and/or neurological disabilities.

A CranioSacral Therapist uses a touch generally no heavier than the weight of a nickel. Skilled practitioners can monitor this rhythm at key body points to pinpoint the source of an obstruction or stress. Once a source has been determined, they can assist the natural movement of the fluid and related soft tissue to help the body self-correct.

I have noticed that most babies (and moms too!) often need assistance following the effects of a difficult labour. One of the reasons for this is that in the ideal birth situation, nature has designed a baby's skull to be compressed as it travels through the birth canal during a vaginal birth.

Babies born by C-section miss out on this vital compression (which helps balance the cranial bones) through the birth canal. Babies born with the use of forceps or vacuum often experience undue stress on the head and face and strain patterns can often develop in their bodies. The euphoria of your baby's safe arrival can mask the stress that your baby has experienced. But soon problems can arise.

You may notice your baby has problems with:

·         Sleeping.

·         Feeding.

·         Breastfeeding.

·         Excess crying.

·         Constipation and straining while going to the toilet.

·         Flat spots or bulges on the head.

·         Ear infection.

·         Uneven ear or eye positions.

·         Infant colic.

·         Prefers feeding on one of their sides.

·         Prefers lying on one side rather than another.

With Craniosacral Therapy I use specific, gentle touch techniques to assess, resolve and eliminate the restrictions that cause these problems. The light pressure creates deep change - releasing restrictions in the baby's tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This intervention encourages the infant's body toward a natural alignment.

During the treatment the baby often naturally needs to cuddle, feed or cry as balance is restored and emotion is released in the body. Moms and Dads often feel a sense of relaxation as the baby's CranioSacral system returns to optimum function.

I have found that treatment with CranioSacral therapy benefits all babies following birth - but it is highly recommended for babies who have had birth complications - including Caesarean Sections.

Jeannette Raskin practices at Family First Chiropractic, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta.  403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca. 

CranioSacral Therapy and Our Children

CranioSacral Therapy and Our Children

Now that the kids are back to school and we are getting back into a routine some of us need to think about our children’s health issues and how we can help them make the most out of their school year.  CranioSacral Therapy, like most other formal and complementary treatments is never successful in 100% of cases. 

However, the following gives some idea of the degree of success in certain situations:

·         Dr. John Upledger's research has found that 50 – 60% of hyperactive child problems originate in the CranioSacral system and can be treated successfully with CST.

·         Learning disabilities and dyslexia – again 50-60% of problems can be effectively treated with CST if the problem is caused by a malfunction of the CranioSacral system.

·         Autism. Three years of intensive research with autistic children in the late 1970’s revealed significant reduction in self-destructive behavior and improvement in displays of affection and social interaction. These improvements, however, usually deteriorated in 3-6 months after the CranioSacral Therapy treatment discontinued.

Jeannette Raskin practices at Family First Chiropractic, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta.  403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca.

CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is based on the theories of William Sutherland, D.O., and 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.

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. 

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, generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, 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 increase 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 practices at Family First Chiropractic, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta.  403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca. 

Why Choose CranioSacral Therapy for your Infant

Why choose CranioSacral Therapy for your Infant or Baby?

Well, whatever your baby lacks in talking skills, she definitely makes up for by communicating in other ways!

Infants and babies can’t help BUT communicate. They cry when they’re hungry, tired or just sore. Their discomfort comes through quickly in the forms of infant eczema, rash, colic and many other “stay awake at night” types of symptoms (for both baby and parents!).

Some infants have had a comfortable and natural birth, and yet show some of the symptoms above. Other infants have worked their way through a lot of birth complications and show them too.

I have seen CranioSacral Therapy at its most effective when working on Infants, babies and toddlers - in other words as early as possible in the lives of your loved ones.

I'd like to give some examples of approaches to infant health using CranioSacral Therapy for a variety of conditions but first I'd like to run through some background as to how (and why) craniosacral therapy can be a very effective intervention to restore your baby's well-being.

Key Areas that CranioSacral Therapy Addresses

Some babies endure long and difficult births which necessitate the use of drugs to start or speed up labour. Many may then need intervention (vacuum, forceps or C-section) for their safe delivery. A baby’s head and body is adapted to compression during labour and indeed benefits from this pressure. What leads to difficulty, are the excessive forces of artificially-induced contractions or the use of medical instruments. These place overwhelming pressure on the delicate bones and membranes of the baby’s head and body. These interventions, while necessary for a baby’s safe delivery, can result in unwanted side effects which lead to a cranky and unsettled baby. The light touch of craniosacral therapy is appropriate and effective in relieving these compressions and allows the baby’s systems to balance and relax.
As a trained craniosacral therapist I address the following principal areas:

·         Cranial base: The area where the back of the neck meets the head, is an area that is most susceptible to distortion during birth. Compression in this area irritates the vagus nerve which provides the main parasympathetic nerve supply to the digestive organs. This nerve is responsible for the body’s ability to rest and digest. Its compression can lead to overstimulation of the nerve causing spasm of the digestive organs and, consequently, colic. Also located at the cranial base is the upper sympathetic ganglion. This nerve supply runs along the whole spine providing sympathetic nerve supply to the viscera. It seeks to close down digestion and close food pathways. Compression on this nerve causes restlessness, over-stimulation and hyperactivity. So, when both the nerves are restricted simultaneously the body is getting a mixed message to relax and be stimulated at the same time. The result is conflict, obstruction and spasm, and the many manifestations of colic.

·          Mouth, Neck and Shoulder Strain: In delivery the baby’s neck and shoulders may be forcibly rotated leading to soft tissue damage and strain. If there has been a strain on neck and mouth these nerves may become inflamed and irritated making sucking and feeding problematic. Many babies with colic are often suffering from irritation of the nerves of the neck and mouth. These babies have difficulty in latching on, will only use part of their mouths to suck, gulp their feed and pull suddenly off the breast. They will also show a preference in lying on one side and so favouring one breast.
Working lightly with the bones of the upper palate frees up the mouth by releasing bony restrictions, relaxing muscle tension and facilitating nerve release. This improves the “suck, swallow, breathe” pattern for the baby and assists breastfeeding. Freeing up these strain patterns clears up wry neck (torticollis) and allows the baby to feed comfortable from each breast.

·         Overrides: After vacuum or forceps delivery, or resulting from the position baby lay in the womb, babies may have pronounced bumps on their head. These are overrides where the underlying cranial membrane tension has caused the cranial bones to ride over each other. While many of these bumps disappear naturally, others need assistance to release the underlying tension that is holding the bones in an unnatural position.
With very delicate techniques, the craniosacral therapist can palpate where the strain in the tissue lies and follow this strain pattern, sometimes travelling from the cranial membranes along the dural tube down the spine.

Restoring the balance in the baby’s head and body is important for future health as craniosacral therapists note that these unresolved strain patterns in children lead on to overactive children ,who cannot sit still in school and may have learning difficulties. As babies their ability to fight infection, especially of the eye, ear and throat is compromised. Increased pressure on the temporal bones during delivery reduces the functioning of the Eustachian tube and hinders the ability of the sinuses and ears to drain mucus leading to re-occurring infections.

Key Conditions that Craniosacral Therapy Addresses

Any condition where the body’s self-healing mechanism can be supported through improved fascial flexibility. That covers the majority of conditions that involve pain, restriction, increased susceptibility to infection, and poor circulation and breathing.

Early evaluation and treatment of newborns is recommended as colic, feeding difficulties and hyperactivity will often be quickly reduced or eliminated. Strains introduced before, during or shortly after birth are quickly eliminated which may otherwise lead on to later dysfunction which would take much more time with a less fluid and flexible mature adult.

Summary

As craniosacral therapists we are concerned with evaluating and helping to restore the flexibility of the whole of the facial system. We gain insight into the body state through light touch and listening to the craniosacral rhythm. By listening and feeling this fascial wisdom we are taken to the deeper causes of pain and dysfunction instead of being distracted by symptoms and their apparent causes. Put simply, we treat as we find.

Jeannette Raskin is at Family First Chiropractic on Wednesday evenings and Saturday. 403-347-3261. 142 Erickson Dr. Red Deer. family1stchiro.ca