Cranio-sacral therapy, or cranial sacral therapy, is one of the alternative medical therapies. It is a manual treatment in which hand movements are mainly performed in the area of the neck, skull, sacrum, spine, feet or pelvis.
What is craniosacral therapy?
It is a manual treatment in which hand movements are performed mainly on the neck, skull, sacrum, spine, feet or pelvis. Cranio-sacral therapy originated from craniosacral osteopathy, whose founder was the American physician William Garner Sutherland. Sutherland believed that the bones of the skull of adult people are not rigid but mobile. He conducted many experiments of his own as well as experiments on third parties and was able to feel the so-called craniosacral pulse – minimal rhythmic movements – on the human skeleton. He also discovered that the movements of the sacrum were synchronous with it. Today’s expression can be traced back to the osteopath John E. Upledger, who published a book entitled “Craniosacral Therapy” in 1983. Upledger observed the rhythmic movement of the cerebral spinal cord (dura mater spinalis) during spinal surgery, which allowed him to further develop Sutherland’s teaching. Upledger designed a concept consisting of ten individual steps, which he combined with alternative psychotherapy. He called this concept “Somato Emotional Release”. The cranio-sacral system envelops the spinal cord and the brain and is composed of the cerebrospinal fluid, the three meninges, the cranial bones, and the spinal column. This system provides the “internal environment” for the growth and function of the brain and spinal cord, respectively. The connecting link between the peripheral parts of the body and the cranio-sacral system is the connective tissue. Therefore, if there is increased tension in one of the systems, it is transmitted through the connective tissue to the other systems and affects their functions. The tension decreases the energy flow as well as the circulation of body fluids. With the help of cranio-sacral therapy, the tension in the cranio-sacral system can be balanced and self-regulation can be promoted. In this process, cranio-sacral therapy is composed of the following basic elements:
- Energetic techniques
- Structural work on the connective tissue
- Language as a means of expression and communication
- The organism and its possibilities of expression
- The somatoemotional relaxation
In the last twenty years, the cranio-sacral therapy experienced an upswing, as very many physiotherapists, masseurs or alternative practitioners showed interest in this form of therapy
Function, effect and goals
The cranial sacrum therapy is a very gentle but effective method to free the body from blockages or pain. Thus, this form of treatment is a kind of link between alternative and conventional medicine. The cerebrospinal fluid circulating in the spine as well as in the skull is used as an indicator. The therapist can feel the rhythmic intrinsic movement and thus release blockages. Cranio-sacral therapy is performed on a treatment table based on the assumption that there is a disturbance in the cranio-sacral system. This system includes the sacrum, spine, meninges, cranial bones, and cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid flows around the spinal cord and the brain in the so-called cerebrospinal fluid spaces. In the process, a wave passes from the skull to the sacrum 6 to 14 times per minute, which is called the CranioSacral Pulse. Supporters of this form of therapy believe that this flow of energy indicates the mobility or order of the cranial skeleton. If the cerebrospinal fluid flow changes, a wide variety of symptoms or diseases appear. Both acute and chronic complaints are treated, such as spinal and pelvic complaints, migraine, complaints in the neck, pain due to accidents, learning and concentration disorders in children, problems in the ENT area, psychological problems or birth traumas. The therapist’s main goal is to promote the patient’s vegetative flexibility. This term refers to the ability of the autonomic nervous system to respond better to stress factors.The autonomic nervous system maintains extremely important functions, the main components being the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system stimulates the circulation, while the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for relaxation. Thus, if the sympathetic nervous system is overstimulated, stress symptoms such as increased pulse rate, high blood pressure or digestive problems occur. In order to neutralize this state of tension, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated during cranio-sacral therapy so that the patient is able to relax again. In addition, cranio-sacral therapy conveys an understanding of the wholeness of the human being. This can promote self-awareness and stimulate self-healing or self-regulation processes. In principle, cranio-sacral therapy is suitable for all age groups, the aim being to restore the balance of the cerebral rhythm. By palpating the skull or the sacrum, the therapist tries to feel the craniosacral rhythm of his patient. The sources of interference are subsequently released by massage or gentle pressure. The emotional, mental and physical tension decreases in the course of the treatment and the self-healing powers are stimulated. One session lasts about an hour, and a complete therapy consists of two to 20 treatments, with an interval of seven days between two sessions.
Risks, side effects and dangers
Serious conditions could be overlooked in patients who rely only on this form of therapy. Therefore, treatment should also always be done in consultation with a medical professional. Craniosacral therapy is not suitable for people suffering from increased intracranial pressure or cerebral hemorrhage. When treating newborns, there is a risk of damaging the brain, as they still have widely spaced gaps between the bones of the skull. Overall, however, the therapy is very comfortable and carries few risks.
