What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Photo by Warren Woo
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) helps restore the body's natural state of homeostasis. It balances two major systems in the body - spinal fluid and fascia. It was originally developed in the osteopathic community starting in the early 1900s. Using gentle touch (no more than the weight of a nickel) to bring the body and brain's attention to places of tension and holding, CST taps into the body's ability to reset and heal itself. Soft tissue and fascial releases throughout the body and skull allow for regulation and normalization of activity in the nervous, muscular, lymphatic, hormonal, and gastrointestinal systems.
CST is helpful for:
Fatigue
Anxiety/depression/hyperactivity
GI symptoms
Chronic pain
Autoimmune diseases
Headaches/migraines
Concussion/traumatic brain injury
Whiplash
Scar tissue
Post-surgical recovery
Sinus problems
Swelling/inflammation
Posture
TMJ and teeth grinding
...and more. You can learn about private sessions, or book online.
How does CST work?
Spinal fluid surrounds, protects, and regulates the brain and spinal cord. Fascia is the system of connective tissue that runs throughout the entire body and surrounds muscles and organs, allowing them to glide against one another so normal movement can happen. Both of these systems are affected by daily activity, accidents, trauma, and injury, and CST helps restore their normal activity.
History of CST
The earliest version of CST was developed by William Sutherland, DO, in the early 1900s. He was an osteopath who got very interested in releasing restrictions in the skull. He was so curious about those restrictions that he built himself a helmet designed to restrict the movement of one skull bone at a time. His work was called Cranio Osteopathy. In the 1970s, another osteopath named John Upledger, DO, got interested in the connections between the skull and sacrum along the spinal cord, and developed a "biomechanical" version of what we now call Craniosacral Therapy.
Questions? Please contact me.