What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Overview:
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.
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.

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.

Description:

Within the human body there exists an important rhythm, the craniosacral rhythm, that results from the increase and decrease in the voume of cerebrospinal fluid within and around the craniosacral system. This system consists of the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system), the cerebrospinal fluid that lubricates the brain and spinal cord, the surrounding meninges (membranes), and the bones of the spine and skull that house these membranes.

The human Life Force (a.k.a. “breath of life”), which is the main fixture in healing, is said to be transported via the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to all the tissues of the body. Thus, this fluid is involved in the healing of all of the major organs and organ systems of the body. An increase in the craniosacral fluid pressure, resulting from the filtering of the fluid from the bloodstream to the craniosacral system, causes the movement and vibration of the cranial bones of the skull. The only time that the cerebrospinal fluid pressure decreases is when the fluid is reabsorbed into the bloodstream through the inner membranes of the brain. This decrease in fluid pressure, in turn, allows the bones to return to their original position.

Maintenance of proper functioning of the craniosacral system may be the key to promoting wellness. This system is vital in ensuring your health because the disruption of this system filters down and eventually affects all of the body’s vital rhythms (e.g. cardiac rhythm and respiratory rhythm). Simply put, the purpose of craniosacral therapy is to enhance the functioning of this system by examining bone movement, locating restriction points that result from injury, and monitoring/manipulating the life force energy.

Craniosacral therapy is “holistic” because it tries to prevent illness and dysfunction by viewing the entire body as a whole. It attempts to cater to the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the patient.