Cranial sacral therapy is an alternative medicine method that aims to remove the negative effects of stress, restore misaligned bones, re-establish physical and mental balance, and cure some illnesses. Its primary technique is massage, which is called cranial sacral massage.
Origin of Craniosacral Massage
The foundation of cranial sacral therapy was laid by the studies on the bones of the skull by William Sutherland. In 1940s, cranial osteopathy was established by the American School of Osteopathy. In 1947, the Cranial Academy was established in the United States.
Illnesses It Cures
Practitioners claim that cranial sacral therapy cures or provides relief from the following ailments or conditions: neck and back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, headaches, stress, and misaligned bones.
Benefits of Craniosacral Massage
Aside from curing illnesses, cranial sacral massage also provides relaxation, helps the body to detoxify, and aids the restoration of mental alertness as well as mental and physical balance.
How Cranial Sacral Therapy is Done
Cranial sacral therapy is done by the therapist who massages the skull, spine, diaphragm, and fascia while the patient is lying down. Fascia is that part of the body that covers the muscles. A cranial sacral therapy session lasts for about an hour. It is performed with the client’s clothes on. An article on cranial sacral therapy puts forward the following steps in every therapy session:
- Analyze the present cranial rhythm of the patient.
- Create a still point of the rhythm in the base of the skull.
- Rock the sacrum.
- Lengthen the spine in the lumbar-sacral region.
- Give attention to the diaphragm.
- Release the hyoid bone in the throat.
- Give attention to each cranial bone.
The practitioner or the massage professional decides whether or not to follow these steps in sequential order or not.
How Cranial Sacral Therapy Works
By massaging the skull and its cranial sutures, spine, diaphragm, and fascia of the body, nerve passages are eased and the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal chord is optimized. This way cranial sacral massage provides the benefits to the body above-mentioned. The process is founded on the idea that cerebrospinal fluids inherently fluctuate in the primary respiratory mechanism called ‘œtide.’ Scientifically it has been proven that cerebrospinal fluids do fluctuate.
The therapeutic claims, effectiveness, and even validity of the concepts of cranial sacral therapy are being questioned; and the medical and scientific community is divided on this issue.
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