What is CranioSacral Therapy?

While the validity of the cardiovascular and respiratory rhythms is undisputed today, for eons the very existence of these systems sparked debates in medical communities around the globe.

Now for nearly 30 years, osteopathic physician and researcher John E. Upledger, DO, OM.M, has been a proponent of using the rhythm of another body system- the craniosacral system to enhance body functioning, and help alleviate pain and discomfort.

The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth, which make up the cranium, down to the sacrum, or tailbone area.

Since this vital system influences the development and performance of the brain and spinal cord, an imbalance. or restriction in it could potentially cause any number of sensory, motor or neurological disabilities. These prob- lems could include chronic pain, eye difficulties, scoliosis, motor-coordination impairments, learning disabilities and other health challenges.

CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle method of detection and correction that encourages your own natural healing mechanisms to dissipate these negative effects of stress on your central nervous system. You also benefit from better overall health and resistance to disease.

What Conditions Does CranioSacral Therapy Address?

CranioSacral Therapy strengthens your body's ability to take better care of you. It helps alleviate a range of illness, pain and dysfunction, including:

• Migraines and Headaches 
• Chronic Neck and Back Pain 
• Motor-Coordination Impairments 
• Stress and Tension Related Problems 
• Infantile Disonders Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord mjuries 
• Chronic Fatigue 
• Scoliosib 
• Central Nervous System Disorders 
• Emotional Difficulties 
• Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMI) 
• Learning Disabdities
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 
• Orthopedic Problems And Many Other Conditions

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"To me, the practice of CranioSacral Therapy is a miracle. After my accident I felt ungrounded and off center for a very long time, both physically and in mental function, in spite of massage, physical therapy, chiropractic care and psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress. Cranio- Sacral Therapy was the only treatment that got to the core of what was wrong. Until then, no one had acknowledged the physical cause of what I had been experiencing. So, again, thank you for being there"

-D.J., New York, NY

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How Is CranioSacral Therapy Performed?

CranioSacral Therapy is performed on a person fully clothed. Using a light touch -generally no more than the weight of a nickel- the practitioner monitors the rhythm of the craniosacral system to detect potential restrictions and imbalances. The therapist then uses delicate manual techniques to release those problem areas and relieve undue pressure on the brain and spinal cord.

A CranioSacral Therapy session can last from about 15 minutes to more than an hour and can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapeutic procedures The result? A central nervous system free of restrictions. And a body that's able to return to its greatest levels of performance

Who Can Perform CranioSacral Therapy?

Because of its positive effect on so many body functions, CranioSacral Therapy is practiced today by a wide variety of healthcare professionals They include osteopathic physicians, allopathic physicians, doctors of chiropractic, doctors of Oriental medicine, naturopathic physicians, nurses, psychiatric specialists, psychologists, dentists physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, acupuncturists, massage therapists and other professional bodyworkers.

How Did CranioSacral Therapy Begin?

Craniosacral Therapy dates back to 1971 when osteopathic physician John E. Upledger first witnessed the rhythmic movement of the craniosacral system during a spinal surgery. Yet none of his colleagues nor medical texts could explain the phenomenon. Two years later, Dr. Upledger attended a short course on cranial osteopathy developed by Dr William Sutherland.

The course focused on the bones of the skull and the fact -surprising at the time- that they weren't fused as doctors had been taught in medical school. Instead, Sutherland's maternal demonstrated that skull bones continue to move throughout a person's life. Putting this new information together with the odd pulsing rhythm he'd observed years before, Dr. Upledger theorized that a hydraulic system of sorts was functioning inside the craniosacral system. He then set out to confirm his theories.

In 1975 he joined the Osteopathic College at Michigan State University as a clinical researcher and professor of biomechanics. There he led a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers to test and document the influence of therapy on the craniosacral system. For the first time they were able to explain the function of the craniosacral system, and demonstrate how light-touch therapy could be used to evaluate and treat malfunctions involving the brain and spinal cord.

In 1985 Dr. Upledger went on to establish The Upledger Institute to teach the public and healthcare practitioners about the benefits of CranioSacral Therapy. To date. The Upledger Institute has trained more than 80.000 healthcare practitioners worldwide on the use of CranioSacral Therapy.

How Can I Learn More About CranioSacral Therapy?

CranioSacral Therapy is taught through The Upledger Institute, a health resource center dedicated to the advancement of innovative techniques that complement conventional care. It's recognized worldwide for its groundbreaking continuing education programs, clinical research and therapeutic services To learn more about CranioSacral Therapy and how It can help you, visit www.upledger.com. You'll find plenty of news and information, from the latest applications of Craniosacral Therapy to healthcare products and therapist profiles. The Upledger Institute also maintains HealthPlex Clinical Services in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Designed especially for those seeking CranioSacral Therapy and other complementary techniques, the clinic is staffed by physicians and therapists of many disciplines. In addition to individual sessions, HealthPlex offers one- and two-week intensive therapy programs on an outpatient basis. They're especially effective for patients who could use a period of focused attention to accelerate their healing processes.

What Is SomatoEmotional Release?

Have you ever had a physical injury that seemed to plague you long after the site had healed? That's not as unusual as you might think. Even when CranioSacral Therapy releases restrictions in body tissues, sometimes a release of emotional energy is necessary to fully discharge a trauma In those cases, the CranioSacral Therapist may gently encourage a SomatoEmotional Release.

Research conducted in the late ‘70s by Dr. John Upledger and biophysicist Zvi Karni led to the discovery that the body often retains the emotional import of physical trauma. These imprints, especially of intense feelings that may have occurred at the time of injury -anger, fear, resentment- leave residues in the body in areas called "energy cysts.”

Although you can adapt to energy cysts, over time your body needs extra energy to continue performing its day-to- day functions. Then as years pass and the body becomes more stressed, it can lose its abüity to adapt. That's when symptoms and dysfunctions begin to appear and become difficult to suppress or ignore

Through SomatoEmotional Release, the therapist engages in imaging and dialoguing techniques that can guide the patient through an otherwise challengingencounter with long held emotions. The patient does not need to analyze the problem to release it. Often the body will spontaneously return to the same position it was in when the injury was first sustained. As this occurs, the therapist can feel the tissues of the body relax as the energy cyst is expelled. Then the body is free to return to itsoptimal levels of functioning.