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Natural Therapies
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What Is Cranial Sacral Therapy?
 A gentle form of manipulation, craniosacral therapy is a hands-on healing technique typically practiced by a variety of therapists including chiropractors. Craniosacral therapy manipulates the craniosacral system, which includes the soft tissue and bones of the head (cranium), the spine down to its tail end (the sacral area), and the pelvis. They also work with the membranes that surround these bones and the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. Although the therapist uses a touch so light that many patients don't even notice it, most people report feeling profoundly relaxed after a treatment.
Unlike many alternative modalities, craniosacral therapy claims no ancient or exotic origins. It was discovered in the 1930s by William Garner Sutherland, an American osteopath and disciple of Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy. Sutherland devoted nearly 20 years to exploring the concept that the bones of the skull are designed and formed to allow for movement.
While Sutherland's theories were dismissed for years by the medical and scientific community, they were revived in the 1970s by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger. With a team of scientists at Michigan State University, Upledger set out to confirm the existence of cranial bone motion. Though still considered inconclusive by many, Dr. Upledger's research (along with that done by European and Russian researchers) has inspired a new generation of practitioners to embrace the therapy.
We offer complimentary consultations so that you can discover natural solutions for your health, click here .
By law, craniosacral therapists are not allowed to make a medical diagnosis, therefore the technique should not be confused with cranial osteopathy, a diagnostic and therapeutic method of treatment that has similar tenets but is practiced by highly trained chiropractic and osteopathic physicians, as well as some dentists.
How Does It Work?
Based on the belief that the movement of spinal fluid within and around the central nervous system creates a vital body rhythm, no less important to health and well-being than the heartbeat or the breath.
Health problems develop, they contend, when blockages occur. Traumatic injuries, ligament or joint strains, or dysfunctions in other parts of the body may cause these blockages. Such disturbances then prevent the skull, the spine, and the membranes encasing the brain and the spinal cord from expanding and contracting to accommodate the natural ebb and flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This ebb and flow is called the cranial rhythmic impulse. Practitioners assert that craniosacral therapy reestablishes the normal flow of fluids and thus restores health.
 What You Can Expect
In a typical session, the practitioner will ask the patient, who may be clothed or wearing a gown, to lie face up or down on a specially designed table. Lightly laying hands on various parts of the body, particularly the skull, the spine, and the pelvis, the practitioner "palpates," or feels, each area, sensing movement and looking for fluctuations in the cranial rhythmic impulse.
The practitioner then manipulates the bones and soft tissue to clear blockages and correct the flow of cerebrospinal fluid so it is smooth and even. A session usually lasts from 20 minutes to an hour. Some minor health problems, such as tension headache, may be resolved in one session. More complex conditions, such as migraines and chronic sinusitis, usually require several weekly sessions.
Health Benefits
Cerebrospinal fluid bathes the brain and central nervous system in a rich mixture of proteins, electrolytes, amino acids, and other essential nutrients. When the craniosacral system is properly aligned, proponents say, the central nervous system can efficiently deliver these substances to the rest of the body.
By clearing blockages, craniosacral therapy may help to:
- Boost general well being
- Reduce stress
- Improve the quality of sleep
- Increase energy
- Enhance the functioning of all the body's organs.
Although no significant clinical trials have tested these claims, anecdotal reports from patients describe considerable success for craniosacral therapy in the treatment of a wide variety of common ailments, including headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, and sinusitis.
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Natural Therapies
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What Is Chiropractic Care?
 Chiropractors are the best known and most widely used alternative therapy today, chiropractic focuses on the nervous system to help treat a variety of problems involving bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
A chiropractor is a primary care practioner. This means their scope of practice is larger than a massage therapist or physiotherapist. Typically you can expect your chiropractor to combine the best treatments available for your given condition.
A chiropractor will primarily use their hands to treatment a patient and create better movement and balance. Or you may find that other therapies may be used in combination to provide you the best care. The aim is to improve posture as well as the function of nerves, joints, and muscles.
We offer complimentary consultations so that you can discover natural solutions for your health, click here .
How Does Chiropractic Work?
A chiropractor takes a structural, nutritional, and emotional approach to health care. The chiropractor aims to gently restore the natural and delicate balance that exists in all healthy individuals.
To do this, a chiropractor examines the bones of the vertebrae, and locates those that do not move properly or are out of alignment. These areas, called subluxations, can cause pain and dysfunction not only in the surrounding nerves and muscles, but also in the internal organs located within the body at the same level as the subluxation. Chiropractors treat subluxations by adjusting the vertebrae (and the associated muscles, tendons, and ligaments) gently with their hands.
Chiropractors perspective on health and disease emphasizes two fundamental concepts:
- the structure and condition of the body influences how the body functions and its ability to heal itself; and
- the mind-body relationship is instrumental in maintaining health and in the healing processes.
Although chiropractors share much with other health professions, its emphasis and application of philosophy distinguishes it from modern medicine. Their philosophy gravitates toward a holistic ("total person") approach to healing which combines elements of the mind, body and spirit and maintains that health depends on obedience to natural laws, and that deviation from such laws can result in illness.
Chiropractic Philosophy includes:
- emphasis on patient recuperative abilities rather than surgery
- recognition that dynamics exist between lifestyle, environment and health
- understanding the cause of illness in order to eliminate it, rather than simply treat symptoms
- recognition of the centrality of the nervous system and its intimate relationship with the capacities of the human body
- balancing benefits versus risks of clinical interventions
- recognition of the primary importance of monitoring progress closely through appropriate diagnostic procedures
- a patient-centered, hands-on approach focused on influencing function through structure
- focus on early intervention emphasizing timely diagnosis and treatment of conditions that are wholly functional and reversible
Chiropractic philosophy blends an effective combination of conviction, critical thinking, open-mindedness, and appreciation of the natural order of things. Chiropractors focus on the establishment and maintenance of a relationship between patients and their environment which is most conducive to functional well-being.
What You Can Expect
After reviewing your medical history, the chiropractor will ask you about your general health and conduct a thorough physical examination, which will include orthopedic and neurological evaluations. The session might include a review of past X rays and new ones may be requested. The course of treatment will likely include a series of adjustments to help realign your spine, neck, or other problem areas.
The chiropractor may ask you to lie down on a padded massage-type table for spinal adjustments or you may be seated on a stool or in a chair that allows access to your back. You may remain fully clothed or be asked to undress and wear a hospital gown.
Before beginning any manipulation, the chiropractor should explain exactly what the process involves. Typically, chiropractic is performed using very little force, although techniques vary. As the chiropractor applies pressure to your spine, you may hear (and feel) a popping sound, like a knuckle cracking. You should not feel any serious discomfort from the adjustment, however. If you do, it is important to let the chiropractor know immediately. Many patients find the experience of chiropractic treatment quite relaxing. Afterward, most describe feeling reduced pain, less tension, and more flexibility in the areas that were adjusted.
Most chiropractors combine spinal adjustments with adjunct therapies such as physiotherapy, massage, heat or ice treatments, rehabilitative exercises, acupuncture, cranial manipulation, and nutritional counseling.
An initial visit usually lasts at least an hour. Subsequent visits may take only 10 to 30 minutes. Sometimes one session with a chiropractor is all that is required to relieve pain. For an acute problem, an average course of treatment involves three to five visits per week for two to four weeks.
Chiropractors generally have working relationships with M.D.s and D.O.s (doctors of osteopathy) and will refer you--often to an internist or a neurologist--if your condition persists and further testing or treatment appears necessary.
Health Benefits
It has been shown to be a particularly useful treatment for the relief of acute (or temporary) low back pain. In 1994, the United States Agency for Health Care Policy and Research recommended chiropractic manipulation as a safe initial form of treatment for acute low back pain in adults. The agency urged most patients to try conservative treatment such as chiropractic first, before opting for more aggressive measures such as drugs and surgery.
Chiropractic care can also ease pain in the mid-back and neck, and in the joints of the arms, hands, and legs. Although scientific research has not conclusively prooved its effectiveness, many people report that chiropractic provides relief from the pain of migraine and other headaches, muscle spasms, and nerve inflammation that can cause numbness and tingling.
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Natural Therapies
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What Is Acupuncture?
 Acupuncture is an ancient technique in which a skilled practitioner inserts hair-thin needles into specific points on the body to prevent or treat illness. Practiced for over 2,500 years in China, where it originated, acupuncture is part of the holistic system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which views health as a constantly changing flow of energy, or qi (pronounced "chee"). In TCM, imbalances in this natural flow of energy are thought to result in disease. Acupuncture at our clinic aims to restore health by improving the flow of qi.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
According to the principles of TCM, qiflows through the body via 14 primary meridians or channels. To strengthen the flow of qi,or remove blockages in the meridians, an acupuncturist inserts a number of tiny, sterile, flexible needles just under the skin at certain specific points (called acupoints) along the channels. There are four to five hundred named acupoints along the meridians, some of which are associated with specific internal organs or organ systems. If you are suffering from nausea, for example, needles might be inserted into acupoints on your wrist, while a vision problem might be treated with needles in the foot. (Additional ear, scalp, and hand points are also commonly used by some practitioners.) Acupuncture practitioners believe that the therapy stimulates the body's internal regulatory system and nurtures a natural healing response.
Although Western science has neither proven nor accepted the notion of qi, a large body of evidence is accumulating indicating that acupuncture leads to real physiologic changes in the body. Numerous studies have shown, for example, that inserting needles into the skin stimulates nerves in the underlying muscles. This stimulation, researchers feel, sends impulses up the spinal cord to a relatively primitive part of the brain known as the limbic system, as well as to the midbrain and the pituitary gland. Somehow that signaling leads to the release of endorphins and monoamines, chemicals that block pain signals in the spinal chord and brain.
In one study, researchers using brain scans discovered that acupuncture can alter blood circulation within the brain, increasing the blood flow to the thalamus, the area of the brain that relays pain and other sensory messages.
Hundreds of studies are now ongoing around the world seeking to prove the usefulness of acupuncture for various ailments. At our mississauga clinic acupuncture is one of the modalities that we combine to help our patients.
We offer complimentary consultations so that you can discover natural solutions for your health, click here .
What You Can Expect
 On your first visit for acupuncture in mississauga, the practitioner will take a thorough medical history, then may three pulses on each wrist, examine your tongue, take note of how your breath and body smell, and "palpate" (or feel) certain areas of your body. Depending on your ailment, you may also have your first acupuncture treatment at this time. In general, visits occur once or twice a week over several months until therapeutic results are achieved.
While the needles can feel uncomfortable at times, they rarely hurt. They are very thin (only about three times the thickness of a human hair and much finer than the hypodermic needles used to give injections) and are designed to enter the skin with little resistance. Once the needles are inserted (generally from one to 15 are used), the acupuncturist may twist them manually or send a weak electrical current through them to increase the energy flow. The needles are left in for 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the ailment. Some practitioners also use moxibustion, which involves heating the needles or acupoint with a slowly burning herbal agent (primarily the dried herb mugwort) to hasten healing.
Different people experience different sensations from acupuncture. Some describe a tingling pins-and-needles feeling, others feel numbness or nothing at all. Most find the sessions relaxing, and many fall asleep during or immediately after treatment.
Some patients notice rapid improvement after just a few sessions. In those whose conditions have taken years to develop, treatment would take longer.
Health Benefits
While scores of illnesses have traditionally been treated by acupuncture in Asia, its primary use at our Mississauga acupuncture clinic has been to relieve chronic pain--caused by such ailments as arthritis, headache, PMS, and back pain--and to assist withdrawal from addictions such as drug and alcohol dependency. Today more innovative applications for acupuncture are being explored by both conventional and alternative practitioners, including its use as an analgesic to reduce pain during surgery.
In 1997, an advisory panel for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) evaluated hundreds of acupuncture studies and concluded that the therapy is an effective treatment for postoperative pain after dental surgery and for nausea induced by chemotherapy, pregnancy ("morning sickness"), and anesthesia. Our mississauga acupuncture therapist understands acupuncture is a useful adjunct and acceptable treatment for a variety of conditions, including fibromyalgia, stroke rehabilitation, asthma, headache, and carpal tunnel syndrome. |
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