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.
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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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