Craniosacral Therapy

Kathleen Kenneally, LAc, LMP, LMHC
206-551-5558
August 2009

Craniosacral Therapy: Greater Health through Light Touch

…a gentle approach for injuries and restrictions

Few systems are as significant to the overall functioning of the human body as the craniosacral system, which offers fluid-based protection nourishing the brain and spinal cord.

Restrictions in the pathway of the cerebrospinal fluid arise from injury and can cause illness and disease. Craniosacral therapy releases these restrictions with a hands-on method of gently moving fluids, tissues and bones to release stress and strain patterns caused by injury or impairments.

The craniosacral system greatly affects nearly every aspect of central nervous system performance. Migraines, headaches, chronic neck and back pain, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), scoliosis, and motor coordination impairments are commonly treated using craniosacral therapy. Craniosacral work is extremely effective for trauma from car accidents, bike accidents and falls. Injuries respond well to craniosacral treatments because the head, neck, back and tailbone are markedly impacted by whiplash and impact trauma. Nervous system-related ailments like Irritable Bowel Syndrome and difficulty sleeping or relaxing also respond well to craniosacral therapy. Chronic pain responds well to craniosacral therapy and can be a useful avenue to explore for pain reduction.

“The Breath of Life”
No discussion of craniosacral therapy would be complete without bringing up the importance of how deeply restorative the work is for the body, mind, emotions and spirit. People report experiencing a deep calming peace that engages spiritual feelings of well being. I think of it as “soul retrieval” because we are opening up the mind-body to bring back part of the psyche that is scattered or disjointed by physical trauma. And, we are re-regulating the nervous system sympathetic (fight/flight/freeze) and parasympathetic (wellbeing/pleasure) response. The autonomic nervous system is comprised of two parts: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The old adage about “fight or flight” has changed to “fight, flight or freeze” since this is what the nervous system enacts within the body under stress and strain. Antithetically, the parasympathetic nervous system calms the body and promotes feelings of well being and pleasure. These systems are disrupted with trauma and injury and craniosacral therapy is excellent at reorganizing and balancing the system. The body drops defenses and takes the time to heal and shift. Sometimes called “The breath of life,” the craniosacral rhythm and our well being are interchangeable.

Craniosacral therapy provides a gentle hands-on release of restrictions in the body. In a nutshell, “Movement Equals Life.” Free circulation of fluids and energy nourishes and maintains health, vitality and wholeness. In contrast, stagnation obstructs flow and causes tissues to suffer improper nutrition and loss of function. In practical terms, pain, loss of range-of-motion, fatigue, disease, depression, and frustration all result from restriction in the body. Craniosacral therapy release restrictions by using a hands-on method of gently moving fluids, tissues and bones to release stress and strain patterns caused by injury or impairments.

Intelligent and Intuitive Listening
A typical session lasts fifty minutes with the client lying relaxed on a massage table. A practitioner places her hands on the client’s body, listens to rhythms, and notices patterns of craniosacral fluid inhalation and exhalation. By assessing movement patterns in the body, a practitioner can skillfully release inhibited movement and free tissue restrictions thus reducing symptoms.

From Imprint to Blueprint
Craniosacral therapy induces a lovely, peaceful restorative experience called a Stillpoint. The craniosacral fluid flows in its own semi-open hydraulic circulation system comprised of an inhale and an exhale (the breath of life) so-named because of its rhythmic quality of expansion and contraction. This is completely separate from the respiratory inhalation and exhalation of our lungs, our breathing mechanism. A Stillpoint happens at the pause between a craniosacral fluid exhale and an inhale and can last upwards of 20 seconds to several minutes. During a Stillpoint clients report feeling rejuvenated, relaxed or peaceful. Therapists believe that in this mysterious pause, a Stillpoint, the body is re-organizing itself to its own original blueprint of health. So the body lets go of being imprinted by injury and is restored ever more closely to itself as a healthy organism. Interestingly, the healthy body goes into its own natural induction of a Stillpoint on its own several times per day. Also, a therapist can and often does induce a Stillpoint during a Craniosacral session.

Combining Acupuncture and Shiatsu with Craniosacral Therapy
As an acupuncturist and shiatsu practitioner, I often combine modalities to give people a balance of deeper and gentler treatments to optimize the release of restrictions and promote healthy balance. So while the energetics of acupuncture needles “cook,” a client can receive Craniosacral treatments that are facilitated by the acceleration of energy flow that acupuncture provides. Or, a deeper shiatsu acupressure treatment can be followed by a gentler Craniosacral treatment since some unwinding of tissues from deeper muscular work facilitates a craniosacral release. For example if a client comes in with a tight neck and shoulders, I will loosen up the musculature with shiatsu acupressure or Traditional Chinese Medical cupping before sensing into the head, neck, and spine to assess and treat the craniosacral system. After loosening the muscles, the craniosacral components are more accessible and move more freely.

Anyone who has ever experienced a car accident can benefit from a Craniosacral evaluation. Many times symptoms from accidents remain unresolved and are cumulative. So, for example, a 40-year old can suddenly experience pain due to trauma from a car accident that happened when she was 20. Often car accident injuries never quite resolved before treatment cease. The additive stresses of life’s bumps and bruises and aging exacerbate lingering misalignments causing the onset of symptoms like headache, back or neck pain, joint pain, TMJ, etc many years after an untreated injury.

Conclusion
To summarize, the craniosacral system performs an integral function for the human body by protecting and circulating nourishing cerebrospinal fluid throughout the brain and spinal cord regions. Restrictions in the pathway of the cerebrospinal fluid arise from injury and can cause illness and disease. Car accidents, head, neck and back pain respond well to Craniosacral treatment as do other nervous system ailments like Irritable Bowel Syndrome and insomnia. Stillpoints are deeply relaxing and restorative. Gentle work is often helpful where trauma has intruded. Craniosacral sessions are blended with acupuncture and shiatsu (a Japanese form of needleless acupressure medicine) to optimize results.

Kathleen Kenneally, LAc, LMP, LMHC is a Licensed Acupuncturist and is a Diplomate in Chinese Herbs. She is a Registered Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and a Certified Quantum Touch® Practitioner. Kathleen practices at the WAC Wellness Center. She has a private practice at Greenlake (Acudragon.com or 206-551-5558).