What Is Craniosacral Therapy And How Does It Work?
Written by Sam Rehan, Craniosacral Therapist
During the summer of 2005, I fell badly. A loose tile outside a London shop caused me to slip. In spite of being fit and healthy, the sudden slip was shocking and painful to my spine. The coccyx was diagnosed as injured, requiring rest and recuperation.
My doctor told me there was nothing further to be done. One of my violinist friends suggested craniosacral therapy, something she had successfully used for alleviating posture issues. After a search on the internet, I became intrigued by craniosacral therapy.
I was in deep reflection two days later, post-session. What had just happened?
My session of craniosacral therapy was conducted on a massage table while I remained fully clothed. My body was not manipulated, and I did not receive a massage, but I felt movement and even localised heat. The tingling and sensations were still present on the ride home. My sense of peace and calm was astonishing. It felt as if I was going through a big shift, accompanied by huge relaxation.
I rested further at home and resolved to learn more about this alien therapy, which conflicted with my science background and my logical left brain... The practitioner of craniosacral therapy had only used gentle touch.
A third rhythm
Alongside our breathing and heart rate, our bodies have a third movement. In craniosacral therapy, pulses of energy (the craniosacral rhythm) flow between the head and pelvis.
As real as our breath and heart rate, it's measurable. Our bones move to accommodate the craniosacral pulse (cranio = head and sacrum = bone at the base of the spine).
In the same way that a cardiologist seeks to improve the function of your heart, a craniosacral practitioner will assess and optimise the rhythm of your craniosacral system.
What can craniosacral therapy help with?
With craniosacral therapy, physical pain and emotional distress can be supported. The experience of a session is often described as soothing and relaxing. In most cases, craniosacral therapy complements other types of treatment.
Counseling and psychotherapy can be supported by the therapy as it helps to process emotional issues and trauma held in the body. In addition to your doctor's care, craniosacral therapy acts as a supportive measure rather than a cure for serious illnesses. Craniosacral practitioners do not diagnose or prescribe medication.
Most people are familiar with craniosacral therapy from its work with babies and children. The therapy has a good reputation for helping children and babies with a wide variety of ailments. Its gentle nature makes craniosacral therapy suitable for a wide range of ages, including newborns.
Advocates claim that craniosacral alleviates a variety of symptoms, such as chronic pain, ear infections, jaw pain, migraines, nerve pain, depression, anxiety, dyslexia, spinal cord injuries, stress and anger.
Does craniosacral therapy work?
Several studies have shown that craniosacral therapy benefits clients. Studies have been published in dental and osteopathic medical journals, but the technique is still relatively new. More research is on-going.
A session of craniosacral therapy
During craniosacral therapy, you remain fully clothed. This gentle therapy originates from osteopathy so the body is seen in a similar way.
As the practitioner gently rests their hands on parts of the client's body (such as the skull and the base of the spine and other areas), the client is able to relax and lie still. When the therapist's hands detect places of restriction in the craniosacral rhythm, they support it.
The sessions are usually pleasant and relaxing for most people. Clients often feel as if their "batteries have been recharged". It is possible for you to fall asleep, enter a deep meditative state, or share your feelings. Like your pulse, the craniosacral system has a rhythm that can be felt throughout the body.
Each person progresses at their own rate according to what their body can handle. Sometimes one session can successfully solve a problem, but this is rare. A few sessions in a short space of time can help your body to adjust to new patterns and access the full benefits of craniosacral therapy and its cumulative effects.
An open mind
Craniosacral therapy is a holistic therapy... The whole person is treated rather than just the symptoms of an illness. An open mind is helpful. The body’s intelligence holds answers that the mind can't always grasp. Being still can often be enough to reveal answers via our craniosacral wave – a core component of ourselves. It is from there that we can be led to a path of integration and more balance.
The experience is, at the very least, deeply relaxing. There is a high likelihood that it will go beyond that, to release holding patterns and provide better health as well.
Following my fall in 2005, the remarkable healing I experienced, with craniosacral therapy, led me to train as a craniosacral therapist. My favorite part is how it deals with the whole body and reveals more healing within... if we stop and access more stillness.
Sam Rehan trained with The Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust (London) and qualified in 2008. She has also completed additional training in Anatomy and Physiology and Stress Management. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences. Sam can be reached at hello@samrehan.com
References:
T.R. Rasmussen& K.C. Meulengracht. Direct measurement of the rhythmic motions of the human head identifies a third rhythm. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. Volume 26. 2021.Pages 24-29. ISSN 1360-8592, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.08.018.
https://www.craniosacral.co.uk/resources/research-studies/
https://www.birthinjuryguide.org/treatments/craniosacral-therapy/