What is Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST)?

Developed by Dr. John Upledger, Doctor of Osteopathy, CST is a light-touch, non-invasive, therapeutic approach to healing through the evaluation and treatment of the Craniosacral System; the soft tissue and fluid that protect the brain and spinal cord.  It provides relief of pain and dysfunction for many sensory, motor, and neurological disorders by supporting the body’s self healing abilities.  

What are the Benefits?

CST can create dramatic improvements in your health by releasing patterns of tension stored deep within the body.  The Craniosacral System houses and protects the brain and spinal cord which makes up the Central Nervous System (CNS), which is the control board of the body.  Stresses endured by the body on a daily basis eventually begin to affect the CNS, which in turn affects all other body systems.  Patterns of stress and tension can be stored within the body for a lifetime, if not given the acknowledgement and opportunity to release.

Through the gentle manipulation of the bones and membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, CST releases those deep seated tensions allowing the body to fully relax and make self-corrections, which is exactly what the body is designed to do!  By freeing the CNS, to operate in an optimum state, CST naturally eliminates pain and stress, strengthens your immune system, and enhances your overall sense of well-being.

What Can I Expect From A CST Session?

A typical Craniosacral Session can last from 30 to 90 minutes.  You will remain fully clothed during the session, so it is recommended to wear comfortable clothing that allows for freedom of movement.  

The therapist will use a gentle pressure of 5 grams, about the weight of a nickel to test for and release restrictions in the Craniosacral System, and will sit or stand positioned at various points of your head, torso, sacrum, and feet.  Other techniques are used to gently unwind, and align the fascia- a continuous web of connective tissue throughout the body.  CST does not focus solely on the site of pain or dysfunction, but evaluates the entire body to find the source of the problem.  

What you experience from your own session is highly individual.  Most people find receiving CST is deeply relaxing.  You may experience varying sensations such as heat, cold, tingling, numbness throughout the body as it begins to unwind and release tensions.  You may even recall circumstances surrounding past trauma or injury that caused your body stress.  While it doesn’t occur in every session, this aspect of the process is called Somato Emotional Release and is perfectly normal.  After the session, you may feel energized or very relaxed.  It is common for improvements to continue for weeks after the session.

What is Somato Emotional release?

Somato Emotional Release is a therapeutic process to help release past traumas stored in the body tissues that can contribute to physical and emotional pain or discomfort.

Research suggests that the body often retains, rather than dissipates, physical forces resulting from an accident, injury, or emotional trauma.  The dysfunctional area is frequently isolated in what is called an energy cyst.  Usually your body will adapt to energy cysts and strain patterns and will begin to feel normal.  However, later on in life, symptoms begin to appear and over time become more difficult to suppress.

The therapist supports and follows the client’s inner wisdom, combining CST with dialogue to assist in the process of release.  By increasing awareness of your inner self and facilitating a mind-body connection, healing can occur at the source level of pain or problem.

Who Can Receive CST?

Because CST is so gentle and non-invasive it’s virtually risk free and people of all ages can benefit from this therapy.  There are certain situations where CST is not recommended.  These include any physiological condition in which slight changes in intracranial pressure could cause instability, such as a recent cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, or acute aneurysm.  

What Conditions Does Craniosacral Therapy Address?

Craniosacral Therapy has proven effective in relieving pain and dysfunction in a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Migraine Headaches

  • Chronic Neck and Back Pain

  • Post Concussion Syndrome

  • TMJ Dysfunction

  • Sinus Problems

  • Chronic Fatigue

  • Sleep Disorders, Insomnia

  • Scoliosis

  • Fibromyalgia

  • ADD/ADHD

  • Depression

  • Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries

  • Dyslexia

  • Post Surgical Support

  • Emotional Difficulties

  • Colic

  • Motor-Coordination Impairments

  • Central Nervous System Disorders

  • Stress and Tension Related Disorders

  • Orthopedic Problems

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

  • Immune Support

  • Learning Disabilities

  • Anxiety

  • Autism

  • Earaches, Vertigo, Dizziness

  • And Many Other Conditions