CranioSacral Therapy: What Is It and How Can It Help You?
Written by Samantha Sprinkle, LMT, of Mystic Massage and Well Being (originally written for Moyer Total Wellness)
Let’s talk about this magnificent healing modality called CranioSacral Therapy. Maybe you’ve heard of it or maybe this is the first time it has come to your awareness. Either way, I hope the following information answers some questions and provides insights into this seemingly mysterious therapy.
Starting with the most pressing question: what the heck is CranioSacral Therapy, anyway? CranioSacral Therapy is a noninvasive therapy that assesses, modifies, and corrects restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve wellness and enhance the body’s ability to self-regulate.
Now I know what you’re thinking…craniosacral system?? Never heard of it! Although it may not be as well known as other body systems, it is just as important for your health and ability to function properly. The craniosacral system is a physiological system that is responsible for the production, circulation, and re-absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This fluid is what keeps your brain from hitting the side of your skull and it flows all the way down your spine and back up again. This is why it is called “cranial”—like cranium, commonly known as your head—and “sacral”—like sacrum, commonly known as your tailbone.
Not only does the CSF protect your brain, but it also helps maintain the environment for your nervous system to develop, function, and thrive. The system itself consists of the ventricular system that produces the cerebrospinal fluid, dural membranes surrounding the spinal cord, and the bony and fascial attachments of membranes. Welcome to anatomy, folks! Our bodies are powerful, intricate, and complex!
Now that we have a brief understanding of the system we are working in when receiving CranioSacral Therapy, let us look at the healing modality itself. The practitioner is observing and feeling for areas of restriction in what we call the craniosacral rhythm. This rhythm is the movement of the bones and body tissues in response to the flow of CSF that I mentioned earlier. When flowing at optimal functionality, we tend to have a fluid movement of CSF that falls into a slow 1-2-3, 3-2-1 pattern. Your therapist will be checking in with the flow of the CSF and is aiming to assist your body to achieve greater balance, aka good ol’ homeostasis!
By assisting the body in this way, we are allowing the body to kick start its own healing and self-regulate more easily and efficiently. CranioSacral Therapy primarily uses light touch, time, intention, and energy to be effective in its application.
What does this look and feel like for you, as the client? You will experience gentle holds along the spine, hips, and head with a very light pressure. Ideally, about the weight of a nickel! The therapist will stay in that hold for anywhere between 2-5 minutes or sometimes longer, depending on the length of your session and how your body is responding to a specific hold. You may feel relaxation, tingles, warmth, or sensations of energy movement. Some people fall asleep, while others may have involuntary muscle twitches or emotional releases. Some people do not feel much at all but often still report feeling relief or greater relaxation posttreatment.
This modality can be done completely on its own or integrated into a traditional massage, as long as your massage therapist has trained in the modality. If you receive a full CranioSacral Therapy session, you can remain fully clothed for your treatment! However, it is necessary that you are not wearing any restrictive or tight clothing because it can compromise the fluidity of the CSF. If you were looking for an excuse to wear your favorite sweatpants out and about, here it is!
The benefits of receiving CranioSacral therapy are quite vast! According to the Upledger Institute (one of the leading training facilities), some of the health conditions it can greatly assist with are:
headaches and migraines
chronic fatigue
chronic neck pain and back pain
stress and tension-related issues
fibromyalgia
connective tissue disorders
TMJ dysfunction
scoliosis
concussions
emotional difficulties
PTSD
AND MORE!
If you feel called to try this healing therapy for yourself, please do! It was so impactful for me that I decided to take a continuing education course and learn how to provide it for my clients. I am proud to offer it at Mystic Massage & Well Being.
Resources:
“Discover CranioSacral Therapy.” https://www.upledger.com, www.upledger.com/therapies/index.php. Accessed 3 Feb. 2022.
Upledger, John E. CranioSacral Therapy 1 Study Guide. Upledger Productions, 18 May 2016.