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People often wonder if Craniosacral Therapy actually does anything because the techniques implemented are so subtle. Subtle and gentle does not mean they don’t have tremendous results. The cranio sacral system does not respond well to deeper and harder pressure. This is because craniosacral therapists are working directly with the cranial sutures of the skull, as well as the meningeal membrane (the membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord), and the sacral ligaments, which have very little wiggle room. The cranial sutures for example move 3mm or 1/1000 of an inch. Super small!

These parts of the body require specific, titrated, and gentle touch over a period of at least a few minutes to change the connective tissue and influence cerebral spinal fluid and cranial motion. Connective tissue, which is much more dense than soft tissue, takes time to change in structure. If someone were to try and force connective tissue to open and relax, it often rebounds because it’s designed to maintain its structural integrity and hold things in proper place. If it gets damaged, impinged, twisted, hardened, or otherwise constricted from a variety of things, it can create major dysfunction in our systems. This remains true for the larger Myofascial system of the body. Myofascial release is able to address the broader dysfunctions of the fascial and soft tissue matrix, where craniosacral therapy addresses the spinal cord directly and subtler aspects of our connective tissue. Connective tissue as a whole softens, opens, and lengthens when a therapist applies sustained pressure and stretch into the fascia over an extended amount of time. Cranio sacral therapy typically applies soft touch which is typically no greater than 5 grams - about the weight of a nickel. Even though this is incredible gentle, it is still giving the body enough stimulus and adjustment to still be considered manual manipulation rather than energy work.

When a cranio sacral therapist assesses the body, they are accessing the cranial rhythm, and checking to see if any of the diaphragms of the body (there are multiple) are holding tension, and if someone’s symptoms (like migraines) relate to lack of suture motion or impingement along the spinal column. The cranial sutures were once thought to be fused after birth. Cranial sutures are fibrous bands of tissue that connect the bones of the skull. The spaces between the bones that remain open in babies and young children are also called fontanelles. Sometimes, they are called soft spots. These spaces are a part of normal development. The cranial bones remain separate for about 12 to 18 months. They then grow together as part of normal growth. They stay connected throughout adulthood. However, research has now shown that they do in fact have some motion, although credible small.

John Upledger, the osteopathic physician who created cranial sacral therapy, noticed in the 1970’s that these sutures actually have a very subtle contraction and expansion phase, like a breath, that occurs with the production of cerebral spinal fluid. This is critical because cerebral spinal fluid helps protect the nervous system by acting like a cushion against sudden impact or injury to the brain and spinal cord. It also removes waste products from the brain and helps your central nervous system work properly. You can image that if someone has had high impact injuries from sports or a car accident that this system has probably been negatively impacted. When these structures have any kind of dysfunction, it can create a plethora of problems for people, some of which include migraines and headaches, chronic back and neck pain, chronic fatigue, central nervous system dysfunction, etc.

The cutting edge research to properly address trauma and PTSD has shown that talk therapy alone is insufficient. The body needs to be part of the reparative experience. This is due to the way our brains have developed throughout evolution. Scientists have found that for the body to process a traumatic event, the nervous system has to relearn safety and take cues from the body via the brainstem. This is called bottom up processing in the brain. We know that one of the primary influences on the nervous system is touch. Pairing cranialsacral massage with methods such as Somatic Experiencing can greatly impact the nervous system and create significant and lasting changes in someone, greatly reducing symptoms and help someone heal from trauma. however, the type of touch is critical with the renegotiation of trauma.

Often times people will opt for a seeing a massage therapist and getting a deep tissue massage to try and deal with overwhelming stress or trauma, which is arguably still very beneficial. However, if we are in a state of hypervigilance or trying to make significant shifts in healing, we need to bring our awareness to the sensations our bodies are experiencing, as well as go slowly. Many times the person getting a standard massage will remain passive on the table, and easily be able to dissociate mentally from the process even when they feel generally good.

The process for opening up the fascia takes time for both Craniosacral therapy and Myofascial Release, so both the therapist and client can tune into the body and track what’s going on, while simultaneously releasing held tension patterns in the tissue, cranium, or spinal cord. Many people who suffer from PTSD find tremendous relief from the gentleness and slower process of craniosacral massage, because their nervous systems are typically in such high arousal states. It can help people process both the physical and emotional trauma they may have endured.

There are few systems that have as much influence over the body's ability to function optimally as the brain and spinal cord which make up the central nervous system. The central nervous system is deeply impacted by the craniosacral system - consisting of the membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord. The body regularly sustains a large degree of physical stress which its trying to repair from our everyday lives. Because of this, the body can habitually tighten and strain the viscera (organs), skeletal system, and craniosacral system. Even minor restrictions can create tension to form around the brain and spinal cord putting stress on the entire system and create pain. Having a healthy nervous system is critical to all other systems performing optimally. Therefore, consciously utilizing touch to access and release restrictions makes a huge impact on our overall health.

The Nervous System sometimes will suspend a traumatic moment in time, going into what’s called the Freeze response, until a later date when its safer to process. Its sometimes referred to as a trauma imprint or somatic memory (body memory). This energy is literally held in the body as fascial tension patterns and imprinted on the Nervous System until it has the opportunity to be renegotiated and released. By bringing ones awareness to the way the body is communicating via sensation, imagery, thoughts, movements, or emotion, one can recover rapidly and allow the bodies innate healing process to manifest. Many times, when someone is having a release of this kind, they experience spontaneous emotions arise, the discharge of survival energy though the body shaking (neurogenic tremors), or spontaneous movement. If done in the presence of a skilled somatic experiencing therapist, not only will this process be familiar to them, but they will be able to accurately track and guide the client through their inner state, and come out feeling renewed, transformed, and finally free of pain. Their previous experience can now serve as a resource and testimony to their strength.