CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. It was pioneered and developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University where he served as professor of biomechanics.
Using a soft touch which is generally no greater than 5 grams or approximately the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and it’s effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.
The Nervous System
Few body structures have more influence over your health and well-being than your central nervous system. And few body systems have more impact on your central nervous system than the CranioSacral system- the soft tissues and fluid that protect your brain and spinal cord.
You endure stresses and strains and your body absorbs them. But your body can only handle so much tension before tissues begin to tighten and potentially affect the brain and spinal cord. Unfortunately, this can compromise function of the central nervous system and nearly every other system in your body.
CST releases those tensions to allow the entire body to relax and self correct. Using a gentle touch- starting with the weight of about a nickel. practitioners evaluate your internal environment. They then use distinctive light touch techniques to release any restrictions they find. By freeing the central nervous system to perform at its best, CST naturally eliminates pain and stress, strengthens your resistance to disease. and enhances your health and well-being.
CST is effective for all ages, from newborns to elders.
What can I expect from a session?
A typical CranioSacral Therapy session takes place in a quiet, private setting. You remain fully clothed and you relax on a comfortable padded table.
Your therapist begins by gently touching various parts of your body to monitor the rhythm of the fluid that is flowing around your central nervous system. By carefully listening with the hands to locate areas of weak fluid flow or tissue motion, your practitioner can trace those areas of weakness though the body to the original source of dysfunction.
Delicate manual techniques are used to release those problem areas and improve the form and function of your central nervous system.
A session can last up to an hour or more. It can be used alone or integrated with other therapies to create powerful effects. What you experience from your session is highly individual. The sessions are deeply relaxing, creating feelings of warmth, and gentle pulsing in the areas the therapist is working on.
Did you know the body is a self-correcting mechanism?
There is an innate ability of the human body to heal itself. Some practitioners refer to this part as the Inner Physician (IP).
When the skin is lacerated, this self-correcting mechanism responds with an elaborate process to close the skin. The immune responses and inflammatory responses are also indicative of the body's self healing abilities. CranioSacral Therapy involves facilitating or enhancing the body's own natural capacity when traumatic or disease processes become overwhelming for the system.
What conditions can CST help?
CranioSacral Therapy improves your body's ability to take better care of you. It had been shown to help a full spectrum of pain, illness and dysfunction including:
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