Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy (CST) is also commonly called sacro-occipital technique or cranial work. They are all, at the core, the same thing. This treatment is very common for pediatrics but can also have profound impacts for adults.

CST is a very gentle form of treatment aimed at decreasing tension in the meninges. The meninges are thin membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and attach into the inside of the skull, the first vertebrae in the neck, and the sacrum. Our meninges serve to protect our brain and spinal cord but also hold in our cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid is extremely important as it is responsible for providing nutrients and cushioning to our brain and spinal cord. When we have tension in the meninges it can negatively impact the flow of cerebrospinal fluid causing the nervous system to respond.

This tension in the meninges typically arises due to altered motion of the bones the meninges attach to. Remember this includes the skull, the first vertebra in the neck, and the sacrum. With cranial work we can restore motion to the bones by applying gentle pressure in the direction the bone needs help moving in. Once motion is restored, the pulling (tension) on the meninges is released allowing the cerebrospinal fluid to flow naturally and the nervous system to calm down.

This is a very gentle technique using no more pressure than would be used to touch your eye. There is absolutely no “cracking” or “popping” as part of treatment.