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CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is an exceptionally safe and
gentle form of bodywork using a very light touch to encourage your body and central nervous system to balance
and heal itself. Your central nervous system controls
all of your other body systems including respiratory, cardiac, and
digestive systems.
The CranioSacral System
The
craniosacral system is at the core of your central
nervous system. It includes cerebrospinal fluid and tissue
which surround your brain, spinal cord and sacrum
(tailbone). This fluid moves and is used to protect, nourish
and remove waste from your brain and spinal cord.
How does
CranioSacral Therapy work?
The
CranioSacral Therapist is trained to tune into your craniosacral
rhythm to feel obstructions and restrictions in your body
which affect the quality and symmetry of the craniosacral rhythm.
Corrections can then be made by gentle traction, holding and encouraging
tissues to release tension, thus allowing the body to correct itself. Other bodywork modalities may
also be
incorporated to help facilitate a release.
History of Cranial Therapy
In the
early 1900’s, Dr. William G. Sutherland discovered the craniosacral
system in the human body. He developed a system of examination and treatment called Cranial Osteopathy.
In
1975, Dr. John E. Upledger led a team of researchers to further study the craniosacral system. He incorporated and refined
Dr. Sutherland’s techniques developing his own protocol for
evaluation and treatment. In 1985, he founded the Upledger Institute,
INC.®
which is a health resource center located in Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida and is recognized worldwide for its therapeutic
services, clinical research and educational programs.
Dr. John Upledger's
Discussion on CranioSacral Therapy:
"One can travel from the
most peripheral aspects of the body to its core without ever
leaving fascial tissue: hence, it is clear that restrictions in
normal fascial mobility anywhere in the body can compromise the
functioning of the craniosacral system...
Quite often, abnormal
tension from the peripheral fascias ...(can) not only impair the
function of the craniosacral system but may often contribute to
the development of facilitated spinal cord segments that
ultimately devitalize segmentally related viscera. This,
in turn, can create neuromusculoskeletal problems that
self-perpetuate.
In CranioSacral Therapy,
the practitioner continually evaluates the craniosacral system
and all body fascias, searching for areas of compromised
mobility. This ongoing search allows the therapist to
assess the degree of free mobility that may or may not be
present. It also involves a whole-body evaluation of
energy patterns and cysts. Once such abnormal patterns are
located, the therapist may eclectically employ any and all
techniques that may be useful in re-establishing optimal freedom
of motion to any restricted areas that are found...
It is my belief that motion
is health, and statis results in disease. Such motion can
range from the movement of interstitial fluids and transmembrane
ionic and molecular transport, to gross joint motion and even
energy flow. It is the CranioSacral Therapist's job to
continually work towards restoring freedom of motion to all body
tissues. In this way, the therapist makes wise use of body
tissues to naturally restore health and inner balance." *
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SomatoEmotional Release®
SomatoEmotional Release (SER) is a therapeutic process that helps rid the body of physical and emotional trauma.
Dr.
Upledger and biophysicist Zvi Karni, Ph.D. discovered that the body sometimes retains traumas by isolating them in the body. These areas of accumulated trauma, called
“energy cysts,” inhibit normal energy flow.
The
body has to work harder around these areas and over time symptoms may develop. SER works to locate and free
the body of energy cysts. For example: the body may need to move into the same position it was in when the trauma was first induced
in order to release the energy cyst and restore tissue mobility
and function.
Lisa Upledger,
D.C. releasing energy cyst in shoulder
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Dr. John Upledger's
Discussion on Energy Cysts:
"Energy cysts are
essentially regions of foreign energy that are disorganized,
obstructing the normal conduction of microelectric currents
through these regions. These disorganized energies may be
thought of as entropic. They are usually from
nonphysiological sources such as external trauma, pathogenic
organisms or severe emotional shock. The body, unable to
discharge these foreign energies, alternatively minimizes their
effects by compressing them into the smallest possible volume.
The CranioSacral Therapist's goal is to discharge all discovered
energy cysts." *
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Other Healing Modalities
Brain Curriculum:
Techniques used to improve proper functionality of brain
and central nervous system.
Lymph Drainage Therapy:
Light touch techniques used to enhance lymphatic
circulation. Effective in helping tight muscles to
release. Lymph Drainage Therapy is also helpful for
wrinkles because it: removes toxins, regenerates skin
tissue, re-oxygenates the skin, alleviates edema, relaxes facial
muscles and tonifies the skin.
Visceral Manipulation: Techniques designed to release
abnormal tension around organs to help restore proper function.
Has been effective for leaky bladders, hiatial
hernias and acid reflux.
Energy Healing: Effective for releasing stored
trauma and accelerate healing.
Bodywork Techniques:
Various bodywork techniques used to release
tight, neck, shoulders, hips, TMJ muscles and lower back
issues.
What to expect
during a CranioSacral Session.
Clients remain fully clothed and recline on a massage table. It is recommended to wear loose and comfortable clothing.
The
therapist will use a light touch to evaluate and treat.
Individual experiences will vary. You may feel sensations of tissue releasing or you may get deeply relaxed and fall
asleep.
Improvements may be felt immediately or gradually over
time as your system rebalances.
Some Benefits
of CranioSacral Therapy:
Central Nervous
System Disorders
Chemicals
and Toxins that needs to be cleared in Brain or Body.
Depression
Ear and Hearing
Problems
Emotional Difficulties
Eye and Vision
Problems
Fibromyalgia
Head
and Body Pain
Headaches
Immune Disorders
Increasing Resistance
to Disease
Maintaining Health
Memory Difficulties
Neck & Back Pain
Personality Changes
Poor Posture
Post-Surgery Dysfunction
Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder
Sciatica
Sinus Problems
Stress
TMJ (Jaw Pain)
Vertigo
And
Many Others ...
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CranioSacral Therapy for
Babies and Infants
Birth is not an
easy process on the baby whether it's an "easy" delivery or not.
Restrictions induced in the body may later manifest into
problems such as: learning disabilities, sensory integration
problems, ear infections and many other issues.
CranioSacral Therapy is well suited for infants because it is
such a light touch therapy and non-invasive to the baby's sensitive
body.
The therapy is designed to find and gently release restrictions
so the body can self-correct itself.
Releasing
restrictions in the cranium and body will allow better flow of
cerebrospinal fluid, blood and nutrients to areas that may have
been malfunctioning, allowing the central nervous system and
body to heal.
The younger the child
the more rapid the corrections.
Some Issues CranioSacral Therapy is Beneficial for
Babies and Infants:
Abnormal Fears
Aphasias
Attention Deficit
Disorder
Autism
Birth Trauma
Bowel Problems
Chronic Otitis
Colic
Difficulties in
Ears Draining
Dyslexia
Erb's Palsy
Excessive Crying
Failure-to-Thrive
Syndrome
Hearing Problems
Hydrocephalus
Hyperkinetic
Behavior
Klumpke's Palsy
Learning
Disabilities Problems
Motor-Coordination
Difficulties
Pylorospasm
Seizures
Sensory Processing
Issues
Social Skills
Spasticity
Spastic Cerebral
Palsy
Sleeping Problems
Speech Problems
Strabismus
Torticollis
Vomiting
And Many Others
...
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For Fees and Locations
click here:
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To
learn more about Dr. John Upledger, CranioSacral
Therapy, SomatoEmotional Release® and the Upledger Institute,
INC.® visit Upledger's web site:
John E. Upledger, D.O.,
O.M.M.
*
'Massage Today' March 2004, Volume 4, Number 3, Page 21.
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