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A
Gentle Kind of Pulse: CranioSacral Therapy
by Maureen
Grady-Tatgé, M.A.
A standout among the popular methods of alternative health care treatments
is CranioSacral therapy. This gentle yet powerful therapy works with
the body, instead of forcefully imposing changes upon it. A light-touch
manual therapy, CranioSacral therapy (CST) enhances the body's natural
healing process. For nearly thirty years it has been shown to be effective
for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and loss of
function. CST is useful as both a primary treatment method and combined
with other traditional or complementary techniques.
 CranioSacral
therapy uses a light-touch somewhere within the range of about five
grams of pressure or the equivalent of the weight of a nickel. By using
this light touch you can access a core rhythm in the body that is created
by the system surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This pulse is communicated
throughout the entire body so you can feel it any place on the body
and not necessarily just the head or the spinal column. Where there
are restrictions it will show up as a lack of motion or rhythm. By addressing
these areas of restriction, one is better able to treat the cause of
problems rather than chase symptoms.
CranioSacral therapy was founded in the 1970's by Dr. John Upledger.
During a spinal surgery Dr. Upledger noticed the strong pulse or rhythm
in the three layered membrane system that surrounds the brain and spinal
cord. After subsequent research at Michigan State University he determined
this pulse was coming from the cerebral spinal fluid that bathes and
protects the spinal cord. “All these membranes affect brain function,”
he says, “and when they're not moving properly, there can be
harm.” Dr. Upledger teaches a series of techniques designed to
help therapists facilitate the natural healing capabilities we inherently
have in our bodies.
Our bodies are intelligent. We are trained into thinking that our bodies
are split into separate categories. What we know on a gut level is that
our bodies are connected through many layers of body, mind, spirit and
soul. In CranioSacral therapy we approach the body in this wholistic
way. A layer of fascia or skin that protects our organs, muscles and
skeletal structure covers us. This fascia or connective tissue contains
a great deal of information that is stored either consciously or through
our non-conscious in the form of tissue memories. What happens during
a CranioSacral session varies. Sometimes the body remembers more than
the conscious mind and will work to release stored past trauma. This
stored trauma is released in the form of heat, coolness, numbness or
softening of the tissues. These restrictions are easily released allowing
the body’s own inherent wisdom to return to natural healthy functioning.
During a treatment session what we're allowing the person is the
space to open and express feelings and pain that have been held dormant
within the body for years or decades. Letting go of traumas whether
they are recent or old, or psychic, emotional or physical in origin
frees up the entire system. You're working with the body's own
innate self-correcting mechanism. This gentle yet powerful form of therapy
is ideal in alleviating symptoms of injury or disease. The results are
a sense of well being and increased awareness as well as physical relief
and comfort.
CranioSacral therapy treatments have been used in a great variety of
conditions. It has been successful for people with chronic headaches,
migraines, TMJ, joint problems, low back pain, depression, vertigo,
pain, swelling, numbness, stiffness and stress, and post-traumatic stress
syndrome. People get better from accidents and injuries and even after
being told they would not improve overall, they do.
CST is a very useful tool in the treatment modality of children with
autism. A skilled practitioner will be able to evaluate the CranioSacral
rhythm through the use of their hands. The manual stretching of the
restrictive dura mater by the use of CranioSacral therapy techniques
has provided impressive improvement with autism. In autistic children
this release of restrictive tissues leads to changes in sensory integration.
When these compressions in the cranial vault are released it has often
resulted in the child's ability to demonstrate love and affection,
improved socialization, improved speaking ability, improved ability
to connect with another including increased eye contact.
My practice has always included pediatric CranioSacral therapy. I've
seen great improvements in sensory and motor dysfunctioning children
as well as autistic children. When strain patterns are relieved in the
child's body you see marked improvement in their sensory integration
experiences. In one case of an autistic girl, she at first did not like
being touched and would not establish eye contact. By the end of her
treatment sessions she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulled herself
into a big hugging position and melted both of us!!
There is always a beneficial gain in a CranioSacral treatment session
– sometimes subtle, sometimes dramatic. But always some self-correcting
or self-healing takes place allowing increased use and function of the
body and a healthier approach to the living of life.
Molly
Grady-Tatgé is an Advanced CranioSacral therapist and an instructor
and study group leader with the Upledger Institute. You can contact her
office, Atlanta CranioSacral Therapy, at 404-531-6433.
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Walker Dodd
Heart
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Cann
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