Craniosacraltherapy
The basis of the therapy is that body itself possesses the resources that it needs to function well. The foundation of each individual’s body is the harmony that keeps the body in balance. We are subjected to many factors throughout our lives, causing our body to adapt altered positions and unbalances yet working towards correcting the harmony and balance.
Craniosarcral rhythm consists of personal vitality and combines the physical and psychological dimensions.
These can scar and harm the normal pulse. CST reaches the body and soul completely thus creating balance and harmony.
Physical and emotional stress can “lock” tissues causing unbalance of the body prohibiting the even energy flow in the body. This causes ailments, pain, back trouble, migraine, stomach trouble, stress, learning difficulties and depression. The treatment starts from craniosacral rhythm. This rhythm comes from the protective fluid which flows in the spinal chord. Normal pulse of the fluid is 6-14 times per minute. The rhythm can be felt around the body just like the heart beat or breathing. The treatment aims to liberate stress and tension, especially in the head, spine and hips. Client can often feel a sensation of deep relaxation, almost like a meditative sleep.
The treatment has an effect of approximately 2 weeks during which period the faltered craniosacral pulse reaches toward a balanced, its own characteristic rhythm. This can cause extended emotional outbursts, crying, laughter or withdrawing from others. Depending on the problem, the treatment is recommended at least 3 times, in fortnightly intervals in the beginning and then tailored to each individual client.
History and origins of craniosacral therapy
CST has a long pre-history. It stems from an ancient tradition in India, where “bonesetters” could place all the bones in the skull in five minutes using fast but smooth movements. In China, it has been known for centuries that the movement of the cross bone has a key-role in the existence of man. The Egyptians had a theory of a dancing, rhythmical wave in the body. This resembles the craniosacral rhythm. During renaissance, Michelangelo is thought to have said that spinal fluid was the basis of the soul.
CST’s modern history begins in the 1800’s from the founder of osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Stills. He was an Officer and a Doctor in the American Civil War. Still’s student, William Garner Sutherland (1873-1954) called himself the founder of cranial osteopathy. Sutherland considered craniosacral pulse as the primary breathing of the body which is followed by heart beat and normal breathing. He called it the “breath of life” as it is apparent at the embrio state and is recognised first. Furthermore, at death, this pulse disappears some time after the last breath and heart beat.
W.G. Sutherland later developed a whole host of manipulation techniques to enable himself through practical experiences to treat both the bones of the skull and cross bone unbalances and blockages. These bones had a physiologically correct movement which he described the first rhythm of the body, the breathing mechanism of the skull. Through experiments he discovered and felt that pressure of the certain bones of the skull can release certain emotions and have an effect to the energy levels.
In the 1970’s John E Upledger simplified the treatment and it is to his credit that CST is now a standardised treatment method. He was a Doctor, Surgeon and a researcher who has produced scientific material about the movement of the spinal fluid.
Hugh Milne is a good example of the development of CST towards a holistic treatment. Milne combines the western osteopathy and the healing wisdom of the east and creates an amiable symbiosis between anatomy, physiology and the knowledge of the energy system from the east.
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