About Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
What is CST?​
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle but powerful manual therapy that works with the body’s rhythms and fascial system to release tension in the body. Just as our heart and our breath have a rhythm so does every part of the body. This can be seen in the fascia/connective tissue at the microscopic level and can be felt by a trained practitioner or by the client.
Treatment is light physical touch in which the electrical energy of the therapist’s hands (measured at about 200-1000 picoamps) helps the patient’s body overcome the roadblocks or barriers to homeostasis (equilibrium).
Craniosacral therapy works well alone or in conjunction with other treatments, such as massage, naturopathy, physical therapy, and acupuncture. Because the client is fully clothed, it is wonderful for those who are new to bodywork or are uncomfortable with traditional massage.
Fascial System
The fascial system is a network of connective tissue (fascia) that connects all parts of the body. A superficial or outer layer of fascia forms a body stocking under the skin that holds the body together. Fascial tissue surrounds the Dura Mater (between brain and skull) and all internal organs. At the musculoskeletal level, it has been described as a pervasive network of ropes and guy wires and sheets of fabric to which adjacent muscles attach, and which are anchored to the significant protuberances of the skeleton.
Minor alterations in any portion of the network affect the distribution of tension throughout (ever pulled on a thread in a spider’s web and seen it alter the whole web?). Fascial tissue also forms a sheath around each bone, ligament, tendon, and every muscle, every individual muscle fiber, and every nerve fiber—all the way down to the cellular level.
The combined fascia of the body forms a single system that physically interconnects all parts of the body.
Sources of Dysfunction
In the fascial system, deep fascia can thicken and lose flexibility in response to chronic tension in muscles. Also scar tissue (formed from physical injuries, surgeries or diseases) is shorter and less flexible than the original fascia.
Fevers, chemicals, inflammation, hormones, and chronic dehydration can change the collagen substance of fascia, causing muscles to become “glued” together and unable to slide across each other.
CST Philosophy:
Wisdom of the Body
CST comes from the understanding that the human body is a complex, holistic system with intelligence and memory down to the cellular level.
This intelligence and memory includes internal knowledge about its optimal functional state (homeostasis), knowledge of what may be wrong with any part of it at any given time, and knowledge about what it needs to heal itself from any injury or dysfunction. However, because of disruptions in the Craniosacral system or the fascial system, the body may not have the vital energy necessary to fully recover from certain injuries or dysfunctions on its own.
In CST, the prevailing assumption is not “the therapist knows best”, but rather the “body knows best.” Therefore treatment techniques are based on following the body.
This involves attending to the cranial rhythm at different parts of the body, noticing movement or lack of movement, and assessing imbalances and non-symmetrical structures or facial features.
CST Techniques
Diaphragm Work: With light touch above and below the major diaphragms*, roadblocks or barriers connected with that diaphragm are released to allow more unrestricted flow of energy. * The major diaphragms are the pelvic, respiratory, thoracic inlet and occipital-atlantal (OA). All joints can be thought of as minor diaphragms, as they too cross the major energy lines of the body.Â
Unwinding Joints: With light touch above and below a joint, the range of motion is gently explored and encouraged in the direction of ease or least resistance. This results in greater range of motion and function of the joint, and often releases pain in that area.
Correcting Cranial Rhythm: With light touch on parts of the body that easily show the cranial rhythm, the therapist can help the body achieve improved balance and symmetry in cranial pulse in the head, body and extremities.
Cranial Bone Work: With light touch on various cranial bones (parietal, frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, temporal, occiput), the therapist can help release or decompress tension or folds that affect the jaw, face, head, falx and tentorium membranes that are critical to ease in the head and body.
Dural Tube Glide: A special CST technique gently stretches the Dural Tube (fascia around the spinal cord) to release any adhesions.
Sacral Base Release: A special CST technique gently releases the sacrum.