Cranio Sacral Therapy is a non-manipulative, hands on therapy that works on the body's cranio sacral motion, a natural rhythmic movement which is found in every cell and is fundamental to life. At the core of the body the cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes and cushions the spinal cord and brain, expresses this as a tide like movement.

This motion is so subtle that it is barely detectable but the hands of a trained therapist readily perceives it. It was discovered by osteopath William Garner Sutherland who called this rhythmic movement “the breath of life” because it appeared to be influenced by the rate and depth of breathing. By gently manipulating the skull he found that he could alter the rhythm of this flow.

How does it work?

In response to physical knocks or emotional stress the body's tissues contract, and particularly if the shock is severe or emotional in nature, the tissues can remain contracted. Any traumas stored by the body in this manner will cause blockages in the body and restrict the Cranio-sacral movement, giving rise to physical or emotional problems. By using the hands to detect this restriction in movement, the Cranio sacral therapist will rebalance the Cranio sacral flow, thereby clearing the blockages and helping to return the patient to health.

Who can use it?

Cranio Sacral Therapy is extremely gentle and very safe. It can be used beneficially by people of all ages, and for a wide variety of problems. It can be useful during pregnancy, and it is particularly useful for babies. The birth process can be traumatic and can cause disturbance in the delicate bones in the baby's skull, leading to blockage in the cranio sacral motion. A therapist can rebalance this and can help to relieve problems like colic, feeding problems, insomnia, and 'crying baby' syndrome.

The treatment itself is so gentle that it can sometimes feel as if the therapist is just cradling your head- there are no alarming cracks or clicks. The therapist holds the skull using a variation of four different positions and exerts a very light pressure. A good testament to its relaxing quality is that many babies will fall asleep during treatment. Even hyperactive children will remain quiet, still and calm.

One of the great success stories of Cranio Sacral Therapy is the results that can be obtained with glue ear. Glue ear is a build up of a sticky fluid in the inner ear, an increasingly common problem and one that sometimes requires surgical intervention to drain it. A skilled practitioner can help to stop the build up of mucous and speed up the natural drainage of the ear via the eustation tube from the ear to the throat. Parents report improvements in their children's responsiveness in just a few treatments, although anywhere between six and twelve sessions may be needed to achieve a permanent improvement.

Case History

“Michael was our long awaited first baby. His birth was long and difficult and in the end he had to be pulled out with forceps which left terrible bruising on his head. That first night in hospital he screamed all night long and I felt useless as I could not seem to comfort him. In fact the more I cuddled or held him the worse he got. The nurses in the hospital were great and reassured me that things would settle when my milk came in but they didn't; things went from bad to worse. If Michael was not asleep he was screaming, and nothing would soothe him; it seemed to make him even angrier to be held and my husband and I were at our wits' end. We went through exhaustive medical tests, all of which came back negative. I felt increasingly isolated and depressed. A health visitor suggested that I try an alternative approach and told me about the good things that she had heard about Cranio Sacral Therapy and I decided to give it a try. When I saw the practitioner he took a detailed case and then laid Michael on a couch and held his head. Imagine my surprise when Michael fell asleep and stayed asleep for three hours. When he awoke he was much calmer than he had been before and the effect lasted for several days. I took Michael back for regular visits and I can truly say that we have never looked back! The therapist explained that the difficult birth and forceps delivery had put undue pressure on Michael's skull and had caused him extreme irritation. Once the treatment corrected his skull bones and eased the tension Michael became the happy, loving child he is today."