What is Craniosacral therapy (CST)?

I often get clients requesting craniosacral therapy because they have heard of it, but more often than not they have no idea what this gentle yet powerful modality entails. Let's learn more about craniosacral therapy, what it is, and whether it's right for you.

Craniosacral therapy is a very gentle type of bodywork that aims to release fascial restrictions in the meninges and dura of the brain and spinal cord, enabling a freer and more rhythmic flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If that all sounds like medical mumbo jumbo, hang in there! I'll break it all down for you.

This modality was discovered/created by John E. Upledger, an osteopathic physician. Once, when assisting in a spinal surgery, he was tasked with holding the spinal cord still so the lead surgeon could operate safely. However, Upledger found that he quite literally could not hold the spinal cord still any more than he would be able to hold a heart or lung still--the spinal cord had a slow pulse to it. He had discovered the subtle and powerful flow of CSF, washing over the brain and through the nervous system like waves onto a shore.

It seems unbelievable, since so many of us were taught that our cranial bones "fuse together" at some point in toddlerhood, but there are several bones that make up your cranium and they are not fused together by anything more than your connective tissue. So, if the connective tissue around your skull and neck and spine is restricted or hypertonic, the bones will feel compressed and immobile. When the connective tissue is free from restrictions, the cranial bones feel as if they are subtly blooming open and closed, like the petals of a flower.

This flow or rhythm is unconscious like our heartbeat and breathing, but it is slower and less noticeable than the other natural rhythms of our body. When our connective tissues are tight and restricted, the flow of the fluid that keeps your brain and spinal cord healthy is also restricted. CSF delivers nutrients to the brain, removes waste, carries immune cells and antibodies, and is even being researched and indicated to help cleanse microplastics and heavy metals from the body.

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CST is a modality that encourages the client's body to lead its own way to healing. The practitioner is more of a facilitator, gently making contact with specific points of the body as a way to guide the body into its own releases, as opposed to massage therapy which uses force and friction on muscle tissues to induce release. Every person has a unique experience with CST; I've been told that it feels deeply relaxing, psychedelic or hallucinatory, floaty or like being rocked by waves, a lot like Reiki, or even boring!

The people who tend to request and benefit from CST the most are those recovering from concussions, other traumatic brain injuries (TBI), post-traumatic stress (PTSD), TMJ disorder, or challenges with personality/mood/behavior. CST allows the bones of your skull to move more freely, alleviating pressure on the frontal lobe (where your personality lives). However, CST is so gentle that almost everyone can receive it!

The major contraindications for CST are brain aneurysms, brain tumors, hydrocephalus, acute intracranial hemorrhage, acute stroke, recent skull fractures, recent epidural, and CSF leakage. People with Arnold Chiari malformations may find symptom relief from CST, but must ask their doctor first and see a provider who is experienced with their condition.

At this time I am not trained or certified to provide craniosacral therapy to infants. If you are seeking infant CST, I will gladly share some recommendations.