Treatments

What is CST, Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy was first developed from osteopathy by Dr. W. G. Sutherland and later by Dr. John Upledger. Simply put, you could call it a “stretch” from the inside. A treatment of the nervous system, through the body’s fluid system. Most people are more used to muscle therapy, such as when massaged or “cracking” vertebrae as in chiropractic or osteopathy, but CDST is now finally more accessible in Sweden.

Craniosacral Therapy is ideal for all types of tension and pain problems, muscle pain, headache, fibromyalgia, stress-related problems, etc. It’s something you have to try to really understand. Below is a classic description of what Craniosacral Therapy is:

Cranioacral therapy is a soft way to treat all the bones of the skull and face in relation to the vertebrae of the spine right down to the sacral bone. The central thing is the relationship of the bones and vertebrae to the outermost cranial membrane, Dura Mater. In the craniosacral system there is a rhythmic movement, the craniosacral rhythm. It is believed to be caused by the production and reabsorbation of cerebrospinal fluid. The frequency of this rhythm in a healthy adult is about 6-12 cycles per minute.

The cranioacral system is a management system and it both affects and is affected by other systems in the body. These include the endocrine system, nervous system, cardiovascular system and internal organs. Thanks to these connections, the list of symptoms and medical conditions that can be treated with CST can be made very long. In order for the cranioacral system to function satisfactorily, the bones to which the membranes attach must be in the correct position. For example, if the bones in the skull have ended up in the wrong position or if the sacbone is not correctly in the pelvis, tensions arise in the system and this can lead to various medical conditions.

Similarly, tension in the membranes can negatively affect the legs and their orientation. Cranioacral therapy is used to release these voltages and to facilitate corrections in the system.

However, it is important to note that CST contains much more than just the work of the craniosacral system. The craniosacral rhythm can be disrupted by imbalances in any of the body’s systems. For example, inflammation of the abdominal organs can lead to tightness in the abdominal fascia and this, in turn, affects not only nearby organs, but also the duramater membrane of the spinal cord. Tension in this membrane can lead to irritation of the spinal nerves which can cause chronic pain syndrome. There is also a risk that the tension will propagate up through the spinal cord into the cranial membranes resulting in an impact on the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve plays a key role in the control of abdominal function. As a result, a vicious circle of tensions occurs that negatively affects the organs of the abdomen. This vicious circle can most likely not be broken until the fascia, connective tissue and membranes have been treated with the right method.

I also work with SER, Somato Emotional Release, SER®. Which, briefly, means that the body’s self-healing powers are activated. The SER process enables trauma processing at both the physical and emotional level. It can give the individual insight into their history and, from this, make new choices.

For further reading, please refer to The Upledger Institute