If you’re wondering what craniosacral therapy is, you’re probably not alone. Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, non-invasive massage which focuses on the central nervous system to help relieve stress and ease pain. Suitable for all ages and with benefits ranging from migraine and IBS relief, to easing colic in infants, craniosacral therapy is a hands-on and safe therapy that uses light pressure to normalise your body’s functioning and restore equilibrium.
What is craniosacral therapy?
Also referred to as CST, craniosacral therapy is one of the fastest growing modalities in alternative medicine. With its roots in osteopathic medicine, craniosacral therapy is much younger than ancient healing modalities like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Today, craniosacral therapy is finding its place as an alternative holistic healing therapy often part of an integrative approach.
As a gentle hands-on massage, suitable for all ages, CST focuses on the central nervous system – the most important system in the human body – made up of the brain and spinal cord. Craniosacral therapy works gently to relieve compression in the head, neck and back. By relieving tension, CST boosts health and immunity and promotes a feeling of wellbeing.How it works
The craniosacral system is the fluid and membranes that surround, protect and nourish your brain and spinal cord. Day-to-day stress and strain causes your bodily tissues – known as connective tissue or fascia – to tighten and your craniosacral system to be distorted. These distortions cause tension to form around your brain and spinal cord, causing restrictions. These restrictions can be detected and corrected by methods of light touch – applied by a specialised craniosacral therapist.
Your CST session can range in length from 30 minutes to 60 or 90 minutes. Like many kinds of therapy, the more regular your sessions, the more effective the results. Most patients do between three and 10 sessions but each case is different and can be discussed with your therapist. The starting point though is for your therapist to learn more about your medical history and understand your symptoms. Through your session you’ll remain fully clothed and recline on a massage treatment table. Using a light touch, your therapist will gently feel various areas of your body to evaluate your craniosacral system. This helps to test for ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid. Your therapist can then release restrictions using soft-touch techniques to normalise the environment around the brain and spinal cord. This specialised treatment enhances your body’s ability to self-correct.Benefits of craniosacral therapy
Migraines and headaches: Research shows that craniosacral therapy may reduce headaches in those suffering from severe migraines.
Quality of life: Another study indicates the benefits for fibromyalgia patients, where CST helps to reduce pain and fatigue, promote rest, mood and physical function, and reduce anxiety levels. While more scientific research is needed, anecdotal evidence suggests other benefits of craniosacral therapy. These include helping to treat: • Poor sleep quality and insomnia• Constipation and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
• Neck pain, trauma recovery and whiplash
• Anxiety and depression
• Migraines and headaches
• TMJ (temporomandibular joint)
• Fibromyalgia
• Sinus infections
• Recurrent ear infections or colic in infants
• Difficult pregnancies
• Scoliosis With a low risk of side-effects compared to prescription medication, many people consider craniosacral therapy to help treat a range of conditions. Whether as a standalone treatment or a complementary therapy, craniosacral therapy helps treat a range of symptoms. Suitable for all ages, this low-risk gentle therapy can help to enhance whole-body health and wellbeing.
Bondi Junction Massage & Float Centre is a restorative and remedial oasis of calm and wellbeing in the heart of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, treating thousands of clients since 1985. Our centre is OPEN, adhering to a COVID Safety Plan. To find out more about craniosacral therapy make contact or book now. You can also visit our new online store to shop Amazing Magnesium products.
