CST Overview Craniosacral Therapy is a popular complementary health modality due to its effectiveness of bolstering resistance to disease, yet it is a gentle, safe and non-invasive hands-on treatment. The aim of treatment is to restore the balance of the cranio-sacral system and thus enhancing its physiological function as well as our general well-being.
The Craniosacral system comprises the bones, membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, our entire central nervous system. It is therefore closely connected to the normal functions and general health of the rest of our body. This is the system that extends from our head, through our spine, all the way down to our tailbone.
Unresolved tensions from injuries, trauma, surgeries or stress, whether it is physical or emotional, can alter the natural healthy motion of fluids and cause restrictions in the tissues within the craniosacral system. It will then be reflected through the abnormal range, asymmetry and decrease in the strength of the Cranial Sacral Rhythm.
Through gentle palpation and its corrective manipulation, Craniosacral Therapy can calm the nervous system, encourage ease of body movement and improve overall health. It is very gentle and safe, and can be used for any age group from infants to the elderly, as well as during pregnancy.
CST for Babies & Children. Craniosacral therapy gained its positive reputation and popluarity for its effectiveness in helping young babies and children with many of their ailments. Parents see it as a good adjunt in promoting children's healthy growth and development.
We, as parents, are doing our best to support our children in all aspects. However, there could be unavoidable accidents, illnesses, injuries, or stress in each stage of development. No matter whether they are physical or emotional in origin, tensions can develop as a result in the craniosacral system. When the proper functionings of the cranial nerves and central nervous system are interfered, children's absorption and processing of new knowledge, as well as the internal organ functions can be adversely affected.
Fortunatley, children's bodies are malleable. They respond and correct very quickly. Therapists can use their hands to gently free up restrictions in the movement of cranial bones, to restore the normal circadian cranial rhythm, as well as to stimulate the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes all the surfaces of the brain and the spinal cord.
Treatments are done while fully clothed and in a completely relaxed environment. Babies and children can lie down, sit or stand comfortably in the way they prefer with their favourite toys, story books, or movies. They don’t need to stay still.
Conditions which can benefit from Craniosacral Therapy:
CST for Mothers & Mothers-to-be.Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, safe and chemical-free therapy for every woman. Being a mother is the most wonderful experience in life, yet both physically and emotionally damanding.
With dramatic changes in the body and in relationships during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery, CST can be a valuable tool to help mothers and mothers-to-be to relax, to regain strength and confidence during all these life transitions.
Prenatal CST
Prenatal CST sessions enhance mother-to-be and her baby to prepare for the birth together calmly and pleasantly.
CST helps to realign the spine, pelvis and tailbone bones very gently. The improvement in the mobility of the mother's pelvis does not only relieve the aches and pains that are associated with pregnancy, but can also facilitate her baby to assume in an more ideal position for a timely and smooth delivery.
CST is profoundly relaxing and promotes free movement of all the body’s fluids systems including blood, lymph and cerebrospinal fluid. It helps rebalance both the energy and physical bodies, as well as optimize the self-healing capacities and immune systems of both mother and baby.
CST also calms the nervous systems and digestive system for both mother and baby. When the mother’s system is soothed and balanced during pregnancy, the baby gains tremendous benefits.
Postpartum CST It is a natural response that a new mother devotes most of her own energy to nurture her new baby, even though she may not have completely recovered from the long labour, perineal pain, torn tissues, backaches, to name a few. At the same time, she needs to face the new challenges such as interrupted and insufficient sleep, breastfeeding problems, physical discomforts, emotional stress about baby’s health, mental exhaustion......
Therefore, adequate nurture and regular “tune-up” for new mothers is as important as treating their babies and it is highly recommended. Having a happy and healthy mum is an important key to the health of her baby and family.
CST can promote postpartum recovery. It helps to speed up a woman's adjustment to the changes created by pregnancy and delivery. The deep releasing effect facilitates healing and correction. Treatment can focus on structural realignment, releasing tensions in the body or emotional balancing, depending on the mothers' concerns and needs.
CST for Women's Health
Being a female does not only need to encounter the continuous body and hormonal changes at different stages of life, she also needs to handle the ever increasing challenges from work, family and relations. Whether you are a stay-home-mum, a career woman, or both, CST will be a gentle, soothing and pleasant tool to “tune” you up, and help you to enjoy the sense of ease and wellbeing.
Craniosacral Therapy can help with many conditions, such as back aches and pain, menopausal symptoms, hormonal Imbalance, chronic fatigue, digestive & bowel problems, stress and anxiety and many more.
CST for Adults. After years of clinical testing and research, Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger developed CranioSacral Therapy (CST). It is a safe, non-invasive yet powerful hands-on treatment that releases tensions deep inside the body. It is very effective in relieving pain, releasing stress, and improving whole-body health as well as mental clarity for daily performance.
With its gentle touch, CranioSacral therapy re-establishes the normal rhythm and flow within the craniosacral system. It corrects the strain patterns in the body and facilitates the realignment from head (cranium) to the base of spine (sacrum). It also encourages the proper pumping and flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes the brain and central nervous system, and supplies the necessary nutrients for its optimal functions. With a healthy central nervous system, the proper functioning of other systems of the body will be enhanced, including the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the digestive system.
Treatment is fully clothed whilst lying comfortably on a couch. During treatment the client may experience heat, tingling, pulsations and other sensations, including a deep sense of relaxation. CST can correct a wide variety of muscular and skeletal complaints and offer excellent nerve-balancing support.
