Craniosacral Massage Therapy
Also referred to as Cranial Sacral Therapy, or CST, Craniosacral Massage Therapy is a specific type of bodywork, or massage, designed to treat a variety of conditions by normalizing disruptions in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, a critical element of the central nervous system.
In order to understand how Craniosacral Massage Therapy works, it’s important to understand the central nervous system, one of the body’s most critical systems. The central nervous system (CNS) is composed primarily of the head (the brain), the spinal column, the sacrum (the triangular bone located in the lower back), and the membranes and fluid that surround and protect it. Compression, distortions, and blockages within this critical fluid due to injury or stress can prevent the nervous system from functioning properly. Through gentle hands-on manipulation of the bones in the skull, spine, and pelvis, Craniosacral Massage Therapy can remove these blockages, restoring the normal flow of the central nervous system and enhancing the body’s ability to heal.
Craniosacral Massage Therapy is completely non-invasive and involves extremely gentle pressure, usually no more than 5 grams. That’s about the amount of pressure you would feel if a nickel were placed on your body; that’s how gentle Craniosacral Massage Therapy is. Yet just because it’s gentle, doesn’t mean it isn’t effective. In fact, CST has become a common therapeutic tool for massage therapists, physical therapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors. It can be performed as a stand-alone treatment, or incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan utilizing a variety of techniques, depending on the specific needs of each patient.
What Does Craniosacral Massage Therapy Treat?
By relieving compression and blockages in the head, neck, and back (the core of the CNS), Craniosacral Massage Therapy can be a highly effective therapeutic technique to soothe pain and reduce (and potentially even eliminate) emotional and physical tension and stress.
It can also be incorporated into treatment for a variety of specific conditions such as:
- Migraines and headaches
- Concussion and traumatic brain injury
- Chronic and/or acute neck and/or back pain, such as whiplash
- Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Insomnia and sleep disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ (inflammation of the joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull)
- Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression
- Difficult pregnancies
Craniosacral Massage Therapy may be appropriate for individuals of all ages, including infants and children. Every treatment is customized depending on the specific condition(s) and/or symptoms each patient is experiencing. Some patients may find relief after just a few sessions; other patients with more chronic conditions may require on-going treatment or the incorporation of CMT into a comprehensive treatment plan.
What Happens During a Craniosacral Massage Therapy Session?
Most Craniosacral Massage sessions last between 45-60 minutes and take place in a warm, comfortable, safe massage room. Patients are usually asked to wear loose, thin, comfortable clothing and lie on their back on a massage table. The gentle manual manipulation generally begins at the head and sacrum, allowing the therapy to identify areas of blockage for further gentle manipulation. Indeed, regardless of exactly why most people seek out Craniosacral Massage Therapy, most—if not all—patients find the therapy sessions deeply relaxing and restorative.
For more information about how acupuncture, massage therapy and other treatments can help you, please contact the Urban Acupuncture Center Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist’s team at Indianola Ave, Clintonville (614) 725-2488 | Main St, Westerville (614) 426-4406 or click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.