Both the glossopharyngeal and the vagus nerves affect the tongue, mouth and throat and can cause a loss of gag reflex, difficulty swallowing and other symptoms. The vagus nerve is a wide raging nerve that can also affect heart rate and digestion and is commonly involved in a feeling of nausea.
The upper portion of the temporal bone is thin but the lower, inside portion sticks out like a rocky or "petrous” ridge. This petrous ridge, extends a third of the way to the brain on both sides. The trigeminal nerve passes through a notch in the petrous ridge. Therefore an tight SCM pulling on the temporal bone may cause any of a number of trigeminal nerve symptoms. The seventh and eighth nerves, the nerves for balance and hearing, also pass through the temporal bones. So you can see how significant compression of the temporal bones can be.
Shifflet describes a method of self-treatment of a tight SCM that includes applying gentle pressure to the mastoid tip of the temporal bone. Not only is this step identical to one of the craniosacral techniques for freeing and balancing the temporal bones, but it also appears to give intuitive confirmation of the craniosacral method. Perhaps that is why she recognized the value of craniosacral therapy for vertigo.
You can find the entire process for self-treatment of a tight SCM and other muscle strains illustrated at Round-Earth.com (Don't forget the hyphen.) However, releasing the SCM may not be enough to solve the problem. The temporal bones may be out of alignment due to direct impact on the skull, misalignment of bones that articulate with it, tension from other muscles, or tension on the outer layer of the spinal cord, called the dura mater, which extends to form the brain cover to which the skull bones are also attached. All of these problems can be successfully treated with craniosacral therapy.
Another resource that should be especially appealing to martial artists is Martha Heise, who is not only an expert martial arts instructor (Tang Soo Do - Korean karate), but also practices myofascial release, which Schifflet recommends for referred pain from muscle strains. Martha understands the interconnection between body and mind and how both the martial arts and therapeutic bodywork can be used as vehicles for personal growth and spiritual awakening.
For more information, visit RisingPhoenixDynamicLiving.com or contact Martha at 570.424.0408 or at [email protected].
About craniosacral therapy: David Christine is the only Certified Craniosacral Therapist in the Poconos. He has Advanced Level training from the Upledger Institute, West Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. An expert in vertigo relief, his technical paper on the subject as been published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. Craniosacral therapy is helpful for wide variety of conditions including vertigo, migraines and chronic pain. For more information visit UnDizzyMe.com or contact Dave at 570.424.8697 or at [email protected].