The Mahdi Times The Mahdi Times, Issue #29, April 2015 | Page 12

What Is Cranio-Sacral
Therapy?

• Learning Disabilities

By Annette Scott

• Emotional Difficulties

Cranio-sacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle,
hands-on method of evaluating and
enhancing the functioning of a
physiological body system called the
Cranio-sacral system - comprised of the
membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that
surround and protect the brain and
spinal cord. Using a soft touch generally
no greater than 5 grams, or about the
weight of a nickel, practitioners release
restrictions in the Cranio-sacral system
to improve the functioning of the central
nervous system.
By complementing the body's natural
healing processes, CST is increasingly
used as a preventive health measure for
its ability to bolster resistance to
disease, and is effective for a wide range
of medical problems associated with
pain and dysfunction, including:

• Stress and Tension-Related Problems

• Migraine Headaches
• Chronic Neck and Back Pain
• Motor-Coordination Impairments
• Colic
• Autism
• Central Nervous System Disorders
• Orthopaedic Problems
• Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord
Injuries

• Scoliosis
• Infantile Disorders

• Chronic Fatigue

• Fibromyalgia and other ConnectiveTissue Disorders

• Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome
(TMJ)
• Neurovascular or Immune Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Post-Surgical Dysfunction
This therapy involves assessing and
addressing the movement of the
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which can be
restricted by trauma to the body, such
as through falls, accidents, and general
nervous tension.
By gently working with the spine, the
skull and its cranial sutures,
diaphragms, and fascia, the restrictions
of nerve passages are eased, the
movement of CSF through the spinal
cord can be optimized, and misaligned
bones can be restored to their proper
position.
This therapy is particularly useful for
mental stress, neck and back pain,
migraines, TMJ syndrome and for
chronic nervous conditions such as
fibromyalgia.