Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on alternative treatment that aims to enhance the body’s own healing capabilities. Developed in the 1970s by John Upledger, a doctor of osteopathy, as a form of cranial osteopathy, CST involves the manipulation of the cranium (skull), parts of the pelvis, and the spine to treat a variety of issues. While CST has gained popularity and is used to address various medical conditions, it has also faced criticism regarding its effectiveness.
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a noninvasive, hands-on therapy that aims to enhance the body’s own healing capabilities. According to the Upledger Institute, CST uses a touch of under 5 grams to “release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.” This light touch is said to affect the pressure and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This process is thought to relieve pain and dysfunction.
The craniosacral system comprises the soft tissues and fluid, as well as the skull, supporting the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spine. CST aims to normalize the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, helping to remove blockages and restore the body’s natural ability to heal from illnesses. Practitioners claim that CST can be carried out as a standalone treatment or used in conjunction with medical or other alternative therapies.
The Development and Practice of CST
In the 1980s, Upledger began the Upledger Institute, which offers resources, courses, and training for CST. Many massage therapists, physical therapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors are able to perform cranial sacral therapy. A craniosacral massage can be performed by massage therapists, physical therapists, osteopaths, or chiropractors. The massage techniques used in craniosacral therapy rely on low pressure in the right places. The fingertips are often used during this type of massage to avoid applying too much pressure.
During a session, the therapist uses light pressure to assess restrictions in the fascia. Fascial release may help relax the muscles and organs and relieve stress, which improves function. In addition to the massage, soft and light music may increase the state of relaxation. The areas massaged are between the skull and the bottom of the spine. If there is an imbalance in cerebrospinal fluid, the massage therapist will likely reposition you or press on the area to help release flow.
Read also: Summit Chiropractic: Holistic wellness solutions.
How Craniosacral Therapy Works
CST is thought to relieve musculoskeletal tightness in the head, neck, and back. This can soothe pain and release both emotional and physical stress and tension. It’s also thought to help restore cranial mobility and ease or release restrictions of the head, neck, and nerves. Any trauma (including chemical or biological trauma that is recorded in the tissues), injury, or physical or mental stress causes restrictions and manifests as disease, dysfunction, or poor healing. It helps reduce emotional stress in addition to physical benefits.
It’s thought that through the gentle manipulation of the bones in the skull, spine, and pelvis, the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system can be normalized. The CSF is related to the lymphatic system, one of two systems that form the immune system, the other being the circulatory system. Cranial sacral therapy may help provide relief for certain conditions, including headaches.
Conditions Treated with Craniosacral Therapy
Cranial sacral therapy can be used for people of all ages. It may be part of your treatment for conditions like:
- Migraines and headaches
- Constipation
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Disturbed sleep cycles and insomnia
- Scoliosis
- Sinus infections
- Neck pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Recurrent ear infections or colic in infants
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction)
- Trauma recovery, including trauma from whiplash
- Mood disorders like anxiety or depression
- Difficult pregnancies
CST is noninvasive and relies basically on applying gentle pressure on the neck, head, and back. This technique is helping a lot of people who are having migraines, headaches, constipation, neck pain, scoliosis, disturbed sleep cycles, and insomnia.
What to Expect During a CST Session
A craniosacral therapy session is similar to massage therapy, except you stay fully clothed. The session lasts one hour. To help you relax, you may hear soft music and the room may have low lighting. The treatment session begins with a consultation with your trained therapist. They’ll ask you questions about your health history, concerns about your health, and the goals of the session. Your therapist may inquire about previous symptoms or underlying conditions.
Read also: Benefits of Foot Massage in Pleasanton
During your session, you’ll lie on a massage table or, if needed due to special circumstances, you may sit in a chair. Your practitioner will tell you to lay down on your back. He/she will do a massage, which will begin at your head, feet, or near the middle of your body. The pressure will be very less; it’s only for normalizing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. It will remove the blockages and allow quick healing. Your therapist will check in with you during your session to make sure you’re comfortable. They’ll also explain what they’re doing before they touch your body to make sure you know what’s happening. If at any time you don’t feel comfortable, let your therapist know.
Your therapist will use their hands to apply gentle pressure to your head, neck, back (around your spinal column), or on areas of your body where you have symptoms. The pressure applied during craniosacral therapy is incredibly light. It is not the same as a deep tissue massage. Practitioners of this alternative therapy believe that using five grams of pressure (which is about the weight of a nickel), to gently hold your feet, head, or sacrum to listen to their subtle rhythms. If they detect it’s needed, they may gently press or reposition you to normalize the flow of the cerebrospinal fluids. They may use tissue-release methods while supporting one of your limbs.
It’s normal to feel a sense of deep relaxation during craniosacral therapy. During the treatment, people may experience the pins and needles sensation, sensing pulsation, or may fall in a state of deep relaxation. Some people experience different sensations during the treatment. These may include:
- Feeling deep relaxation
- Falling asleep, and later recalling memories or seeing colors
- Sensing pulsations
- Having a “pins and needles” (numbing) sensation
- Having a hot or cold sensation
A session of craniosacral therapy may take between 30 minutes to one hour. Depending upon the problem & what CST you’re using - it may take 3-10 sessions. A minimum of 3 to 10 sessions may give positive results, followed by maintenance therapies. Depending on what you’re using CST to treat, you may benefit from between 3 and 10 sessions, or you may benefit from maintenance sessions. Your healthcare provider will help you determine what’s right for you.
It’s notable that you may feel relaxed after having the Craniosacral therapy session. It’s advisable to avoid exertion or any kind of abrupt motion just to avoid any strain on your body’s structural system. After this, your body will go under some sort of soft tissue release and alignment. As your body needs time to adopt changes.
Read also: Sports Massage for Two
Risks and Contraindications
While craniosacral therapy is generally considered safe, some people should avoid it or speak to a healthcare provider before trying it. The most common side effect of cranial sacral therapy with a licensed practitioner is mild discomfort following the treatment. It’s mostly temporary which can fade within 24 hours.
There are certain individuals who shouldn’t use CST. These include people who have:
- Severe bleeding disorders
- A diagnosed aneurysm
- A history of recent traumatic head injuries, which may include cranial bleeding or skull fractures
- Concussion
- Brain swelling
- Defects of the cerebellum (part of your brain that helps control movement).
- Brain aneurysm, when a blood vessel bulges or balloons in your brain.
- Recent traumatic brain injury
- Thrombosis (blood clots)
- Disorders that affect cerebral fluid pressure or flow
- Burns
- Healing wounds
- Bone fractures
- Severe osteoporosis (thinning bones)
Massage and manipulation can be dangerous for people who have CSF flow abnormalities. However, any abnormality or blockage of CSF flow requires prompt medical attention. In these situations, CST can be considered as an adjunct complementary therapy. It’s notable that you may feel relaxed after having the Craniosacral therapy session. It’s advisable to avoid exertion or any kind of abrupt motion just to avoid any strain on your body’s structural system. After this, your body will go under some sort of soft tissue release and alignment. As your body needs time to adopt changes.
Research and Evidence
Very few studies have been carried out on the use of CST in the treatment of illness. This means that more research is needed to verify the effectiveness of this complementary or alternative therapy. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that CST is an effective treatment, but more research is needed to scientifically determine this.
Research supporting CST
The majority of research on CST is older.
- A 2010 study examined the effects of CST on people with fibromyalgia. A total of 92 people with the condition received either CST or a placebo therapy for 20 weeks. Results showed that those who underwent CST experienced improvements in medium-term pain.
- Another study from 2011 on CST and fibromyalgia suggests the therapy may reduce anxiety and improve the quality of life in those with the condition.
- A small 2016 study found that CST may help to reduce the intensity of pain, improve the quality of life, and improve the functioning of people with neck pain.
- One 2012 study found that it was effective at reducing symptoms in those with severe migraines.
- Another study found that people with fibromyalgia experienced relief from symptoms (including pain and anxiety) thanks to CST.
- A study investigating the effects of acupuncture and CST on people with asthma reported that when used with standard asthma therapy, both treatments offered potential advantages.
However, as these studies are older and smaller, more research is needed.
Research criticizing CST
On the whole, reports that set out to summarize and comment on existing research have found that the benefits of CST cannot be proven. They suggest that the studies showing beneficial effects are flawed.
- A 2011 review looked at eight studies carried out on CST. Reviewers stated that the available evidence was insufficient to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of CST.
- Research from 2012 looked at six randomized controlled trials. The report highlighted that five of the six trials were probably biased and that the sixth did not produce any results to prove the effectiveness of CST.
Research on CST is limited and of low quality, as highlighted by several systematic reviews. Due to a lack of evidence, it's uncertain if the treatment really works. In some circles, craniosacral therapy is referred to as pseudoscience for its lack of clinical evidence. It’s thought that the gentle pressure applied is not enough to make any real difference.
The Importance of High-Quality Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within their articles. It’s important to consult reliable sources when researching the effectiveness of CST.
Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy
Despite the limited and low-quality research, some people may experience benefits from CST, particularly in relation to stress and anxiety reduction. There’s evidence that it can relieve stress and tension, though some research suggests that it may only be effective for infants, toddlers, and children.
CST is quite effective in providing relief from the stress and pain which occur due to the compression. It’s effective in enhancing the body’s healing capabilities and considered best to relieve pain and to restore normal functionality. Cranial sacral therapy may help provide relief for certain conditions, including headaches. The gentle massage manipulates the spine in an attempt to realign the nervous system.
Sacral massages have been reported to relieve a variety of conditions:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Chronic fatigue
- Chronic migraines
- Impairments to coordination
- Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
- Chronic neck and back pain
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), which can cause pain in muscles that control your jaw movement and your jaw joint.
- Stress
- Emotion-related tension
Since sacral massage aims to regulate natural biological rhythms, it has also been used to help treat irritable bowel syndrome, sleep disorders, and difficult pregnancies. Sacral massage helps relax scalp muscles and relieve stress throughout the day. The quiet, intimate, and reflective environment of a sacral massage encourages mental and spiritual healing. It may help put your mind at ease and help you be at peace while relieving your body of the stress it carries. Practitioners feel that this therapy promotes quicker and better healing in the future, though more research is needed to prove this.
Potential Side Effects
The most common side effect of cranial sacral therapy with a licensed practitioner is mild discomfort following the treatment. This is often temporary and will fade within 24 hours. Provided that your therapist is properly trained to perform sacral massage, there are few risks to the technique. Someone who isn’t trained may do it wrong and cause more problems. Like most massages, you may experience slight discomfort afterward. It should fade within a day as your body readjusts.
Insurance Coverage
Since certain therapists may not be trained in sacral massage, the ones who are may not be covered by your insurance. Certain employers may reimburse the cost depending on healthcare accounts, but it’s never guaranteed.
Self-Application
While people can give themselves massages at home that are similar to craniosacral therapy, it is not advised because experts trained in the practice will be able to perform the procedure correctly. You can learn how to massage your head and neck on your own to promote at-home relaxation in between appointments with a trained expert.