CranioSacral Therapy was pioneered and developed by osteopathic physician John. E. Upledger following extensive scientific studies.
It is a gentle hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological system called the craniosacral system – comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. Using a soft touch, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.
Joanne Enslin and associates offers treatment using CranioSacral therapy techniques, as well as training in Upledger Institute CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release courses in South Africa.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, light-touch method of evaluating and enhancing the craniosacral system, the environment in which the brain and spinal cord function. An imbalance or dysfunction in the craniosacral system can cause sensory, motor or neurological disabilities.
These problems may include:
Musculo-Skeletal
- Chronic Pain
- Whiplash
- Head Injuries
- Accidents
- Post-surgery
- Scoliosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Frozen Shoulder
Mind and Emotions
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Depression
- Irritability
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress
Illnesses and Other Conditions
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Shock
- Ear Infections
- Chronic Sinusitis
- Squints
- TMJ (jaw) problems
- Brain and Spinal Cord Dysfunction
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Craniosacral therapy is client-led, that is, CST encourages your body to tell its own story rather than meeting presenting symptoms with a pre-ordained treatment regimen. Since it is your body (rather than your mind) that sets the priorities for healing, you may find that the condition for which you came for treatment is not what improves first. Therefore, it may be necessary to consider having a series of treatments to gain the full benefit of CST and its cumulative effects.
Craniosacral Therapy for Babies
Craniosacral therapy for babies and children is particularly useful and effective as there are no side-effects and it is mostly quite relaxing for the baby. By gently resting the hands on various areas of the body, a trained therapist can detect disturbances in the craniosacral motion caused by restrictions in the dura (membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) or fascia (tissue that surrounds all soft tissue and organs). An example is colic, which is mostly caused by a restriction of the occipital cranial base (head on neck joint), which may cause an irritation of the vagus nerve which, in turn, affects the gastro-intestinal system.
By gently facilitating small movements and unwinding, the body releases these stored up restrictions and traumas. Other problems with babies that are successfully treated are sucking problems, breathing difficulties, restlessness and irritability as well as birth or uterine trauma.
Children’s problems such as learning disabilities, abnormal fear, autism, dyslexia, bedwetting, nightmares, cerebral palsy, ADD, ADHD (due to craniosacral dysfunction) have also been treated successfully.