What is Craniosacral Therapy?

There is an aura of mystery that has surrounded Craniosacral Therapy for a half a century and there is no “simple” answer to this question. Dr. John Upledger is today’s leading proponent and teacher of Craniosacral Therapy. There are different views of the energetic cosmos in which the body, emotions, mind and spirit are all transformations or expressions of basic energy and hopefully this brief summary will provide you with a simplistic view of his philosophy.

To begin, there is a corresponding movement between the cranium and the sacrum. The fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord is called cerebrospinal fluid. The dural membrane that holds the craniosacral fluid has characteristics of a semi-closed hydraulic system. It has a rhythm of about 8 cycles per minute and has an ebb and flow unrelated and independent to a person’s breathing and cardiac rhythm. The Therapist spends time holding areas of the body with a light touch, generally not more pressure than the weight of a nickel.

By balancing and normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord and enhancing the body’s ability to self-correct, Craniosacral Therapy is able to alleviate a wide variety of dysfunction. The list is long but includes migraines, chronic neck and back pain, stress tension-related disorders, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Most of all Craniosacral Therapy is excellent for maintaining well-being.

Craniosacral Therapy has the potential of providing dramatic help to a significant number of people for whom conventional medicine has proven ineffective. On your next visit to the LakeHouse Spa consider scheduling a 50 minute Craniosacral Therapy session – I highly recommend it.

Robin Jones, Spa Director