Craniosacral therapy or osteopathy in the cranial field, is a form of osteopathic manipulation that uses a gentle touch to assess and treat the bones of the cranium and sacrum, underlying soft tissues and fluid to re-establish optimal cranial rhythmic impulse (CRI) in the body.
This field of osteopathy is based on the work of William Sutherland, D.O., who carefully studied the motion of the cranium at the sutures in connection to the sacrum and articulating membranes, central nervous system and cerebrospinal fluid.
He found there were palpable rhythmic movements, which felt like slow-moving tides.
What is the force that propels our intrinsic human “tidal rhythms”?
The founder of cranial osteopathy, Dr. William G. Sutherland, put it very simply: the slowest fluid rhythm in humans, called the “Long Tide”, is a nearly imperceptible movement of lymphatics and fluids.
It is driven by our connection to our deepest source of health: the body’s inherent life-force, which he named the “Breath of Life” in reference to the Genesis Creation story.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life; and man became a living soul
Genesis 2:7
Underlying the Long Tide is a deep Dynamic Stillness, which can be sensed by a patient and skilled osteopathic physician.
Dr. Sutherland reasoned that the movements of these areas would be restricted in trauma or disease, a hypothesis which has since amassed support in clinical research and practice. By freeing the craniosacral mechanism to its optimal movement, the overall health of the integrated physiological mechanism can be improved.
The tidal movements at the core of our being can be influenced by external forces, such as injuries, illness, nutrition, medication, sleep, exercise and emotional stressors.
At Triple T Health, my goal is to help you literally “Turn the Tide” of your health: to gently inspire healing of body, mind, and spirit and let those tides return to their natural rhythms, by delivery of personalized healthcare with a fully integrative approach.
The craniosacral concept focuses on how we function in mind, body and spirit on subtle levels of physiology. Based on the work of Dr. Sutherland, gentle manipulation of the craniosacral system can affect the whole body body expression of health via restoration of natural movement and rhythms.
Practically speaking, craniosacral therapy can relieve pressure, ease pain, reduce stress and tension, and assist in restoring mobility.
To learn more about craniosacral therapy, you may read more extensively about the topic here or you may visit The Upledger Institute website, where you can find additional research and case studies.
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