Craniosacral osteopathy

What is craniosacral osteopathy?

Craniosacral osteopathy is a type of mild and indirect manual treatment that aims to evaluate and improve the functioning of the craniosacral system.

The craniosacral treatment will allow the body to play its role of self-regulation, self-healing and will therefore help relieve physical pain, whether acute or chronic.

This osteopathy was created and developed in the 1930s by William Garner Sutherland, an American osteopath student of A. T. Still.

During his studies, he realized that the anatomy of cranial structures is made in such a way that it allows a micro movement between these structures and that there is an intrinsic movement of expansion / retraction called "Primary Respiratory Movement" (MRP).

The principle of treatment:

The cranio-sacral treatment is made of the central nervous system, the cerebrospinal fluid, the dural membranes (meninges), the bones of the skull (9 structural bones and functional bones in variable number) and the sacrum bone at the base of the spine.

One of the essentials points of cranial osteopathy is that the osteopath works with health and not against the disease, it serves as a point of support for the body that will be free himself from the tensions it has to put in place, to adapt to trauma whether physical or emotional. The search of primary origin of the dysfunction plays a big role in the skull domain considering the existence of the bonds of the different bones to each other.

The craniosacral treatment will act on the bones of the skull and their sutures, but also on the meninges, the circulatory system, the central nervous system, and on the various tissues of the body such as the connective tissues, the muscles and their tendons, the ligaments, and the viscera.

The osteopath will evaluate, thanks to a fine palpation, the freedom of movement of the different bones of the skull. The treatment techniques vary according to the dysfunction and the indication. They are mostly indirect. They make it possible to increase the mobility of the tissues and to promote a good vascularization and innervation, a satisfactory blood and lymphatic drainage.

The therapist makes special catches on the skull, spine, sacrum, or thorax. It relaxes these areas. It stimulates by slight movements of traction, or by induction, the propagation of the fluid of water from one place to another of the body.

The movements practiced by the osteopath are very light. However, the patient often feels a sensation of warmth and energy flow that may feel distant from the point of treatment, he feels a deep relaxation during the treatment and falls asleep quite often!

After the consultation, the organism will be able to integrate all this new information, and regain all its abilities to self-regulate. The days following the session, most of the patients testify to a deep and healthy fatigue.

Warning: Certain disorders require a prior exclusion of any underlying disease or pathology.

This approach is beneficial for people in whom structural manipulation (or high mobilization) is contraindicated, such as elderly people or pregnant women.

Cranio-sacral osteopathy (and functional) is an approach that could almost be self-sufficient because it acts on deep tissue and is not traumatic, so it has no contraindications or age limit.