Craniosacral Therapy is a modality in which the practitioner pays attention to craniosacral movement and restrictions in the fascia. Craniosacral movement is a subtle and perceptable movement in the entire body different from the rhythms of your breath or your heart. Craniosacral movement is believed to be caused by the production and reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid in your head. This causes a slight movement in your head (cranium) and your tail bone (sacrum), which is translated through the fascia to the entire body. Fascia is a connective tissue in your body that wraps around all your muscles, all your organs, muscles to bones, bones to bones, etc. If there is a fascial restriction, it will change the quality of craniosacral movement. Using gentle techniques, the practitioner works to relieve the restrictions and improve movement which can greatly reduce pain, increase circulation and lymph flow, and improve any structural or alignment issues.
All of our viscera or organs are wrapped in fascia and there is a thin layer of fluid between these layers. As we move and walk throughout our days, our organs also move and glide over each other. If this gliding motion doesn’t happen easily, due to a development of scar tissue or inflammation etc, then our musculoskeletal system has to compensate for that internal lack in motion. Compensation can lead to pain patterns and structural changes musculoskeletally. The practitioner uses listening techniques to find restrictions in the viscera and treats that area either with gentle mobilization or stretching techniques or working with the inherent rhythm of the organs themselves, or their motility.
Lymphatic Drainage Therapy is a specific kind of lymphatic drainage developed by Bruno Chikly, DO. If you do a google search for lymphatic drainage, you will find many different teaching platforms as well as many videos on how to do lymphatic drainage on yourself. It is a gentle massage technique to improve lymphatic flow in your body. What is unique about the type of lymphatic drainage that I have training in is that you learn to feel and map the lymphatic flow in the body. You can tell if it is flowing in the typical direction or if it is flowing backwards or retrograde or if it is draining to the opposite side (ex with lymph nodes removed in the axilla or armpit, lymph will sometimes cross the midline and drain to the opposite axilla.) You can also feel where it is sticky and not flowing well. Using gentle techniques you work with where the lymph is flowing as mapped for the individual with the goal of improving the flow. This can help a myriad of symptoms and conditions including but not limited to swelling, post injury pain, post surgery pain, inflammation, chronic sinus infections, breast health, asthma, post dental work, etc.
Lymph is fluid throughout your body and is part of the circulatory system. Basically and simply put, at the capillary level, the fluid in your blood is pushed out into the interstitial spaces, or spaces between cells. Then, either the veins or the lymphatic vessels reuptake that fluid. The lymphatic systems also includes lymph nodes and the lymph plays a major role in our immune systems. The lymph returns to the blood at the venous angle at the clavicle, or collar bone, and is then reoxygenated in the lungs and then filtered through the kidneys and liver.
Structural massage is therapeutic massage that addresses the body’s structure and alignment. Using bony landmarks, I access the alignment and posture of the body, either when standing, sitting, or lying down, and use that information therapeutically to find restricted areas of tension in the body. Improving alignment can help immensely with pain and function. We are constantly under the effect of gravity and when we are out of alignment our musculoskeletal and fascial systems are having to constantly work against gravity. Having proper alignment minimizes stress on the body.
Myofascial Release addresses muscular and fascial tension in the body. Fascia is connective tissue that is throughout your body, like a web. It wraps around muscles and organs, connects muscles to bones and bones to bones, etc. It plays a major roll in our structure. Fascial restrictions can be responsible for issues with alignment and pain patterns. Myofascial release can either be very gentle or quite deep and intense but focuses on releasing fascia instead of individual muscles. Fascial adhesions can be caused by scar tissue, injury, inflammation, repetitive stress, postural habits, etc.
Did you know that craniosacral therapy can help moms and babies both pre and post natally? It can help with many things including, but not limited to, any pain associated with pregnancy, post baby recovery, scar work after a c-section, nursing and difficult or painful latch, and torticollis in babies.
Before pregnancy, craniosacral can help relieve pelvic pain related to endometriosis or adhesions, sciatica, headaches, migraines, low back pain, neck pain, etc. It can increase circulation and improve alignment in the pelvis which could potentially make it easier to get pregnant. Additionally, just having your body be in a healthy position before pregnancy will help prepare it for the work it will have to do to grow and carry a baby!
During pregnancy craniosacral can help greatly relieve sciatica, heartburn, low back pain, hip pain, rib pain, thoracic outlet, varicosities, separated pubic symphysis, pelvic pain, headaches, etc. Since the mother's body is going through so many changes like more pressure in the pelvis and a changing center of gravity, and because there is so much relaxin in the system, a hormone which makes the joints and ligaments very lose, craniosacral, being so gentle, can really help the mothers body adapt to the changes without over stretching the joints and ligaments. Towards the end of pregnancy, craniosacral can also really help get baby in a good position and help the mothers pelvis to open and be ready for baby to be born.
After pregnancy, the mothers body has to adapt to a pretty sudden change in center of gravity. If the mother had a Caesarian section, she also is recovering from the incision and development of scar tissue. If the mother has an epidural, scar tissue can form at the insertion site and cause or contribute to low back pain or headaches. Craniosacral can help the mother's body find its new balance and heal from anything that might have happened during birth.
For the baby, craniosacral can be extremely beneficial. If the baby had a traumatic birth, or an especially short or long labor, craniosacral can help relieve any resulting tensions in the baby's head or body. If the baby was in a mildly compromising position in utero for example, with their head always tilted to their right shoulder, it may be very uncomfortable for them to tilt their head to the left. Depending on how - position or duration - their head was compressed during the birth process, their craniosacral rhythm can be effected and cause stress for the baby. Such stress can also contribute to latch issues which can aggravate supply problems or cause nipple pain or discomfort for the mother. Or it could be a cause of colic or fussy babies (food and environmental sensitives also need to be ruled out for colicky or fussy babies.) Craniosacral work can also be extremely helpful for babies with misshapen heads resulting either from their position in utero or the way they habitually hold their head once they're born.
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