Craniosacral Therapy is a style of alternative or bodywork which utilizes gentle, light touch to palpate the acupoints of the cranium using a palm-like hand. It is frequently promoted as an effective remedy for various health ailments and is based on basic misconceptions regarding the anatomy of the skull. For example, many chiropractors mistakenly believe that there are only seven cranial sacs – each connecting with five others – in the human body. The fact is that there are at least twelve cranial sacs, which, when connected in the right way, give rise to numerous nodes known as craniosacral mesotheliomas, or simply “cranio sacs.” This fanciful understanding leads Craniosacral Therapists to believe that a treatment consisting solely of manipulating these sacs can effectively cure many different ailments.
While Craniosacral Therapy can and may be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, some serious side effects have been experienced by some practitioners. These include nausea, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and chronic pain. While these do occasionally occur, they are not nearly as common as the other ailments typically treated by chiropractors. It’s important to understand that while the most serious side effects are rare, they can still happen. That being said, most patients report an overall improvement with this type of therapy.
Chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, are treated by the same techniques used with traditional chiropractic care. Specifically, chiropractors use adjustments and other movement methods to release the pressure off of the spinal cord and promote pain relief in the region. Although patients can also use medications prescribed by their doctor to help relieve pain, chiropractors generally feel more confident dealing with this condition through gentle and effective techniques. When it comes to treatment, craniosacral therapy is often considered a more appropriate method of relief for most patients.
Some patients, however, are simply too much of a risk for the delicate state of the spinal cord and nerves in order for craniosacral therapy to be an effective technique. For example, some individuals with Parkinson’s disease have suffered spinal cord atrophy. Since this condition typically results from the patient’s tremor, physical therapists often do not feel comfortable attempting to perform the movements necessary to correct this issue. In cases such as these, other therapies, such as massage or ultrasound, may be an appropriate alternative for the patient.
There are several theories on exactly how craniosacral therapy can work in the treatment of conditions like fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s disease. According to some experts, movement and manipulation of one’s craniosacral discs may help to reattach the actual nerve endings in the brain and prevent atrophy of these important nerve cells. Additionally, the movement of the head and neck may also help to promote natural healing of these important areas. Physical therapists, in conjunction with chiropractors, have been testing this theory in hopes of developing methods of treating chronic pain associated with conditions like chronic rns and fibromyalgia. While progress has been made, many scientists are still not completely convinced that the theory of movement and manipulation of the craniosacral disks can provide a complete cure for these disorders.
If you are experiencing extreme pain, regardless of cause, you should contact a doctor. You should not attempt to treat your condition yourself. Proper diagnosis is important in order to determine the best course of treatment. Although chiropractic and physical therapists have been testing craniosacral therapy for pain and other issues for quite some time, there are still many skeptics who refuse to believe that this technique is capable of providing long-term solutions for those who are suffering from illnesses such as fibromyalgia and central nervous system diseases.