Expert Craniosacral Therapy in Portland

The central nervous system has a large influence on your overall health and well-being, and it’s the craniosacral system that has the largest impact on the central nervous system. The craniosacral system is composed of the soft tissues and fluid that protect your brain and spinal cord. As such, it runs from your head all the way down to your pelvis. It’s when the tissues in this system begin to tighten, due the various stressors and strains of life, that the brain and spinal cord are affected. And when the brain and spinal cord are affected, almost every other system of the body can be too.

This is where Craniosacral Therapy (CST) comes into play. CST is a noninvasive technique that works with the membranes and rhythmic movement of fluids around the central nervous system. Through gentle touch (about the weight of a nickel!) craniosacral therapy works to release those tensions and strains and allow the body to relax. Your craniosacral therapist will look for strain patterns throughout the body, and use light touch techniques to release any restriction that they might find.

This technique essentially “frees” the central nervous system and gives it a sort of natural reboot. By restoring and facilitating the body’s rhythm, CST reduces pain and stress while strengthening one’s resilience to disease. What’s even more fascinating is that this technique is effective for all ages, from newborns to elders, given how light of a touch is used. In infants, craniosacral therapy can be used for developmental delays, trouble breastfeeding, head-shape issues, and other birth traumas.

Craniosacral therapy has also been proven to reduce migraines and headaches, neck and back pain, stress, chronic fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, and even symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia. In an interesting clinical trial published in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, researchers even found that craniosacral therapy was able to induce a physiological relaxation response (a decrease in heart rate and skin conductance) after athletes were exposed to a stress-inducing task.

Currently, Dr. Annabelle Snow, LAc incorporates CranioSacral Therapy into infant treatment sessions. Erik Cannard, LMT is now offering full CranioSacral Therapy sessions for adult patients. If you have questions about CST, stop by our office to learn more or to pick up a brochure with more details on this incredible therapy.