Restore balance to find health
Cranial Osteopathy
Also known as Craniosacral Osteopathy, this type of treatment style is much more subtle than other techniques.
Treatment uses soft touch and very gentle manipulation of the bones and connective tissues of the head, neck, and face, as well as the rest of the spine and other joints. From head (cranium) to tail (sacrum), craniosacral is most often used to treat babies, though I also find it very effective in adults.
It may feel like “nothing” is being done during a cranial treatment, though most patients find it very soothing and relaxing, and some patients report feeling the changes in their body as they happen. After the treatment, patients are often shocked at how effective it has been even though “it was so gentle”.
Craniosacral and Biodynamic treatment can be used for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, and many patients enjoy this type of technique to manage ongoing pain, acute injuries, or systemic conditions. Book online here or read on for more of the science behind how it works.
When the bones of the skull aren’t articulating properly, or transmitting forces as they should, the major exits for the nerves can become a little compromised, congested or irritated. One example of a major nerve that exits through your cranium is your Vagus Nerve. You have one of these nerves that exits from each side of your skull, down through your neck and chest, and as far as your intestines, and is thought to be a major reason for the “Gut-Brain connection”.
This is the reason why I may sometimes seem to treat far away from the problem area - the body has a complicated, interconnected architecture, and the root cause of the problem is not always at the site of the symptoms. A baby that cries endlessly after feeding, with a big swollen belly, may be suffering from compression around the base of the skull as a result of a bang on the head, or a traumatic birth. An adult may have gut issues or low back pain for some of the same reasons.
Craniosacral treatment rests on the philosophy of homeostasis - aka balance of the whole body, and every system in the body, all of which is controlled by the nervous system. Through using soft palpation and gentle motion, the technique aims to allow your body to restore its own natural balance, by supporting your body and helping to remove impediments or blockages that may be getting in the way.