Cranio Sacral Massage

Cranio sacral massage therapy can provide relief for patients suffering with chronic pain and stress-related disorders. The skull is made of boney plates that are connected by soft fascia tissue. A skillful practitioner will use a hands-on technique to manipulate the upper spine, neck and skull to relax connective tissue that often restricts nerve passage causing misalignment and pain. It is used today by DOs, MDs, Chiropractic physicians, Dentists and neuromuscular massage therapists to treat:

• Migraines
• Neck and back pain
• Mental stress
• Chronic fatigue
• TMJ syndrome
• Fibromyalgia

Although similar in concept to many forms of Eastern medicine, cranial sacral manipulation was founded in the United States as part of the American School of Osteopathy. Contrary to popular belief in the early 1900s, Dr. William Sutherland realized that the cranial sutures were connected by healthy tissue that allowed for very subtle movement in the plates of the skull. During a lifetime of dedicated research, he expanded upon his observations and was the first to refer to this rhythmic phenomenon as the "Breath of Life."

Today, cranio-sacral therapy is based upon a medical understanding of the central nervous system and impact of cranial impulses that may interfere with our total wellness and overall feeling of happiness. It is believed that injury, stress, toxicity and other physical or mental traumas are contributing causes of a patient's discomfort. Similar to other forms of holistic treatments that employ a hands-on approach, cranial sacral therapy relies on the palpatory skills of the practitioner to provide relief by gently manipulating the troubled areas of soft tissues.