Tag: mental health

Massage & Bodywork, Tapestry Life Resource

The Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy

Suzanne Hollifield-Eller
Used with permission. Image by Salvatore Vuono at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Note: When last visited, Vuono’s portfolio was no longer on Free Digital Photos; however, this photo is still being classified as public domain.

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle treatment approach that works with the natural, self-correcting mechanism of the body and the craniosacral system to detect and release restrictions in mobility and enhance the function of the craniosacral system.

The craniosacral system includes the membranes and fluids that surround and protect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Restrictions in the rhythmical movement of the craniosacral system can cause sensory, motor or neurological dysfunction.

The techniques of Craniosacral Therapy were developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger, founder of the Upledger Institute. Dr. Upledger based his method on the research of Dr. William Sutherland, another osteopath, who is considered the father of craniosacral therapy.

Sutherland observed that, contrary to general belief, the bones of the skull do not fuse completely in early childhood. This means that through very gentle touch, they can be moved, and consequently, the tissues attached to them can be moved. Furthermore, early in his career, Dr. Upledger realized that the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord move in a rhythm, different from respiration or the heartbeat. He developed a technique to palpate and manipulate this craniosacral rhythm.

“Dr. John” taught this technique internationally and widely published his research on the efficacy of the treatment protocol. His research is continuing under the auspices of the Institute and the many students and teachers who continue to scientifically validate the usefulness of CST in treating a variety of complaints.

So what is the technique? Using pressure of about five grams, the therapist is able to palpate or feel the rhythm of the craniosacral fluid moving through the tissues of her clients and uses her evaluation of the flow and restrictions to focus treatment on the causes of dysfunction rather than only on the symptoms. She used the bones, mostly in the head and spine, to manipulate the tissues and fluid that affect the whole body.

The client lies on the heated treatment table and usually remains clothed. It may seem like not much is happening because the touch is so light and the therapist does not move around a lot. Many clients go to sleep, and that is fine. The sense of relaxation may continue for several days as the body continues to heal itself and achieve a greater state of balance. Clients often claim their pain is alleviated for longer periods and their mood is improved. The effects are subtle and tend to build with treatment.

The therapy has been used successfully to treat such disorders as headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ, fibromyalgia, motor coordination difficulties, vertigo, edema, neuropathy and nerve compression syndromes. It is also good for chronic conditions that may have an emotional component such as fibromyalgia, attention deficit disorder, anxiety and depression, and even learning problems.

Craniosacral Therapy also has a strong component that focuses on mobilization of the fascia, the continuous sheet of connective tissue that surrounds the organs, muscles, bones, nerves, vessels and other structures of the body. This three-dimensional fascia runs head to toe, front to back and exterior to interior in the body.

Release of fascial restrictions in one part of the body can affect painful tissues in other parts of the body and cause them to also release. The craniosacral system an be used as an indicator of fascial restriction, and then a gentle myofascial release technique can be used to normalize muscle tone, decrease pain, decrease swelling and increase soft tissue and joint mobility. The benefits are usually immediate. For this reason, CST is considered to be a deep tissue modality even though the client does not disrobe and even though the pressure is only 5 grams.

People of all ages, from babies to grandparents, can benefits from craniosacral therapy. In fact, unless there is a high-risk condition affecting the brain or spinal cord, like an aneurysm or tumor, most people can benefit from CST. Recent research even suggests it is helpful for people with traumatic head injury or autism. In any event, your therapist will obtain a medical history before doing a treatment and may ask you to get doctor’s approval if anything seems contraindicated.

Massage & Bodywork, Tapestry Life Resource

Massage and Mental Health

Suzanne Hollifield-Eller

woman getting massage
The skin is our largest sensory organ. Massage can create a sense of peace and well-being through the power of touch.

It is sometimes easy to emphasize the physical benefits of massage and forget the mental health benefits of regular bodywork. The physical benefits are more immediately recognizable, but the mental benefits can be more lasting.

Numerous clinical trials have evaluated the effects of massage on mental and emotional health, and the results are impressive. For example, studies indicate that massage and psychotherapy given to women suffering from postpartum depression had significantly greater improvement in both depression and anxiety than did groups who received only psychotherapy.
 
Similar results were found for individuals other than new mothers suffering from depression and anxiety. Other studies indicate that massage may help people who suffer from ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, and bipolar disorder, to name a few.
 
Jacqueline Young, author of Complementary Medicine For Dummies, (London: Wiley Publishing, 2007) gives evidence for the efficacy of massage in treating those with eating disorders. She says more and more clinics treating anorexia and bulimia are finding that massage helps clients reduce anxiety about their appearance and improve their body image.
 
Massage reduces levels of stress hormones, especially cortisol (which, by the way, can make you fat!) It increases the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest”) and decreases the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (“fight or flight”). Improved parasympathetic response means greater availability of brain chemicals like serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins (natural painkillers).
 
Another benefit of massage is to meet our need for safe, human touch. Human beings can literally die without human touch, and studies have shown the devastating lack of emotional development in babies who are not adequately held and cuddled. Still, we live in a world where those who touch inappropriately have caused all of us to be a little suspect of too much touching. When there is a lack of touch in a person’s life, massage can fill the void and create peace-of-mind. Overall well-being is enhanced.
 
Massage provides the following mental health benefits:
  • Increases mental alertness and improves concentration and memory.
  • Reduces anxiety and increases sense of overall well-being and self-confidence.
  • Reduces stress hormone levels and increases production of mood-enhancing brain chemicals.
  • Provides an overall calming effect and lowers irritability.
  • Lowers brain wave activity to the alpha state, which provides a feeling of relaxation and increases creativity and organizational ability.
  • Calms the nervous system and improves synaptic response.
  • Relieves fatigue and renews energy levels.
 
There is also a relationship between mental health and physical ailments. Many of us carry stress in our bodies. Idioms like “he’s a pain in my neck” and “my job’s a headache” reflect physical responses to stress-causing people and situations. Massage can help relieve the stress before it manifests as a physical symptom.