Cranial Sacral  and Visceral Manipulation Therapy

Cranial Sacral Therapy was developed by an Osteopath, Dr. Sutherland, who noted that the bones of the body move in a rhythmic motion of contraction and expansion based on the movements of the fluid inside the spine and around the outside of the brain within a cushioning membrane.

This motion is also refer to as "BREATHING". We have breathing bones!

The bones of the head and the sacrum expand and contract with the movement of the cranial fluid, around the brain and then down the interior of the spine, inside the dural membrane. The cranium (head bones) and the sacrum, (the bottom of the spine), move with the fluid much like the tidal water moving from an ocean, through an inlet, into a bay. Balancing and increasing the fluid's flow is called cranial sacral therapy.


This system is pumped with our whole body movements. The joints of our limbs respond to the fluid pressure changes of the cranial spinal system. The balanced movements of our joints are also attended to in cranial sacral therapy. Imbalances in how we weight our joints, rotate them, and use the muscles attached to the joints can be addressed by employing cranial sacral therapy combined with myofascial and pressure point release. Long standing strain and trauma can reorganize more deeply when cranial sacral therapy is used along with other manual therapy modalities because of cranial sacral therapy's effect on the pressure in the spine, it's curves and the postural reflexes.

The reflexes for both our posture and stress levels are also related to the cranial spinal movements. Our bodies reduce stress, improve posture, and release muscular tension and trauma with cranial sacral therapy. The gentle soothing stimulation of the fluid drops our bodies deeply into the sympathetic nervous system response where deep repair and reorganization of our senses, reflexes and basic functions occurs.


At the core of this therapy is the action where a "still point" is created and the cranial fluid movement is calmed and re-organized. Stress responses are quieted , equilibrium is restored in movement, and breathing is deepened.


Our capacity for a deep and balanced breath through the movements of our diaphragms is related to our cranial breathing, though not identical to it. For individual's with asthma, stress, or any other condition which effects their breathing patterns, cranial sacral therapy is a direct way to influence the body's breathing mechanics.

For more information you might like to visit  Wikipedia and enter Craniosacral Therapy. 

Visceral Manipulation Therapy also works with Rhythm in the body, as well as the Fascial encasing of organs. Through gentle techniques organs in the body are restored to improved function as their circulation, Special placements and tension based bindings are released and aligned.