MEDICAL HERBALIST & CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

BSc (hons) Herbal Medicine;CSTI&II SERI; M.N.I.M.H & NHSTA

My passion for herbalism extended my thirst for knowledge further, this lead me to find out & learn about Craniosacral Therapy & SomatoEmotional Release which complement my gentle approach in a herbal medicine treatment.

I am certified in CST 1 & 2 as well as SomatoEmotional Release (SER) 1

• What is Craniosacral Therapy?
• What is Somato Emotional Release?
• How can Craniosacral therapy help me?
• What happens in a Craniosacral therapy consultation, what will I feel/experience?
• Contra-indications for receiving a craniosacral Therapy treatment
• Craniosacral Therapy with babies and children

What is Craniosacral Therapy (CST)?

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle hands on treatment which uses the body's natural capacity for self-repair to treat a wide range of conditions. It is so gentle it can be used on all ages, from babies, children to the elderly.

The list of conditions that cranio-sacral therapy can help is almost endless, as it can help with structural, emotional and physiological symptoms and conditions.

Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, noninvasive manipulative technique. Seldom does the therapist apply pressure that exceeds five grams or the equivalent weight of a nickel. Examination is done by testing for movement in various parts of the system. Often, when movement testing is completed, the restriction has been removed and the system is able to self-correct.

Practitioners today rely on Craniosacral Therapy to improve the functioning of the central nervous system, eliminate the negative effects of stress, strengthen resistance to disease, and enhance overall health.
Craniosacral therapy is a subtle and profound healing form which assists the body's natural capacity for self-repair.

What is Somato Emotional Release (SER)?

Somato-emotional release is a therapeutic procedure that uses the concepts of cranio-sacral therapy to free the body and mind of the discomforting side effects of trauma. The therapy focuses on establishing a strong mind-body connection in order for the release of emotional trauma and the resolution of physical symptoms.

Many of us are underliving our potential because of the retained effects of early life trauma, whether mental, emotional or physical.

Trauma is a fact of life. Most of us, not just soldiers or victims of abuse or attack, have been traumatized. The sources of trauma are wide-ranging; these include natural disasters, exposure to violence, accidents, falls, serious illness, sudden loss of a loved one, surgeries, medical and dental procedures, childhood neglect or abuse, difficult births, and even high levels of stress and toxicity during gestation in the womb.

This shows itself most obviously as chronic physical illness which prevents us from freely exercising choices, but more insidiously in sub-clinical dysfunctional patterns such as poor immunity, lack of energy, lack of confidence, anxiety and fearfulness.

Illness, rather than being viewed entirely negatively, can become a creative tool for sorting out our lives and redesigning our futures. To achieve this, we need an approach which enables us to listen to and learn from both mind and body. Most healthcare approaches separate mind and body - either physical therapy or psychotherapy, the body hospital or the mind hospital. Not all traumatic events will create symptoms; however, trauma related symptoms are rampant in our modern lives

We know however that a radical change in physical health, whether for the better or the worse, is invariably accompanied by profound mental change. We also know from studies of behaviour and body language that the reverse is equally true - a major change in mental perspective is always accompanied by a change in body activity, posture and movement.

SomatoEmotional Release serves the purpose of combining all aspects of human nature, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, into one approach that can facilitate tremendous change and growth in a person’s life. SomatoEmotional Release is a gentle therapy.

For more information read this article by John Page

How can Craniosacral therapy help me?

The list of conditions that craniosacral therapy can help is almost endless, as it can help with structural, emotional and physiological symptoms and conditions::

• Arthritis, rheumatismAsthma , bronchitis, sinusitis Autism , birth trauma, dyslexia Back pain, falls or injury, sports injuries, spinal curvaturesCerebral Palsy Colic , digestive problems Depression, exsaustion, lethargy, insomia, migraines Drug withdrawal Frozen shoulder Hormonal imbalances Hyperactivity
• Immune system disorders Insomnia Menstrual pain, PMS Post-operative conditions Problems during and after pregnancy Re-integration after accidents Sciatica Stress related illnesses

What happens in a Craniosacral therapy consultation, what will I feel/experience?

In a typical craniosacral session, you will usually lie (or sometimes sit) fully-clothed on a treatment couch. The therapist will make contact by placing their hands lightly on your body and tuning in to what is happening by ‘listening’ with their hands. Contact is made carefully so that you will feel at ease with what is happening.

The first thing you will probably notice is a sense of deep relaxation, which will generally last throughout the session. With subsequent treatments this release of tension often extends into everyday life.

As a general rule, three to ten sessions will make a significant impact on most people’s health, and in some cases only one session can make a dramatic difference. Other people will need regular treatment for longer periods of time

Contra-indications for receiving a craniosacral Therapy treatment

Serious head injuries and conditions such as internal bleeding, elevated pressure or an aneurysm are indicators against having craniosacral therapy. It is common for patients to feel mild discomfort and or a temporary worsening of symptoms after treatment. There is also a possibility that treatment can increase the effects of medicines for diabetes and epilepsy.

Please note also that if you have just had recent surgery to get a squint corrected that there is a small risk that Craniosacral treatment will temporarily affect your focus.

Craniosacral Therapy with babies and children

One of craniosacral therapy's most appreciated qualities is its capacity to rapidly resolve problems babies have; these include colic, sucking difficulties, sleep problems and behavioural issues. These are often due to the compression the baby undergoes during birth. Parents are frequently relieved and amazed by the seemingly miraculous improvements resulting from cranial work, often in just one or two sessions.

As a result of the contractions and passage through the pelvis and the birth canal, babies get very compressed during birth and this can displace things in their bodies. The relatively soft bones of the head move during birth but don't always return to an optimal position, leading to a variety of difficult conditions which, however, respond easily to craniosacral treatment.

Caesarean births and those involving forceps or suction are more likely to lead to symptoms. These are often immediately obvious but sometimes don’t develop until later on. Craniosacral therapy can be beneficial to all babies including those from problem-free births even when there are no apparent symptoms.

Babies can't speak but that doesn't mean you can't communicate with them. Parents often understand a baby's non-verbal communication. The therapist's appreciation of what things are like for babies and interacting with them using craniosacral therapy plays a big part in making the treatment effective. CST is effective for a wide range of conditions in children and adolescents as well. Sometimes parents bring their child for a ‘tune-up’ to help them feel better overall and to focus on any minor issues. Childhood and adolescent conditions which have responded well to craniosacral therapy include: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD), autism, teeth and jaw mis-alignment, adolescent withdrawal, fears and phobias, bed-wetting and asthma.

Depression, migraine, sinusitis, spinal and pelvic pain and some psychological conditions are among the issues that can sometimes be traced back to what happened at birth. As well as helping current symptoms, treatment of young children can be helpful in preventing issues arising later in life. Health problems in adults which are linked to their birth or very early experience can be resolved retrospectively. All craniosacral therapists work with symptoms related to birth and some have developed this into a speciality.

Picture with thanks to the Upldger Institute UK

For more information on Craniosacral Therapy or SomatoEmotional Release please visit the following links ::

The Upledger Institute UK :: http://www.upledger.co.uk

The Upledger Institute Worldwide :: http://www.upledger.com

The Cranio Scaral Society :: www.cranio-sacral.org.uk