Alternative Treatments for Pain
I am always open to non-invasive treatments that may help heal the body, assist in wellbeing & specifically assist with Chronic Pain, stress & tension.
Here, my guest writer & colleague, Karen Leo gives us the run down on CranioSacral therapy & explains why she collaborates this form of treatment with her her Pilates & Yoga training.
What is CranioSacral Therapy?
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive modality that seeks to find and treat restrictions throughout the body systems. Restrictions within the CranioSacral (head to sacrum) system can lead to tension patterns, restrictions or affect the functioning of all bodily systems including the musculoskeletal, endocrine, cardio-respiratory, gastrointestinal, lymphatic, immune and reproductive systems.
CranioSacral Therapy is a very effective treatment for adults and is aimed at treating both the symptoms and the root cause of problems from a global perspective. This approach offers an opportunity for long-term change and resolution of complex issues.
How does CranioSacral Therapy work?
Through various assessment tools, your CranioSacral Therapist can globally assess your body and CranioSacral system and find the “primary” restrictions or “root causes” of issues. Over time our body may compensate around particular restrictions in order to keep us functioning well. When the body can no longer compensate or the restrictions are so great that it overcomes the body’s compensatory strategies, symptoms occur.
How does CranioSacral Therapy help Back pain, Chronic pain and Neck pain?
Using gentle touch, in the which the client is clothed on treatment, craniosacral therapy releases physical imbalances and restrictions as well as residual emotional trauma that has been stored in the body’s membranes and connective tissue. This frees the central nervous system to perform optimally — allowing patients to experience pain relief, stronger immune function and an enhanced sense of well-being.
Back pain and/or neck pain can be one of the most chronic and debilitating forms of ill health a person can experience. When someone is experiencing back problems it tends to make life challenging, and nothing else seems to go right. Whether it is disc problems, sciatica, scoliosis, or muscle spasms, the pain can be so distracting that your whole day is formed around trying to get around the annoyance and discomfort. Does this ring a bell with you, or with someone you know? Well, the good news is that CranioSacral Therapy has helped countless people be relieved of their suffering, and regain their joy and zeal for life.
Back & neck pain can stem from several causes. One such cause is called the “layering effect”. During a person’s lifetime many small traumas can occur to the body, and they are continually encapsulated and absorbed into the muscles and soft tissues known as fascia. The body does this so that the whole body is not incapacitated and you can get up in the morning and get your day going. But the body can only take so much before it starts showing signs of wear and tear. Another cause for back & neck pain can be a sudden, large trauma, such as a car accident or major surgery.
What makes CranioSacral Therapy so effective?
The therapist has been extensively trained to listen to your body and pinpoint the root cause of your discomfort. This is done by reading the flow of your cerebrospinal fluid – the fluid surrounding your spinal chord that runs up and down your body from your sacrum (lower back) to your brain. Your body flexes and extends to this rhythm, and where there is an obstruction in the rhythm, the therapist knows that area needs treatment.
In CranioSacral Therapy it all about soft tissue release, so that the affected area can relax and realign. A good CS therapist can find the exact locations that are causing the pain, and treat accordingly. As the tissues relax, the tightness, inflammation, and soreness start to subside. The therapist also treats other areas of the body that have compensated for the pain, so that all of your body parts can once again be realigned and work as a whole. This is called “integrated therapy”.
Craniosacral therapy can provide symptomatic relief for a wide range of medical problems, including:
Central Nervous System Disorders
Chronic Fatigue
Migraine Headaches
Fibromyalgia and other Connective Tissue Disorders
Orthopedic Difficulties
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Scoliosis
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome (TMJD)
Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
About your CranioSacral practitioner
Karen has been a strong believer and receiver of CS therapy for several years when she was looking for a gentle treatment for her lower back and neck injuiries from a car accident. Since then, she started her journey to become a certified CS practitioner to share this wonderful holistic treatment that can either complement current treatment in another modality such as massage and physiotherapy.
Karen is also a certified Yoga Therapist & Pilates instructor and has been teaching for over 15 years and currently works with the staff from local hospitals to prevent workplace injuries. Karen is also in her final year of her Naturopathy studies and runs a cosy & busy clinic – In a Pink of Health on Jetty Road, Brighton. Book in for an initial assessment or contact Karen on 0433 488 819
