What is Craniosacral Osteopathy?
Craniosacral osteopathy is a very gentle, yet powerful, hands on form of treatment that encourages the body back to “stillness” where healing can take place.
It is suitable for everyone from the youngest baby to the oldest man or woman.
The body possesses a wonderful mechanism of adaptation and regeneration of the tissues. Problems tend to happen when this capacity for self healing is exceeded by the sum of all the physical, emotional and nervous tensions that we have accumulated, then pain begins to appear.
Each individual is unique and carries different injuries/emotions that they have experienced through life. As a result of our internal/external environment and experiences, we will have adopted a posture that reflects the health of our body, mind and spirit.
The aim of the osteopath is to ensure that the musculoskeletal system is supporting and working in accordance with the physiology of the body. Problems in the framework of the body can result in nervous dysfunction, circulatory dysfunction, or hormonal dysfunction and can affect any organs within the body and vice versa. Craniosacral Osteopathy is a specialisation within osteopathy.
Craniosacral treatment is all about “listening” to the body’s intrinsic rhythms and pulsations for patterns of congestion and resistance using touch, not manipulation. Through this deep listening, the therapist encourages a rebalancing and revitalisation of the system and assists in the release of resistances and tensions in the tissues and fluids of the body. This very gentle but powerful therapy can help a wide variety of issues.
Baby and infant health
Craniosacral osteopathy is commonly used as a corrective therapy for children, including newborns who have obtained injuries or trauma during birth.
Craniosacral osteopathy offers alternative ways of approaching problems and resolving many common, troublesome and distressing ailments in infants, offering general improvements in health and well being.
Treatments are said to help such problems as:
- Colic
- Reflux
- Irritability
- Feeding problems
- Otitis Media
- Sleeping disorders
If, as a mother, you sense something wrong with your baby it is often difficult to determine what, if anything, might be wrong.
The osteopath is able to feel how well the baby’s body is, and what areas of the baby’s body are affected. He can then work to help release these compressions, thus relieving pressure on nerves, increasing the fluid movement through the area and letting the baby’s body express the cranial movement more freely again. This approach is also beneficial for adults, helping old injuries to release and allowing the spine to rebalance.
Diagnosis and Treatment
You will be asked about your symptoms and a detailed medical history: the onset of the problem, any fractures, trauma, road traffic accidents, sport, any medication or medical condition as well as any systemic issues (cardiac, respiratory, digestive, gynaecological).
The osteopath will then perform a clinical assessment to understand the issue and create a treatment plan. The painful area is not always necessarily the cause of the problem but sometimes the consequence of an old injury/dysfunction elsewhere in the body. That is why a full clinical assessment is so important.
The treatment works with the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord. Gentle palpation of these membranes and subtle observation of the essential fluid allows the release of many restrictions in the body. Treatment also involves balancing the bones of the cranium (head) and the sacral bone at the base of the spine, hence the name, Craniosacral.
Most people who experience Craniosacral treatment will tell you that it is extremely pleasant and gentle. Craniosacral treatment is experienced differently by everyone. You may feel heat, tingling, gentle pulsing, a feeling of increased gravity or a sense of profound meditation and relaxation.
Initial consultation takes 1 hour and subsequent treatments are 45 minutes.
The frequency of the treatments will depend on the severity and sometimes the age of the lesion. Normally after the 2nd treatment you will start to notice the improvement.
Geoffrey Wattinne BSc Hons Ost
Geoffrey graduated from the European School of Osteopathy (Maidstone-UK) and worked in two private practices in Norfolk (UK), developing a special interest in the treatment of babies and in the release of old tensions for adults using Craniosacral Osteopathy.
He is a member of the General Osteopathic Council (GOSC) of UK and is registered at the Registro de los Osteopatas de España (ROE). Geoffrey is a fully insured practitioner.
Treatment is available in English, Spanish or French.