During 1899 osteopathic medical student William Garner Sutherland (1873-1954) was especially intrigued by what the bones in a disarticulated or disassembled skull he was examining suggested about their function in the creation and maintenance of health. In time his observations and theories coalesced and gave rise to what is called “Cranio Osteopathy” (Click to read more). Many decades osteopathic physician (D.O.) John E. Upledger, while assisting a neurosurgeon by holding the dura (membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord) steady while the surgeon excised a calcified plaque, observed that the dura was moving up and down at approximately ten (10) cycles per minute (Something no one had ever reported previously). Following this discovery, he and neurophysiologist and histologist Ernest W. Retzlaff put together a research team at Michigan State University to look in more detail into the cranial pulse Upledger had observed. Ultimately they published a body of findings that not only supported the existence of the cranial pulse but subtle movements of cranial bones in response to this; movements they felt were likely caused by cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) or arterial pressure in the brain and which could be detected by physicians and others using their hands skillfully placed on the skull. Furthermore, Dr. Upledger reported that very subtle pressures applied to the cranial bones where there was evidence of an impaired or compromised cranial pulse helped correct this with corresponding improvements in health and well being. This form of therapeutic intervention was subsequently dubbed “CranioSacral Therapy” or CST.
Doctors trained in CST, such as Alexander Thermos, D.O., D.C., generally use a soft touch on the skull and elsewhere that has about as much “push” as a nickel (5 cent piece). Practitioners report that CST is effective for a wide range of diseases and medical conditions including but not limited to chronic neck and back pain & discomfort, chronic fatigue, colitis, emotional issues, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), various nervous disorders, scoliosis, stress, TBI (traumatic brain injury), TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome), and more.
CST is also used to treat autism. Readers interested in learning more are invited to read “Autism Spectrum Disorder: How CranioSacral Therapy Can Help” By Tad Wanveer, LMT, CST-D at http://www.upledger.com/pdf/CS0707.pdf.
If you feel CST might benefit you or your child or other family member, please call 1-800-300-1063 (9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time Monday through Friday) to schedule a phone consultation with physician and highly experienced CST practitioner Dr. Thermos.
