Craniosacral therapy – treatment, effects and risks

As the term craniosacral already suggests, the practitioner concentrates on the area between the human skull (cranium) and the cross or coccyx (os sacrum). He performs the examination of the body using certain gentle touches (palpatations) and then treats the condition using similar non-invasive manual techniques.

The medical method was developed from craniosacral osteopathy, a sub-area of ​​osteopathy (bone medicine). It is essentially based on the fact that the therapist feels the pulsation of the brain – spinal cord fluid (cerebrospinal liquor) by touching the body regions causing the complaints, which is transmitted to the surrounding bones and tissue . They are also referred to as the Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PAM or PRM).

Based on this felt individual body rhythm of the patient, the practitioner can then detect any tissue blockages. These are the cause of various physical illnesses and mental disorders. The original harmony and mobility of tissues and organs should be restored with the help of similar, gently executed movements, so that the symptoms subside.

Conventional physicians regard the procedure as methodologically unsecured, although there are isolated clinical studies that demonstrate its effectiveness in certain medical indications. The CST has a general pain-relieving, tension-reducing effect and has a positive effect on well-being.

Application and function

The aim of craniosacral therapy is to harmonize the craniosacral system and restore the individual craniosacral rhythm. With the help of careful touching, which is carried out on the spine , the skull bones or the pelvis, depending on the symptoms , tension within the connective tissue is to be reduced and internal blockages are to be dissolved.Areas of application for craniosacral therapy are the so-called functional disorders, i.e. organs, muscles and tissues that are impaired in their function. They may have been caused by accidents or other negative factors.

The therapist treats migraines and tension headaches that occur at certain intervals , atypical facial pain , temporomandibular joint syndrome, sinusitis , middle ear infections , tinnitus , spastic bronchitis , muscle tension and pain, arthrosis , rheumatoid arthritis , herniated discs , whiplash , acute and chronic back pain , cervical spine syndrome , balance disorders , postural damage ,scoliosis , hormonal disorders , allergies, high blood pressure , nervous tics, states of exhaustion , sleep disorders and depression .

Children and babies are also treated in correspondingly shorter sessions. CST can be performed for hyperactivity and concentration disorders (children of kindergarten or school age) and for postnatal difficulties with sucking and drinking. Some therapists use it to treat three-month colic and birth trauma.

methods and procedures

In craniosacral therapy, which is carried out without the aid of medical devices or instruments, the treating person performs hand movements on the neck, skull, spine, chest , diaphragm , pelvis and feet .

The treatment method is based on the assumption that the osteopath can feel the rhythmic movement of the nerve fluid and influence it with various methods. CST can also be performed as part of normal osteopathic treatment if the osteopath has mastered this technique.

What does the patient have to consider?

Before having craniosacral therapy carried out, the patient should definitely have a thorough check-up by the doctor, so that there are no serious illnesses and acute symptoms that could endanger the success of the therapy (or the patient’s life). Before the actual physical examination by the naturopath, the patient must provide information about his previous illnesses and his current symptoms.

In addition, the therapist must know the circumstances in which he lives in order to be able to better assess his personal situation. When treating the symptoms, similar techniques are used as when detecting tension and disturbed movement sequences.

process and implementation

The patient lies lightly clothed and relaxed on a treatment table while the practitioner sits or stands behind their head. Sometimes it happens that the patient stands, walks around or sits on the couch. The therapist feels the skull and cervical spine to feel and localize the individual rhythms of the tissues and their blockages.

The craniosacral treatment techniques consist of applying very gentle pressure and traction with the fingers and palms on the skull bones, spine, sacrum or body membranes (dural sac, meninges) so that the tissue blockages are released. The maximum amount of tension is first generated, held briefly and the blockage is thereby eliminated.

The CST starts where the complaints arise. For example, lower back pain is treated by manipulating the skull bones and the cervical spine.

During the craniosacral treatment sessions, it can happen that the patient falls asleep because the therapy is very relaxing for him. During the CST, the patient can freely talk about current mental problems and be stabilized by the therapist. He should also give the practitioner feedback on how he experiences the touch in question. It also improves his self-awareness.

Self-service or health insurance – who bears the costs?

The 30 to 60 minute treatment, which is carried out several times, costs up to 250 euros – depending on whether a naturopath, physiotherapist or specialist is doing it. Private health insurance companies only cover the costs for CST if alternative medical treatments are included in the contract.

If you have statutory health insurance, it is best to contact your health insurance company beforehand. Because some insurers cover the costs for such treatments in part or in full, but often only for a certain number of sessions. Sometimes it only occurs when a specialist performs the CST.

Risks, dangers and complications

Some patients report an initial worsening of their symptoms, which occurred shortly after the start of craniosacral therapy – an effect that is already known from homeopathy.Patients suffering from increased intracranial pressure , cerebral hemorrhage or bone loss should under no circumstances undergo the treatment. In newborns, this can lead to complications such as brain injuries because their skull bones are not as close together as in adults.