What is the CranioSacral system?
The craniosacral system is a system of the body, just like the respiratory, cardiac, or other systems that we typically know about. The craniosacral system is the system of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It consists of the CSF and the membranes that contain the CSF. The outer most layer is called the dura mater. The function of the CSF is to bring nutrients to, and remove toxins from the brain and spinal cord. The fluid is created by the choroid plexus located in the ventricles of the brain. As the CSF is created there is a slight, but measurable, increase in pressure within the cranial vault (the inner space of the head). As the CSF is absorbed through the arachnoid villi, there is a reduction in the pressure. These pressure changes cause small movements in the bones of the cranium (head).
A physiological system named for the primary bones involved in its function; the many bones in the skull and face form the “cranium.” The sacrum, or tailbone, is the only other area where the system of membranes firmly attaches. These structures are connected by membranes enclosing a hydraulic system; the brain pulses out the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in which your central nervous system (the brain and cord) lives. Imbalances in this system, either in the bony or the membranous structures can affect the development and function of the brain and spinal cord. This in turn can result in motor, sensory and intellectual dysfunction. How does CranioSacral therapy work? CranioSacral therapy is a gentle, non-invasive manipulative technique. It uses a light touch to mobilize restrictions in the connective tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, thereby treating the entire system of musculoskeletal structures. Treatment assists the self-correcting mechanisms of the body, to naturally opti
