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At the age of four weeks my daughter started to suffer from the

dreaded colic. Anyone who has experienced this will know you try

almost anything. She would start to cry at 7 pm every evening and cry

continuously for nearly five hours. Nothing could be done to calm

her. As you can imaging it does tend to ruin your evening. I knew a

cranial osteopath at one of the clinics where I worked. I was

sceptical but after 3 weeks of the colic I was ready to give it a

try. ( colic can last upto the age of six months!). She had three

treatments and the colic did start to abate after the first treatment

and disappeared completely after the last. Of course this could be a

complete coincidence; a masseur could have achieved the same result;

or painting my backside red and dancing in the light of a full moon

could have worked.

All I know is that our evenings were much quieter (she sleeps from

7pm - 7am) and she seemed happier in herself. Things can 'work' but

perhaps the theory is wrong? There are many factors we are probably

unaware of that play a part in the process.

Roy Palmer

Bedford

UK

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I'm not sure if this has been mentioned yet, as I haven't been following this

particular debate but an analytical article on this subject can be accessed free

on the sample copy online at this address....

<http://www.harcourt-international.com/journals/ctim/default.cfm?jhome.html>

Cumming

Physio New Zealand

http://michaelandvicki.homestead.com/PhysioLink.html

--------------------------

PTHER: Digest Number 263

From: Tomas

<A systematic review of craniosacral therapy was performed in 1999.

A systematic review of craniosacral therapy: biological plausibility,

assessment reliability and clinical effectiveness. Complementary

Therapies in Medicine (1999), 7;201-207.

It critically evaluated the research and gave a position stand on the

current evidence.

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  • 4 months later...
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In a message dated 6/6/01 3:09:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

writes:

<<

Message: 14

Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2001 03:53:35 -0000

From: fe38@...

Subject: Craniosacral therapy

I just wanted to relate what happened to me today. I was really

feeling lousy still trying to recover from having the first set of

amalgams removed. I had a headache for 2 days that wouldn't go away,

pressure behind my eyes, very sensitive to light and noise, and

exhausted. I went in for a 1 hour treatment of craniosacral therapy

and felt like a totally new person - still a little tired, but not

that horrible lead weight kind of tired. Headache gone and no more

sensitivity to light and sound. I actually had enough energy to

enjoy the evening.

I've tried craniosacral therapy 3 times now, and each time I leave

feeling better than I walked in. We'll see how long this lasts. In

the past it's lasted at least a week. Anyone else had any

experiences with craniosacral therapy?

>>

Hi

I, too, had CranialSacral therapy yesterday. Wonderful stuff. Both my

personal physician (DO) and my massage therapist do this for me for several

years now. They are both trained at the Upledger Institute.

This is part of my CFIDS/FMS protocol

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>>I've tried craniosacral therapy 3 times now, and each time I leave

feeling better than I walked in. We'll see how long this lasts. In

the past it's lasted at least a week. Anyone else had any

experiences with craniosacral therapy?

Hi..I get craniosacral therapy every couple of weeks. Been going for

several months now. I find it very relaxing, and so it's gotta help at

least at that level, but I think there's something much deeper going on too.

I don't feel clearly better from it like you do, but somehow I just want

to stick with it anyway. It just feels right.

I'd gone thru a period of doing considerably better a year or so ago, and

had been doing cs therapy weekly at the time, (crashed from overactivity at

same time as my practitioner stopped practicing) and also there's that

article on immunesupport--

http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm?ID=2969

(craniosacral is an offshoot of cranial osteopathy)

Great to hear that you're having noticeable results...

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

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Yes. I'm having it weekly now, done by an excellent person who mainly

does chiropractic. I look forward to each appointment--a sacrosanct time

of the week. I've had it done before by a good message therapist but

while excellent it didn't hold a candle.

I think my reduction in the # of migraines might be attributable to this

therapy. I know it utterly and totally and increasingly relaxes me at a

very deep level. I also feel it " opens " up energy flow, but that

statement is not something that's easy to define or determine or

evaluate. I personally feel it is ultimately very important for health.

What role it plays in keeping me from getting worse or helping me improve

I don't know. I'm more certain that it plays a significant role in

undermining the deleterious effects of stress and a busy mind on the

body. Clearly I recommend it but also I know it's worth is very

practioner specific.

Judith

On Wed, 06 Jun 2001 03:53:35 -0000 fe38@... writes:

I just wanted to relate what happened to me today. I was really

feeling lousy still trying to recover from having the first set of

amalgams removed. I had a headache for 2 days that wouldn't go away,

pressure behind my eyes, very sensitive to light and noise, and

exhausted. I went in for a 1 hour treatment of craniosacral therapy

and felt like a totally new person - still a little tired, but not

that horrible lead weight kind of tired. Headache gone and no more

sensitivity to light and sound. I actually had enough energy to

enjoy the evening.

I've tried craniosacral therapy 3 times now, and each time I leave

feeling better than I walked in. We'll see how long this lasts. In

the past it's lasted at least a week. Anyone else had any

experiences with craniosacral therapy?

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While it is not something that I include in my treatment approaches,

I would be curious to read Barrett Dorko's response to this. I

attended one of his craniosacral courses as a student during a

clinical rotation.

Bill Hartman

Indianapolis

> Giles asked for opinions on craniosacral therapy. The

following website

> gives plenty of information on this subject:

>

> <http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/cranial.html>

>

> ----------------

>

> Here are some excerpts:

>

> <Craniosacral Therapy

>

> Barrett, M.D.

>

> Craniosacral therapy is one of many terms used to describe a

variety of

> methods based on fanciful claims that:

>

> The human brain makes rhythmic movements at a rate of 10 to 14

cycles per

> minute, a periodicity unrelated to breathing or heart rate. Small

cranial

> pulsations can be felt with the fingertips. Restriction of movement

of the

> cranial sutures (where the skull bones meet) interfere with the

normal flow

> of cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain and

spinal cord)

> and cause disease. Diseases can be diagnosed by detecting

aberrations in this

> rhythm. Pain (especially of the jaw joint) and many other ailments

can be

> remedied by pressing on the skull bones.

>

> Most practitioners are osteopaths, massage therapists,

chiropractors,

> dentists, or physical therapists. The other terms used to describe

what they

> do include cranial osteopathy, cranial therapy, bio cranial

therapy, and two

> chiropractic variants called craniopathy and sacro occipital

technique (SOT).

>

> Dubious Claims

>

> Craniosacral therapy was originated by osteopath G.

Sutherland, who

> published his first article on this subject in the early 1930s.

Today's

> leading proponent is Upledger, DO, who operates the Upledger

Institute

> of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Various Institute publications have

claimed:

>

> CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, noninvasive manipulative

technique. Seldom

> does the therapist apply pressure that exceeds five grams or the

equivalent

> weight of a nickel. Examination is done by testing for movement in

various

> parts of the system. Often, when movement testing is completed, the

> restriction has been removed and the system is able to self-correct

[1].

>

> The rhythm of the craniosacral system can be detected in much the

same way as

> the rhythms of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. But

unlike those

> body systems, both evaluation and correction of the craniosacral

system can

> be accomplished through palpation. CranioSacral Therapy is used for

a myriad

> of health problems, including headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ

dysfunction,

> chronic fatigue, motor-coordination difficulties, eye problems,

endogenous

> depression, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, central

nervous system

> disorders, and many other conditions [2].

>

> Practitioners today rely on CranioSacral Therapy to improve the

functioning

> of the central nervous system, eliminate the negative effects of

stress,

> strengthen resistance to disease, and enhance overall health [3].

>

> Using a soft touch generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the

weight of

> a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral

system to

> improve the functioning of the central nervous system. By

complementing the

> body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a

preventive

> health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease,

and is

> effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain

and

> dysfunction, including: migraine headaches; chronic neck and back

pain;

> motor-coordination impairments; colic; autism; central nervous

system

> disorders; orthopedic problems; traumatic brain and spinal cord

injuries;

> scoliosis; infantile disorders; learning disabilities; chronic

fatigue;

> emotional difficulties; stress and tension-related problems;

fibromyalgia and

> other connective-tissue disorders; temporomandibular joint syndrome

(TMJ);

> neurovascular or immune disorders; post-traumatic stress disorder;

> post-surgical dysfunction [4].

>

> The Upledger Institute also advocates and teaches " visceral

manipulation, " a

> bizarre treatment system whose practitioners are claimed to

detect " rhythmic

> motions " of the intestines and other internal organs and to

manipulate them

> to " improve the functioning of individual organs, the systems the

organs

> function within, and the structural integrity of the entire body. "

[5]...

>

> The Scientific Viewpoint

>

> I do not believe that craniosacral therapy has any therapeutic

value. Its

> underlying theory is false because the bones of the skull fuse

during infancy

> and no research has ever demonstrated that manual manipulation can

move the

> individual cranial bones. Nor do I believe that " the rhythms of the

> craniosacral system can be felt as clearly as the rhythms of the

> cardiovascular and respiratory systems, " as is claimed by another

Upledger

> Institute brochure [8]. The brain does pulsate, but this is

exclusively

> related to the cardiovascular system [9], and no relationship

between brain

> pulsation and general health has been demonstrated.

>

> A few years ago, three physical therapists who examined the same 12

patients

> diagnosed significantly different " craniosacral rates, " which is

the expected

> outcome of measuring a nonexistent phenomenon [10]. Another study

compared

> the " craniosacral rate " measured at the head and feet of 28 adults

by two

> examiners and found that the results were highly inconsistent [11].

>

> In 1999, after doing a comprehensive review of published studies,

the British

> Columbia Office of Health Technology Assessment (BCOHTA) concluded

that the

> theory is invalid and that practitioners cannot reliably measure

what they

> claim to be modifying. The 68-page report concludes that " there is

> insufficient evidence to recommend craniosacral therapy to

patients,

> practitioners, or third party payers. " ...........

>

> ----------

>

> Dr Mel C Siff

> Denver, USA

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/

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At 05:09 PM 7/18/02 +0000, you wrote:

>While it is not something that I include in my treatment approaches,

>I would be curious to read Barrett Dorko's response to this. I

>attended one of his craniosacral courses as a student during a

>clinical rotation.

>

>Bill Hartman

Bill,

Thanks for asking. I taught a course entitled " The Cranial Concept " up

until " 85 or so but then dropped that description as I became increasingly

aware of the neurobiology that explained what I was seeing far more

reasonably than any of the Osteopathic ideas I'd come across. Many times

since I've spoken to former students who can only remember what I was

proposing years earlier and had never read the hundreds of essays I'd

published since, many of them distinctly at odds with my old proclamations

and theories. Perhaps 15 years from now I'll be explaining my future

practice to my current students in the same way. I have become (and have

been for years) a critic of this method for what I consider its inability

to explain in reasonable terms the science behind it and, of course, its

outrageous claims of success.

I continue to employ sustained, gentle handling as a manual method for the

management of abnormal neurodynamics and much of what I do appears

remarkably similar to cranial technique. I understand things much

differently however, and I expect that understanding to grow as the years

pass. The technique may not.

I think you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about my thinking by

reading " From Dorko's Desk " on my web site, looking through the posts in

" Barrett's Bullypit: The Deep Model of Neurogenic Pain " and " The News from

Cuyahoga Falls " on <http://rehabedge.com> and my contributions to the

discussion on <http://noigroup.com> There you'll see what I might have

learned since you were a student. Consider contributing to the discussions

yourself. Let's see what you have learned.

Barrett L. Dorko, P.T.

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

<http://barrettdorko.com>

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Hi group, just to add to cranial therapy...this is from the Abstracts

from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

for March/April 1994 by Marc G. Pick, DC.

Any comments?

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the hypothesis that external cranial

manipulation can cause change within the structures of the human

brain.

Clinical Features: The single case study was performed on an

asymptomatic 42-year-old man utilizing a mid-sagital magnetic

resonance image (MRI) scan. The MRI scan was administered without

manipulative pressure but with the investigators contacts on the test

subjects maxillary palate and frontal/parietal region surround the

bregma. Measurements were taken along the superior border of the

corpus callosum, the width of the fornix column, the exposed

anterior/superior wall of the lateral ventricle posterior to the

fornix, the angular surface of the cerebellar central lobule and the

posterior surface of the inferior colliculi.

Intervention and Outcome: Results from the second MRI (administered

during the application of external cranial pressure) demonstrated

elimination of a 5 mm peak along the superior border of the corpus

callosum and a 4 mm reduction in the width of the fornix column. The

exposed anterior/superior wall of the lateral ventricle posterior to

the fornix column increased 51 degrees cephalad with manipulative

application. The angular surface of the central lobule altered by

minus 26 degrees, and the posterior surface of the inferior colliculi

varied by minus 7 degrees. The subject experienced no change in his

asymptomatic condition as a result of this study.

Conclusion: The present study supports the theory that external

cranial manipulation affects the structure of the brain. It also

suggests support for the theory regarding suture mobility.

This section was part of a chiropractic continuing education seminar:

http://www.chiropractic.ch

Morphology of the cranial vault sutures

In the human skull, each bone is segregated from the other by

articular seams known as sutures. For years anatomists believed that

sutures functioned as primary growth regions of the skull and served

no purpose other than to hold the skull together 1,Z3. However,

recent studies now question the old theories and suggest the sutures

developed to permit independent cranial bone motion throughout the

skull. In 1956, Pritchard demonstrated the existence of five tissue

layers and vascular vessels residing within the suture's articular

seams 4. He further suggested that they form a strong bond of union

between adjacent bones and allow for slight articular motion. In

1971, Baker reported the movement of the cranial bones along the

sutures with the application of maxillary arch expansion s. Other

studies such as those performed by Retzlaff & 6, Kostopoulos

& Keramidas 7, Wood 8, Pavlin 9, Derman 10, Kragt 11, Moss 12 and Mc

Elhanely 13, all suggest the presence of allowable motion within the

sutures of the human skull.

Because the skull is essentially a closed structural unit, access to

the internal structures via the suture's articular unions would seem

to be an obvious mode of entry. This is substantiated by the internal

meninges infiltration through the suture's articular seam to become

the external periosteum of the cranial vault. With this relationship

in mind, it becomes apparent that manipulative applications to the

external cranial structures can transmit through the sutures to alter

the structure around and through the brain (Pick, 1994)14.

When viewed topographically, the articulations that constitute the

sutural seams are often deceiving to the eye. Frequently, what

appears to be a simple or direct articular junction, may in fact be a

complex integration of overlapping beveled surfaces inundated with

sockets, ridges and interlocking undercuts. Unfortunately, if the

practioner is incognizant of the articulation's concealed

characteristics, manipulative attempts can be inhibited by these

features and may ultimately result in negating the procedure's

therapeutic response. In this session, the accessible sutures of the

cranial vault will be dissected and reviewed for their morphological

characteristics. Accompanying each suture's description will be a

brief explanation of the optimum contacts and manipulative maneuvers

to disengage its articular seam.

1.Gray H, Gross CM, eds., Anatomy of the human body, 29th (Am) ed.

Philadelphia; Lea & Febiger, 1973:296.

2.Romanes GJ, ed., Cunningham's textbook of anatomy, 11th ed. London;

Oxford University

Press, 1972:207.

3.Warwick R, PL, eds., Gray's anatomy of the human body,

35th (Br) ed. Philadelphia;

W.B. Saunders, 1973:389.

4.Pritchard JJ, JH, Girgis FG, The Structure and Development of

Cranial Facial Sutures, J

Anat. Vol 90, pp. 73-85 (1956).

5.Baker EG, Alternation in Width of Maxillary Arch and its Relation

to Sutural Movement of Crania/ Bones, J Am Osteopathic Assoc. 1971,

70:559-4.

6.Retzlaft EV, DK, Cranial bone mobility, J Am Osteopathic

Assoc. 1975; 74:869-73.

7.Kostopoulos DC, Keramidas G, Changes in Elongation of Falx Cerebri

during Craniosacral Therapy Techniques Applied on the Skull of an

Embalmed Cadaver, J Cranialmandibular Practice 1992; 10:9-12.

8.Wood J, Dynamic response of human and cranial bones; J Biomechanics

1971; 4:1 -12.

9.Pavlin D, Vukicevic D, Mechanical reactions of facial skeleton to

maxillary expansion determined

by laser holography, Am J Ortho. 1984; 85(6):498-507.

10.Dermant LR, Beerden L, The effects of class 11 elastic force on a

dry skull measured by holographic intefferometry. Am J Ortho.1981; 79

(3): 296-304.

11. Kragt C, Measurement of bone displacement in a macerated human

skull induced by orthodontic force, a holographic study; J

Biomechanics 1979, 12:905-10.

12.Moss ML, Extrinsic determination of sutural area morphology in the

rat calvania, Acta Anat. 1961; 44:263-72.

13.McElhaneyJ, et al., Mechanical properties of cranial bones, J

Biomechanics 1970; 3:495-511.

14.Pick MG, A preliminary sing/e case magnetic resonance imaging

investigation into maxillary frontal-panetal manipulation and its

short-term effect upon the intercranial structures of an adult human

brain; J Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1994; 17(3):168-

73.

Giles

Sydney, Australia

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Hi group, just to add to cranial therapy...this is from the Abstracts

from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

for March/April 1994 by Marc G. Pick, DC.

Any comments?

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the hypothesis that external cranial

manipulation can cause change within the structures of the human

brain.

Clinical Features: The single case study was performed on an

asymptomatic 42-year-old man utilizing a mid-sagital magnetic

resonance image (MRI) scan. The MRI scan was administered without

manipulative pressure but with the investigators contacts on the test

subjects maxillary palate and frontal/parietal region surround the

bregma. Measurements were taken along the superior border of the

corpus callosum, the width of the fornix column, the exposed

anterior/superior wall of the lateral ventricle posterior to the

fornix, the angular surface of the cerebellar central lobule and the

posterior surface of the inferior colliculi.

Intervention and Outcome: Results from the second MRI (administered

during the application of external cranial pressure) demonstrated

elimination of a 5 mm peak along the superior border of the corpus

callosum and a 4 mm reduction in the width of the fornix column. The

exposed anterior/superior wall of the lateral ventricle posterior to

the fornix column increased 51 degrees cephalad with manipulative

application. The angular surface of the central lobule altered by

minus 26 degrees, and the posterior surface of the inferior colliculi

varied by minus 7 degrees. The subject experienced no change in his

asymptomatic condition as a result of this study.

Conclusion: The present study supports the theory that external

cranial manipulation affects the structure of the brain. It also

suggests support for the theory regarding suture mobility.

This section was part of a chiropractic continuing education seminar:

http://www.chiropractic.ch

Morphology of the cranial vault sutures

In the human skull, each bone is segregated from the other by

articular seams known as sutures. For years anatomists believed that

sutures functioned as primary growth regions of the skull and served

no purpose other than to hold the skull together 1,Z3. However,

recent studies now question the old theories and suggest the sutures

developed to permit independent cranial bone motion throughout the

skull. In 1956, Pritchard demonstrated the existence of five tissue

layers and vascular vessels residing within the suture's articular

seams 4. He further suggested that they form a strong bond of union

between adjacent bones and allow for slight articular motion. In

1971, Baker reported the movement of the cranial bones along the

sutures with the application of maxillary arch expansion s. Other

studies such as those performed by Retzlaff & 6, Kostopoulos

& Keramidas 7, Wood 8, Pavlin 9, Derman 10, Kragt 11, Moss 12 and Mc

Elhanely 13, all suggest the presence of allowable motion within the

sutures of the human skull.

Because the skull is essentially a closed structural unit, access to

the internal structures via the suture's articular unions would seem

to be an obvious mode of entry. This is substantiated by the internal

meninges infiltration through the suture's articular seam to become

the external periosteum of the cranial vault. With this relationship

in mind, it becomes apparent that manipulative applications to the

external cranial structures can transmit through the sutures to alter

the structure around and through the brain (Pick, 1994)14.

When viewed topographically, the articulations that constitute the

sutural seams are often deceiving to the eye. Frequently, what

appears to be a simple or direct articular junction, may in fact be a

complex integration of overlapping beveled surfaces inundated with

sockets, ridges and interlocking undercuts. Unfortunately, if the

practioner is incognizant of the articulation's concealed

characteristics, manipulative attempts can be inhibited by these

features and may ultimately result in negating the procedure's

therapeutic response. In this session, the accessible sutures of the

cranial vault will be dissected and reviewed for their morphological

characteristics. Accompanying each suture's description will be a

brief explanation of the optimum contacts and manipulative maneuvers

to disengage its articular seam.

1.Gray H, Gross CM, eds., Anatomy of the human body, 29th (Am) ed.

Philadelphia; Lea & Febiger, 1973:296.

2.Romanes GJ, ed., Cunningham's textbook of anatomy, 11th ed. London;

Oxford University

Press, 1972:207.

3.Warwick R, PL, eds., Gray's anatomy of the human body,

35th (Br) ed. Philadelphia;

W.B. Saunders, 1973:389.

4.Pritchard JJ, JH, Girgis FG, The Structure and Development of

Cranial Facial Sutures, J

Anat. Vol 90, pp. 73-85 (1956).

5.Baker EG, Alternation in Width of Maxillary Arch and its Relation

to Sutural Movement of Crania/ Bones, J Am Osteopathic Assoc. 1971,

70:559-4.

6.Retzlaft EV, DK, Cranial bone mobility, J Am Osteopathic

Assoc. 1975; 74:869-73.

7.Kostopoulos DC, Keramidas G, Changes in Elongation of Falx Cerebri

during Craniosacral Therapy Techniques Applied on the Skull of an

Embalmed Cadaver, J Cranialmandibular Practice 1992; 10:9-12.

8.Wood J, Dynamic response of human and cranial bones; J Biomechanics

1971; 4:1 -12.

9.Pavlin D, Vukicevic D, Mechanical reactions of facial skeleton to

maxillary expansion determined

by laser holography, Am J Ortho. 1984; 85(6):498-507.

10.Dermant LR, Beerden L, The effects of class 11 elastic force on a

dry skull measured by holographic intefferometry. Am J Ortho.1981; 79

(3): 296-304.

11. Kragt C, Measurement of bone displacement in a macerated human

skull induced by orthodontic force, a holographic study; J

Biomechanics 1979, 12:905-10.

12.Moss ML, Extrinsic determination of sutural area morphology in the

rat calvania, Acta Anat. 1961; 44:263-72.

13.McElhaneyJ, et al., Mechanical properties of cranial bones, J

Biomechanics 1970; 3:495-511.

14.Pick MG, A preliminary sing/e case magnetic resonance imaging

investigation into maxillary frontal-panetal manipulation and its

short-term effect upon the intercranial structures of an adult human

brain; J Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1994; 17(3):168-

73.

Giles

Sydney, Australia

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Guest guest

Hi group, just to add to cranial therapy...this is from the Abstracts

from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

for March/April 1994 by Marc G. Pick, DC.

Any comments?

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the hypothesis that external cranial

manipulation can cause change within the structures of the human

brain.

Clinical Features: The single case study was performed on an

asymptomatic 42-year-old man utilizing a mid-sagital magnetic

resonance image (MRI) scan. The MRI scan was administered without

manipulative pressure but with the investigators contacts on the test

subjects maxillary palate and frontal/parietal region surround the

bregma. Measurements were taken along the superior border of the

corpus callosum, the width of the fornix column, the exposed

anterior/superior wall of the lateral ventricle posterior to the

fornix, the angular surface of the cerebellar central lobule and the

posterior surface of the inferior colliculi.

Intervention and Outcome: Results from the second MRI (administered

during the application of external cranial pressure) demonstrated

elimination of a 5 mm peak along the superior border of the corpus

callosum and a 4 mm reduction in the width of the fornix column. The

exposed anterior/superior wall of the lateral ventricle posterior to

the fornix column increased 51 degrees cephalad with manipulative

application. The angular surface of the central lobule altered by

minus 26 degrees, and the posterior surface of the inferior colliculi

varied by minus 7 degrees. The subject experienced no change in his

asymptomatic condition as a result of this study.

Conclusion: The present study supports the theory that external

cranial manipulation affects the structure of the brain. It also

suggests support for the theory regarding suture mobility.

This section was part of a chiropractic continuing education seminar:

http://www.chiropractic.ch

Morphology of the cranial vault sutures

In the human skull, each bone is segregated from the other by

articular seams known as sutures. For years anatomists believed that

sutures functioned as primary growth regions of the skull and served

no purpose other than to hold the skull together 1,Z3. However,

recent studies now question the old theories and suggest the sutures

developed to permit independent cranial bone motion throughout the

skull. In 1956, Pritchard demonstrated the existence of five tissue

layers and vascular vessels residing within the suture's articular

seams 4. He further suggested that they form a strong bond of union

between adjacent bones and allow for slight articular motion. In

1971, Baker reported the movement of the cranial bones along the

sutures with the application of maxillary arch expansion s. Other

studies such as those performed by Retzlaff & 6, Kostopoulos

& Keramidas 7, Wood 8, Pavlin 9, Derman 10, Kragt 11, Moss 12 and Mc

Elhanely 13, all suggest the presence of allowable motion within the

sutures of the human skull.

Because the skull is essentially a closed structural unit, access to

the internal structures via the suture's articular unions would seem

to be an obvious mode of entry. This is substantiated by the internal

meninges infiltration through the suture's articular seam to become

the external periosteum of the cranial vault. With this relationship

in mind, it becomes apparent that manipulative applications to the

external cranial structures can transmit through the sutures to alter

the structure around and through the brain (Pick, 1994)14.

When viewed topographically, the articulations that constitute the

sutural seams are often deceiving to the eye. Frequently, what

appears to be a simple or direct articular junction, may in fact be a

complex integration of overlapping beveled surfaces inundated with

sockets, ridges and interlocking undercuts. Unfortunately, if the

practioner is incognizant of the articulation's concealed

characteristics, manipulative attempts can be inhibited by these

features and may ultimately result in negating the procedure's

therapeutic response. In this session, the accessible sutures of the

cranial vault will be dissected and reviewed for their morphological

characteristics. Accompanying each suture's description will be a

brief explanation of the optimum contacts and manipulative maneuvers

to disengage its articular seam.

1.Gray H, Gross CM, eds., Anatomy of the human body, 29th (Am) ed.

Philadelphia; Lea & Febiger, 1973:296.

2.Romanes GJ, ed., Cunningham's textbook of anatomy, 11th ed. London;

Oxford University

Press, 1972:207.

3.Warwick R, PL, eds., Gray's anatomy of the human body,

35th (Br) ed. Philadelphia;

W.B. Saunders, 1973:389.

4.Pritchard JJ, JH, Girgis FG, The Structure and Development of

Cranial Facial Sutures, J

Anat. Vol 90, pp. 73-85 (1956).

5.Baker EG, Alternation in Width of Maxillary Arch and its Relation

to Sutural Movement of Crania/ Bones, J Am Osteopathic Assoc. 1971,

70:559-4.

6.Retzlaft EV, DK, Cranial bone mobility, J Am Osteopathic

Assoc. 1975; 74:869-73.

7.Kostopoulos DC, Keramidas G, Changes in Elongation of Falx Cerebri

during Craniosacral Therapy Techniques Applied on the Skull of an

Embalmed Cadaver, J Cranialmandibular Practice 1992; 10:9-12.

8.Wood J, Dynamic response of human and cranial bones; J Biomechanics

1971; 4:1 -12.

9.Pavlin D, Vukicevic D, Mechanical reactions of facial skeleton to

maxillary expansion determined

by laser holography, Am J Ortho. 1984; 85(6):498-507.

10.Dermant LR, Beerden L, The effects of class 11 elastic force on a

dry skull measured by holographic intefferometry. Am J Ortho.1981; 79

(3): 296-304.

11. Kragt C, Measurement of bone displacement in a macerated human

skull induced by orthodontic force, a holographic study; J

Biomechanics 1979, 12:905-10.

12.Moss ML, Extrinsic determination of sutural area morphology in the

rat calvania, Acta Anat. 1961; 44:263-72.

13.McElhaneyJ, et al., Mechanical properties of cranial bones, J

Biomechanics 1970; 3:495-511.

14.Pick MG, A preliminary sing/e case magnetic resonance imaging

investigation into maxillary frontal-panetal manipulation and its

short-term effect upon the intercranial structures of an adult human

brain; J Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1994; 17(3):168-

73.

Giles

Sydney, Australia

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  • 1 year later...

Dear Mike,

You are truly a God send to our list. I thank you so very much for taking

the time to reply to me, and to give me such truly valuable information on

CST. I am really learning a lot, and I always welcome that. Dr.

Fryer is actually the cardio we were sent to visit with about doing CST, and

he is the one who said that sometimes multiple sessions are needed. How can

I know what level of CST training he has? My EDS III (Hypermobility) is NOT

mild. I also have Classical EDS, and some vascular components which include

autonomic nervous system dysfunctions. My skin biopsy ruled out VEDS, thank

God. I did tell Dr. Fryer, though, very carefully and in great

detail about my spinal stenosis with spinal cord impingement (and at what

vertebrae), my prior c-spine fusion, my POTS, my severe IBS, etc. He and

his physician's asst. listened with great interest. Dr. Grubb (MCO, Toledo,

OH--my Electrophysiologist) is also familiar with Dr. Fryer, and seemed ok

with him doing CST on us from a Dysautonomia standpoint. I will take the

matter up with Dr. Grubb in more detail when I see him next week, though,

and will also seek the opinion of Dr. Clair Francomano at the NIA/NIH (who

is doing the study on EDS and other connective tissue disorders which I am

participating in). It was Brion who had the headache relieved by CST, not

me. I do periodically have migraines, though. You are more than welcome to

visit us here in Sulphur Springs anytime! We'd love to have you, and

greatly look forward to meeting you! I've heard so many good things about

you from my Sis, Lana (on the CEDA list). There is a very nice RV park very

near my home, too. :)

Love and many thanks,

~LoneStarRose~

(~~)

[ceda] Re: CST: To Brion/

> I have comments to make on several points raised in these emails.

>

> (1) " it is my understanding that CST requires multiple sessions

> within a period of a few weeks/months order to achieve optimum

> benefits. "

>

> This is categorically NOT true. It depends entirely on what is

> involved. Yes, in some cases it will take weeks or months. But what

> I have been told is that it is very common for someone to get 90

> percent of the total benefit of it in just one session. It also

> depends on what aspect of CST is being done. If hard palate, inside

> the mouth work is being done, the general recommendation is for at

> least one, and preferably two, one-hour full body sessions to be

> done first. But a blanket statement that weeks or months is required

> for optimal results in all cases simply is not true. Look at

> Brion's example of results in one 30 minute session.

>

> (2) " Because the unique problems that EDS patients have with their

> spines, I would be careful about who you go to for Craniosacral

> therapy. Maybe you could get a referral from a specialist who knows

> you? I have seen some massage therapists advertise that they do

> Craniosacral therapy, but personally I will only go to someone with

> an MD/DO training just to be safe. There is a DO in Madison that

> advertises that she does Craniosacral therapy- D.O. means " Doctor

> of Osteopathy. " Not to knock massage therapists, they are a

> wonderful resource. "

>

> Please, please, please read the post that I wrote yesterday on CST.

> Being an MD or DO DOES NOT BY ITSELF IN ANYWAY qualify someone to

> adequately do CST! Training in CST does NOT involve just taking one

> course or class in it. There are several " levels " of training. You

> need to know what level the individual has had. I have assisted

> several people on the list in finding practitioners and I can

> absolutely assure you that I have in many instances found LMT's or

> PT's in an area who were far and away, hands-down, better qualified

> than any doctor or DO on the list in that area.

>

> (3) " I had a constant headache in a very localized, precise area on

> the right upper side of my head for two years, that started after a

> roller coaster ride on the Texas Giant, a wooden roller coaster in

> Dallas that whipped my head from side to side for several minutes "

>

> Without knowing the EXACT location of the headache, I can think of

> at least two or three very probable causes that could easily be

> addressed by CST. One would be a " jamming " of the right Parietal

> and Temporal bone suture. A second could be a jamming of the right

> Parietal along the Frontal suture. And, there are a number of

> possible " lesions " involving the Sphenoid bone. The first two would

> usually be " fixed " in one session as part of the basic " ten-step "

> procedure that is taught in level one. If the Sphenoid bone was the

> culprit, depending on the type of " lesion, " I would say either level

> one or level two. If it affected the hard palate as well, then I

> would be looking for someone at a level three, even though level two

> gets training in doing it.

>

>

> (4) " Mike, another EDSer and father of Barb, yet another EDSer and

> both list members of our several EDS lists is a trained massage

> therapist who has special training in CST. He says that he has had

> good results with using CST in some EDSer's. I'd simply love to

> have Mike work on me and both my sons (both of them are EDSer's,

> too....we have Classical and Hypermobility Types, with some vascular

> components), but he is in Seattle, I think. I'm not opposed to

> traveling there (I fly everyplace else for medical help, so why not

> there, too?:) Since I'm in Sulphur Springs, TX, flying to Seattle

> for weekly sessions is a bit of a stretch for my pain tolerance and

> motherly duties.....especially during the school year. "

>

> A couple of comments. I did a quick check for Sulphur Springs and

> only found one CST listing and that was for level one. I can't tell

> enough about the individual from the listing to be comfortable

> recommending them. There are, however, over 2000 practitioners

> listed for Texas with varying levels of training. But, you are not

> that far from Dallas and there are at least 3-4 I would be more than

> comfortable recommending. One is Dr. Fryer. Another is

> Sally Fryer, who is a PT. Of the two, Sally Fryer actually has a

> better CST/bodywork background than Fryer. I would suspect

> that the going " rates " might be less with a PT than a full MD.

>

> For mild type III EDS, I would have no qualms recommending a level

> one practitioner, although I would prefer at least a level two. My

> own training is through level two. My hesitation is NOT because of

> concern of causing injury. My hesitation is whether they know enough

> to be able to do any good. I would have far greater concerns about

> someone seeing a " fully qualified " PT or DO who didn't understand

> EDS than I ever would about someone with EDS seeing someone with

> just the basic training in CST, if all that was being done was CST.

> Once again, CST is an extremely gentle, non-invasive modality. A

> perfect example of what I mean by this is that, even though I highly

> recommended to that she try a couple of sessions of CST on

> Dylan, I did not do them myself. I have absolutely no fear or

> concern that I was going to hurt him or in any way make anything

> worse. My basis was that I felt he should be seen by someone with a

> higher skill level than mine to be able to get the most out of it.

> But the main reason I didn't was time. I can (and did) find her a

> very highly trained CST practitioner fairly close by. I felt our

> time could be more profitably spent by concentrating on

> those " things " that I do that she can't find locally and then

> helping her find someone there for the other stuff, even if I did

> feel comfortable doing the " other stuff " myself.

>

> And that leads right in to your comment about " I'd simply love to

> have Mike work on me and both my sons. " If you called me and said

> you wanted to come out and have me do CST on you or your sons - I

> would tell you right up front that you could do far better right

> there in your area. You have practitioners fairly close by who are

> far more qualifed in CST than I am. On the other hand, if you

> wanted someone who could do the CST, balance it out with lymphatic

> drainage, add whatever Myofascial Release work was necessary, and

> then throw in some acupressure, polarity and directed energy to

> round it all out ... That's a different matter. My " strength " isn't

> in being a " specialist " in any particular modality. My " strength "

> is in having a working level competency in an unusually broad range

> of modalities that allows me blend them and integrate them in a

> single session as necessary without having to resort to three or

> four specialists to get the job done.

>

> And to wind this one up - I keep saying " Be careful what you ask

> for. " If I can figure out how to operate all the systems on our RV

> in the next few weeks (now that we finally have it back from the

> accident), I intend to start laying out some trip plans for the

> year. We are tentatively looking at about three weeks on the road in

> March to run down through the southwest (specifically to Oklahoma so

> my wife can see where her family comes from) and then another three

> weeks in April to go through the Dakotas to visit where I came

> from. Then, sometime after the middle of June, we are looking at a

> much longer trip. It could run anywhere from 30 to 90 days on the

> road. On the short end, it would be back to the mid-west (Wisconsin,

> Michigan and Indiana). On the long end, itt could be full cross

> country and back, with zig-zagging detours along the way, depending

> on how many replies I got to a Post that simply said " Anybody want

> me to stop by? "

>

>

>

> To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://www.ceda.ca

>

>

>

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  • 5 years later...

Hi, I am a massage therapist and have studied cranio-sacral therapy. It is very

successful with musculature, plus its very beneficial to get the natural rhythm

back into the cerebro-spinal fluid of the dura-mater in the spinal cord. Its

been proven to help children with autism, although the hard part is having the

child relax enough to get the release work done. Its light touch work but the

best results come when the client is still enough to benefit. With children, I

am told, the releases happen faster so they don't need to be still as long as

adults. I have been taking my son to a CST and he likes to go, so I feel it does

him some good ,just to be in that space where he can relax and the therapist is

very gentle and has done some releases. I usually sit in with him and put my

hands on my son too. Its a pretty subtle healing energy, but its definitely

there.

I have friends that swear he has done alot of good with their kiddos.

I hope this is helpful. I am no expert, but this is my experience.

Heidi

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It has helped several of my patients.

On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 8:58 AM, Donna <donna12345au@...> wrote:

>

>

> Has anyone tried this with their child with success?...Am thinking of

> trying, as ds had a problem with his neck muscles when 4mths old from only

> wanting to sleep on one side. Any feedback much appreciated,

> Thanks,..Donna

> Aussie mum to C-5-ASD

> J-10-NT

>

>

>

--

God's blessings in Christ,

Your Partner in Health,

N. Rydland, M.D., D.A.B.P.

Founder and developer of kidsWellness, Inc.

Natural products and information for healthier families

www.kidswellness.com

www.rydlandjuice.com

Main office:

1921 Commonwealth Drive

Charlottesville, VA 22901

434-984-KIDS (5437)

Fax: 434-984-5439

Other offices:

140 N.E. 119 St

North Miami, FL

2316 Hollywood Blvd

Hollywood, Fl 33020

12595 S.W. 137 Ave, Suite 108

Miami Fl 33186

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Sounds like torticollis. Please research it, torticolliskids I think is still

around. Watch out for plagio. See a chiropractor, pt and lots of home

stretching and strengthening. More advice, yell. Gotta run to work!

Tammy

[ ] Craniosacral therapy

Has anyone tried this with their child with success?...Am thinking of trying,

as ds had a problem with his neck muscles when 4mths old from only wanting to

sleep on one side. Any feedback much appreciated,

Thanks,..Donna

Aussie mum to C-5-ASD

J-10-NT

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Thanks to all who responded to my query regarding CST. I should have been more

specific in that ds DID have a problem with his neck muscles when he was 4mth

old due to only wanting to sleep on one side(wouldn't seem to settle on his

other side and also made his ear cartlidge become mishaped),..took a few weeks

to eventually loosen up his neck muscles and be able to turn his head to both

sides. He hasn't a problem at all with his neck muscles now so doesn't need to

see a Chiropractor. Was just wondering whether CST would help loosen things up a

bit because of the damage already done as a baby...

I can't get over the fact that something so simple as CST cured this boy in this

video..like 2 completely different people from a 4 yr old to a grown man. Please

watch, or look it up on youtube.

(YOUTUBE: Autism Cured: The Story of )

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