| Craniosacral therapy (CST) is based on the belief | | | | ailments and whether the tenets of the |
| that by using light pressure exhibited through | | | | treatment hold up to medical scrutiny. |
| touch the pressures afflicted on the craniosacral | | | | According to advocates there are numerous |
| system can be reduced, thereby leading to | | | | benefits to CST treatment. These include |
| wellness in individuals with certain conditions | | | | alleviations of such conditions as migraines, chronic |
| affecting the brain, spine and other areas of the | | | | neck and back pain, temporomandibular joint |
| body. | | | | disorder (TMJ), fibromyalgia, attention deficit |
| The craniosacral system encompasses the cranial | | | | disorder (ADD), and chronic fatigue syndrome. |
| bones, cerebrospinal fluid, nerves, and membranes | | | | Many patients with these disorders believe that |
| that encompass the brain and spinal cord. This | | | | their CST treatment helped alleviate the |
| holistic practice also reinforces the idea that the | | | | symptoms associated with these diseases and |
| bones of the cranium can be moved and that this | | | | disorders, enabling them to live healthier lives. |
| movement affects the craniosacral rhythm of the | | | | Opponents argue that the facts, beliefs and |
| cerebrospinal fluid. | | | | tenets of CST are themselves flawed, either |
| This alternative view of medicine differs from the | | | | because of inconclusive research or because of a |
| more mainstream belief in many academic circles | | | | disregard for accepted practices and beliefs in the |
| that the bones that form the skull fuse during | | | | medical field. One of the main arguments against |
| adolescence and are therefore unable to move. | | | | CST is the belief that the bones of the skull |
| The history of CST began with Physician William | | | | cannot move unless great pressure, for example |
| Sutherland, who first postulated the idea between | | | | a medical saw used during neurosurgery, are used |
| 1898 and 1900. In the 1940s Dr. Sutherland | | | | upon the cranium. They belief that the pressure |
| directed a post-graduate course at the American | | | | advocated by supporters of CST, that pressure |
| School of Osteopathy in relation to his findings. | | | | exerted by fingertips alone can help relieve pain |
| From 1975 – 1983 Dr. John Upledger furthered | | | | and ailments, does not hold up to accepted |
| Sutherland's research through various clinical trials | | | | medical practices. |
| and published reports on CST while serving as a | | | | Currently the National Institute of Health is |
| professor of biomechanics and a clinical researcher | | | | conducting clinical trials to determine whether |
| at the University of Michigan. | | | | craniosacral therapy can relieve migraines, which |
| Today there is wide debate among physicians, | | | | are difficult to treat in many patients even with |
| scientists, patients, and licensed CST practitioners | | | | medication. Thus far the research suggests that |
| as to whether or not CST can heal various | | | | such techniques do offer relief to patients. |