1. Many people are not familiar with Cranial Sacral Therapy. And to be honest, there are a few
different types of this therapy depending on which Instructor teaches it.
I started out 15 years ago studying with The Upledger Institute in W. Palm Beach, Fl. Dr.
John Upledger was a Doctor of Osteopathy. All forms of cranial work originate from
osteopathic principles. (a branch of medical practice that emphasizes the treatment of medical disorders
through the manipulation and massage of the bones, joints, and muscles)
The Upledger Institute teaches a very gentle form of cranial therapy using only 5 grams of pressure to the
body. This type of work comes in handy for those with Fibromyalgia or for those who have experienced a
traumatic accident and are in a lot of pain. Despite its name, cranial (head or top of the spine) sacral
(tailbone or bottom of the spine), the whole body is treated. Many people fall asleep during the treatment
and have reported that this is the only good sleep they have gotten in quite some time due to the pain they
have experienced.
So what does cranial sacral therapy actually do to the body? It releases and relaxes muscles, tendons and
ligaments while decompressing the whole spine and cranial bones. This can alleviate bulging or herniated
discs in the spine painlessly. On the head, it decompresses the sutures and facial bones allowing the head
to pump the cerebral spinal fluid throughout the head and spine. This spinal fluid is a big part of your
immune system protection. It pumps inside a tube that is inside the spine and head. If the bones are stuck,
there is not much pumping action and your immune system becomes compromised.
Releasing the facial bones allows the sinuses to clear and sometimes hearing and eyesight improve. TMJ -
clenching the teeth or grinding - can also be alleviated quite easily so that bite guards are no longer
necessary. This clenching also contributes to the cranial bones being stuck and is significantly responsible
for the tightening of the neck and shoulder muscles! So all during the night while you are clenching (or
even during the day) your muscles are working overtime and needlessly causing you pain, usually in the
form of a major headache.
So what is another type of cranial therapy? It’s one that uses more than 5 grams of pressure to accomplish
the same things. This one is called Cranial Structural Integration.
It’s premise is that the bones and sutures of the head correlate to the muscles of the body. By releasing

2. the cranial sutures and performing specific techniques to release the bones, you simultaneously release
the muscles of the body. Really amazing isn’t it??
Cranial Structural Integration has also discovered that almost all bodies have a basic core distortion (twist)
in the body which can be released using a specific procedure on the head. Once this is cleared, the body
responds in miraculous ways because many old patterns of dysfunction clear immediately. Some may take
a few treatments, but significant relief is felt right away throughout the whole body.
Another technique that involves freeing up the cranial bones is Cranial Release Technique (CRT). This only
takes a minute to do and facilitates a more “global” release of the cranial bones to start things off. Then I
can fine tune with more specific movements. CRT also balances the right/left sides of the brain and body
and turns off the nervous system response in the body so you can relax.
If you would like a cranial treatment, it is a good idea to book 1.5 hours so that the muscles can be
addressed in addition to the cranial sacral work.
Janice has been doing Cranial Sacral Therapy and Therapeutic Massage for 16 years.
She can be reached at: 239-272-8539
5051 Castello Dr., #226
Naples, FL 34103
http://www.MassageNaplesFl.com