Cranial Osteopathy is a non-invasive form of manipulation that focuses on the practitioners acute palpation skills to sense the inherent motion of the cranial bones and cerebral spinal fluid. Most of the work is done with the cranium, and effective pressure is applied to cranial bones to stimulate the body’s self healing mechanism, regulate the nervous system and improve the flow of fluid in the ventricles of the brain.

The reason that this kind of therapy is so effective is that an osteopathic practitioner can detect tension in the body, even in the feet, and how it can affect cranial rhythm. Emotional and physical stress can remain in the body for years after trauma and start to cause changes in the inherent motions of our cranial bones, spinal cord and cerebral spinal fluid. These changes can lead to chronic headaches/migraines, jaw pain, changes in our mood, outlook and personality, and even start to cause long-term effects on the brain tissue itself.

Head trauma is extremely common and commonly misdiagnosed. Even small trauma, like hitting your head on the wall while getting into bed, or getting hit by someone’s elbow accidentally, can cause micro-trauma in the cranium and changes to cranial rhythm. Cranial osteopathy can be an all-inclusive approach or complimentary treatment in a post-concussion disorder treatment plan.

Cranial osteopathy can help detect early signs of scoliosis and brain/spinal pathologies in children, help improve colic or troubled sleepers, improve the suckling and gag reflexes and improve the shape of the skull.

It can also:

help the body manage the effects of stress
reduce tension headaches, improve clarity
manage insomnia
reduce jaw pain (TMJ dysfunction)
reduce muscular tension in neck muscles
relieve symptoms of sinusitis, allergies, anxiety
relieve pressure in the sub-occipital region, reduce condylar compression and improve cranial nerve function (hearing loss, eye sight, taste)

Pippa Middleton was recently interviewed when she claims that she takes her infant to receive cranial osteopathy treatments. She mentioned his overall sense of calm, and changes to his sleeping and digestive habits to be a significant reason as to why she endorses this type of therapy.