Glossary

Craniosacral therapy

[Subterm of Manipulative therapies]

Craniosacral therapy is a form of therapeutic manipulation which is tissue, fluid, membrane, and energy oriented. It is more subtle than any other type of cranial work. The technique was developed in the 1970’s by J.E. Upledger as a refinement of concepts originally put forward by W.G. Sutherland (cranial osteopathy) in the 1930’s. Craniosacral therapy is based on the notion that movement restrictions at the sutures of the skull negatively affect rhythmic impulses conveyed through the cerebrospinal fluid from the cranium to the sacrum. Therapy consists of light touch on various points of cerebral spinal fluid pulsation which is claimed to normalize the cerebrospinal circulation. The normalization through the gentle manipulation on the skull may, in turn, alleviate a large range of symptoms.