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CRANIOSACRAL ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT
By Barbara Connor M.Ac., L.Ac.
& John G. Connor, M.Ac., L.Ac.
Sept. 1999
First of all the patient fills out a Confidential Health History Questionnaire. After going over the medical history we check the pulses and examine the tongue using Oriental Medical diagnosis. Then we palpate the craniosacral rhythm from the legs, shoulders, abdomen and head to determine where the main restrictions are. Helping to release the restrictions or places that are not moving well in a person's body is what ultimately affects total health.
Once we have determined where the main restrictions are, we decide which acupuncture points would be most appropriate to release the restrictions as well as to resolve any underlying TCM disharmony that may be presenting. For example: If we feel that the Left Kidney is restricted, and the person is also Kidney Yin deficient, we might apply pressure to Kid-2 and Kid-3 to see if the amplitude of the craniosacral rhythm improves or not. If it improves, then we would needle one or both of these points.
When inserting the needles, we focus with intent on the organ or area that is restricted. While manipulating the needle, we will feel an “openness” in the needle when we finally get the release. We usually needle on the same side as the restriction, e.g., we might needle Liv-3 on the right for a liver restriction. In the case of right shoulder pain, we would check the liver organ as well as the right shoulder area, because the liver is on the right and it can exert an affect on the right shoulder via the fascia, if it is restricted.
Feeling for the craniosacral rhythm is a two-handed technique whereby we very gently place our hands on the sides of the calves, under the shoulders, on the sides of the head, etc. Remaining quiet and still, we wait to feel the gentle, wavelike motion of the craniosacral rhythm. It usually comes at a rate of 6-12 cycles per minute. It takes the form of a very slight expansion (called flexion) and then a slight narrowing-down (called extension).
When the body is healthy, it exhibits a strong symmetrical rhythm. But in an unhealthy body, the injury or disease areas set up interference waves in the body’s fascia similar to those that occur when one drops a marble into a still pool of water. By observing the interference patterns created by the marble, one can tell exactly where it entered the pool. These waves form arcs, the radii of which intersect at exactly the point where the marble hit the water. The same is true of the wave activity that we feel in the patient. A restriction sets up an interference wave pattern that superimposes itself upon the normal physiological motion of the body. When we manually locate the interference waves, we are able to find the source of the problem.
We can also locate restrictions by utilizing a technique based on interference waves of injury and disease. In this technique, we gently place our hands, in turn, symmetrically on the feet, under the shoulders, thoracic inlet, thighs and head of the patient. At each location, we examine the craniosacral rhythm to see if it is symmetrical. If the arcs described by our hand placements are not symmetrical, we envision the radii of the arcs and determine the position of their intersection. That point is the location of the restriction.
Another technique we use is the lower extremity still point. In this technique, we follow the craniosacral rhythm in the direction or vector of most ease. Both hands, and even the whole body, will pull towards the most restricted area. We follow the rhythm to where it goes up. In this way, we are able to diagnose where the restriction is. If we follow to where it goes up and hold it, then we can allow it to go into a still point. Using our intent, we can get there more quickly, and the restriction will release more quickly. For example, if the Liver is restricted, and we put our focus on the Liver, often the craniosacral rhythm stops, and the rhythm will go into a still point, letting us know that a release has taken place.
We also do releases using the indirect technique. The way this works is that we allow the body’s natural wavelike rhythm to pull our hands to where it wants to go, which is usually opposite to the direction of the restriction. Then, we hold the rhythm from returning to the starting position, and the rhythm will start to wobble or pulsate. This effect is called a therapeutic pulse. When the rhythm stops wobbling or pulsating, we will feel a still point, and this tells us that a release has taken place.
Restrictions in the head that come from the body are:
1) Torsion – occiput & sphenoid are torquing on each other
2) Side Bending Rotation – either the left or right side bulges out
3) Flexion or Extension – body goes more easily into flexion or extension
Restrictions in the head that come from the head or dural tube are:
1) Inferior and Superior Vertical Strain – occiput & sphenoid come up or go down on both sides
2) Lateral Strain – occiput & sphenoid come up on one side
3) Spheno-Basilar Junction Compression – when occiput & sphenoid are stuck together
We use Sphenoid Compression-Decompression to treat torsion, side bending and lateral strain patterns. We always do a Thoracic Inlet release before we do an Occipito-Atlantoid (O-A) release. We do Respiratory and Pelvic Diaphragm releases to resolve restrictions in organs located in the abdominal and thoracic cavities.
We use Compression-Decompression for wrist, knee, ankle, elbow and finger problems including tendonitis, arthritis, sprains, cysts, neuritis, post-surgical knee conditions, etc. In this technique, we stabilize the joint with one hand and compress or push inward with the other hand until the rhythm begins to wobble. Then we allow the rhythm to go into a still point and release itself. Then we decompress or pull out and allow it to go into a still point and release itself. We repeat the process until the craniosacral rhythm returns to normal. For more information on Craniosacral Acupuncture we refer you to our article entitled What is Craniosacral Acupuncture on our website.
Milne, Hugh, The Heart of Listening, Berkeley: North Atlantic Books 1995
Upledger, John E D.O., F.A.A.O. and John D. Vredevoogd, M.F.A. Craniosacral Therapy, Seattle: Eastland Press 1983
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Compassionate Acupuncture & Healing Arts, 4501 Valley Forge Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Tel. 919-309-7753 Email: compassionateacu@mindspring.com
Copyright © 2005 John G. Connor