Primitive reflexes are involuntary muscle reactions to certain types of stimulation. They are found in normal infants and appear and disappear in an expected order. These reflexes differ markedly from those present in older children and adults and their absence in infancy or persistence beyond their time of expected disappearance normally implies some nervous system dysfunction.
With the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system, these reflexes are no longer needed and become integrated by the higher centers of the brain. If they are retained beyond their normal age of integration, they may become a hindrance to the functioning of higher centres of the brain, which include balance, movement, behaviour, learning, and the integration of gross and fine movements.
Retained primitive reflexes may have a structural component, or physical cause, which may be effectively treated by CranioSacral therapy. Treatment of structural imbalances of the head, spine and pelvis may normalize healthy functioning of the central nervous system which is responsible for the sequential integration of the primitive reflexes. CST is effective at strengthening motor coordination, sensory perception, and neuromuscular function. To deal with retained primitive reflexes in your child, you may want to consider a multi-disciplinary approach including CST, as well as neuro-developmental therapy and brain gym exercises.
Human contact makes us into the human beings we are and sets us apart from other animals. Love develops when a child has formed a strong attachment to another human being. This is what is called “infant-mother bonding”. The whole process of feeding, loving touch, gazing at the face, eye-to-eye contact, voice, the smell of the mother’s body – all elements of physical closeness and touch – help to strengthen the bonding.
In the absence of bonding and healthy attachment with an adult, a child may develop life-long emotional disturbances. Symptoms could include becoming withdrawn, disinterested and depressed. In addition, the child may suffer pronounced physical consequences such as, being physically small, underweight, sickly, and undernourished. Such a child may survive but not thrive. Psychology has long identified this as “failure to thrive syndrome.”
Human touch is an integral part of health, balance and vitality for people of all ages.
Dr. Hans Selye, Physician and Endocrinologist, first identified the stress response as a “fight or flight reaction” in the 1930’s. This refers to the fact that when under stress, the sympathetic part of our autonomic nervous system responds to the perceived danger by preparing to escape or do battle.
In Peter Levine’s book, Waking the Tiger, he writes about the “freeze” response. This occurs when we confront a perceived danger and we cannot fight or flee, then become overwhelmed and freeze. He writes that animals which respond in this manner shake out the experience through their body and limbs once the threat has gone. Through the course of human evolution, we have lost this ability to shake out our stress, meaning that stressful experiences can be stored in our bodies, eventually triggering a stress response.
If the shock to the system is severe enough it can remain stored or “frozen” in the tissues of the body for years. Even everyday events such as work, relationship conflicts, and financial pressures can accumulate as held stress in the body. This accumulation of internalized stress can lead to a myriad of symptoms including headaches, anxiety, digestive disorders, TMJ syndrome, insomnia, chronic pain, and depression. The body will show signs of stress such as shallow breathing, rapid heart rate, digestive problems, and increased reactivity. Feeling “amped-up” or “off” is another common sign of the stress response.
Stress and anxiety can be addressed in a number of natural ways. Regular physical exercise, abdominal breathing, meditation, time off, laughter, positive mental reframing, and professional counseling are just a few. It is beneficial to address what is underlying the stress symptoms, while also attending to the body where the stress is being held. CranioSacral therapy can be an effective approach to ease the contraction of the tissues and release “frozen” stressful experiences. This in turn leads to a calmer, more normalized nervous system, increased energy, and an overall improvement in health and well-being.
Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear structure called the labyrinth. The labyrinth is encased in each of the inner ears and is a maze of interconnected fluid-filled canals. Parts of the labyrinth send information to the brain about sounds, movement, and balance. Any disturbance to the labyrinth sends faulty information to the brain which can result in spinning (vertigo), motion sickness (nausea/vomiting), and tinnitus (ringing).
Common causes of Labyrinthitis include bacterial or viral infections leading to build-up of fluid in the inner ear; structural (head or ear) trauma; certain medications; allergies; alcohol abuse; benign tumours; or BPPV ( benign paroxysmal positional vertigo where small stones, or calcified particles, break off within the vestibule and bounce around which the brain can interpret as movement).
CranioSacral therapy offers a safe and painless treatment for Labyrinthitis by assessing and gently manipulating the bones of the head and neck to bring about greater balance. This often relieves inflammation in the inner ear in adults and babies. It is advisable to see your medical doctor first to rule out any serious conditions that may be the cause. Therapeutic maneuvers such as the Epley maneuver may be helpful if benign positional vertigo is the cause.
CST is well known for its positive results as both a primary and adjunctive treatment modality for a wide variety of conditions. Research conducted at Michigan State University in the mid 1970’s proved the existence of the CranioSacral system and its effect on health and disease. The following is a partial list of chronic pain syndromes that have shown observable positive results to CST.
Arthritis – CST releases muscle tension and enhances range of motion, contributing to joint rejuvenation.
Headache Syndromes – CST addresses underlying causes of migraine, tension, fluid congestion, and hormonally-induced headaches. Immobility of the cranial bones along the sutural lines can be a contributing factor to migraines. Autonomic and neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions are contributing causes which can be effectively treated with CST.
Pain Syndromes – Myofascial, neuromusculoskeletal, and nerve pain syndromes show positive results to CST. Due to its positive effects on the autonomic nervous system, fluid exchange, and the desensitization of facilitated spinal segments, CST contributes to reducing pain levels found in chronic neck and back pain.
Spinal Dysfunctions – Scoliosis, disc compression, lower-back pain, and post-op complications have shown positive outcomes with CST. CST is effective in addressing underlying biomechanical, neurogenic, and facilitated segment causes to pain.
Temperomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ) – This discoordination of the lower jaw (mandible) may originate from restrictions of the temporal bones on each side of the head which is part of the craniosacral system. Other causes can include tension headaches, jaw clenching, whiplash, or misalignment of the teeth. CST is known to be highly effective at identifying and alleviating the problems which cause TMJ.
A hands-on CST evaluation is required to determine if CST is an appropriate treatment approach and to recommend a treatment plan. The number of sessions to achieve results depends on the complexity of the problem and the health condition of the individual.
As a CranioSacral practitioner I am struck by the parallel between Homeopathy and CranioSacral therapy. Where CranioSacral practitioners use their hands to facilitate balance, Homeopaths make use of gentle remedies. Where CranioSacral therapy is rooted in anatomical harmony, Homeopathy strives to balance the body’s resonance, changing its expression of illness. Both treat the core, the very root of disease and imbalance.
Homeopathic treatment involves a thorough investigation of the client’s history and the administration of a remedy. A remedy is a diluted form of some substance. It displays the same resonance as the patient’s problem. The remedy works to match the patients’ state at its core resonance. The right remedy is a suggestion to the body to bring about greater self-awareness. This initiates the individual’s life energy/chi/inner physician to bring about a shift to greater balance and harmony in the patient’s body.
CranioSacral treatment involves carefully listening with the hands to treat old imbalances and traumas long forgotten or too difficult to overcome. The CranioSacral therapist applies, with his or her hands, only gentle/dilute forces (a suggestion to the body) to allow release of stored tension in the area. The skilled therapist applies only the amount of gentle force required to facilitate the body to self-correct and remove tissue restrictions. The body has an opportunity for greater self-awareness, initiating the body’s inner physician/chi/life energy to bring about a shift to greater balance and ease. After a session the body may take days or even weeks to complete the gradual self-correction. The body can now begin healing in a way it couldn’t before, without strain or hindrance.
Both CranioSacral therapy and Homeopathy respect the body’s natural method of healing and target the root cause of imbalance. In combination, they are a powerful approach to greater health and well-being, working harmoniously to the same end.