What's the deal with craniosacral therapy?

November 18, 2006 12:24 AM

What is a typical craniosacral therapy session like? Please share your first-person experiences. Also, any recommendations for a practitioner in Nashville?

For a few years I've had an terrible teeth-clenching habit, and now I'm starting to get face and jaw pain. I'm looking for nonmedical/nonsurgical ways to relax my face. My sister is a dentist (in another state unfortunately) - she suggested craniosacral therapy. What is a typical session like? I'd love to hear from folks who've been on the table.

posted by peppermint22 to Health & Fitness (16 answers total)

Quackwatch on craniosacral therapy.
posted by enrevanche at 1:25 AM on November 18, 2006

I had craniosacral therapy therapy done by an osteopath for back and neck problems. This was quite a while ago.

from what I remember (pretty hazy) for the most of it I laid down and the therapist gently moved me. Not really much happened.

The important part to me was that it was not harmful (crucial to a person with neck problems) and I actually did feel better for a while afterwards. If I could afford it I'd probably have therapy on some kind of regular basis.

my impression: it might not help, but at least it won't harm.
posted by mirileh at 1:48 AM on November 18, 2006

I've been treated by a very talented physical therapist, who among many other things took a course in craniosacral therapy. In short:

Massage, by a masseur or therapist, directly on the affected area is the closest you'll get to the treatment you want. There very well may be talented people who have been exposed to this, but you should check their other credentials, as the underlying science is faulty.

That said, the best of the lot in your neck of the woods seems to be here, although I haven't been there myself. Hope this helps.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 2:13 AM on November 18, 2006

I've had craniosacral massage twice, once from a long-term practitioner who was also a teacher of the technique, and then again from a fairly new student of CST.

Both times left me underwhelmed. It is a very slow, subtle modality, and I felt no benefits (nor, to be fair, harm) from the treatment. If anything, it was slow enough that I nearly fell asleep on the table, both times.
posted by browse at 7:11 AM on November 18, 2006

Your sister hopes you will receive mainly a placebo-effect benefit from merely "something" being done. Basically, any form of massage or relaxation therapy, or even quiet meditation at home, would provide the same benefit.

Please save your money.

(I know you ask for first-person experiences, but I work in healthcare, so I have "first person experience" that this is quackery).
posted by Ynoxas at 7:44 AM on November 18, 2006

Craniosacral therapy works with your energetic field as well as your physical body. Some people are more sensitive to/aware of energy than others, so YMMV. [I used to work for an MD who practiced complementary medicine (yes, a real medical degree, from an accredited school), and I got used to the knee-jerk reactions of people who think that alternative modalities are "quackery," so you will get a lot of this sort of thing. My suggestion is to try it for yourself-- and someone you trust recommended it to you, so don't be deterred by the naysayers. At the same time, it's important to do your research and go to a practitioner who is trained and certified, because there are a lot of quacks in these kinds of fields.] I have had craniosacral work done several times, for stress and headaches. It's not massage, though it is closely related. It is more subtle and indirect, and because of that, I was told, could be more effective than direct stimulus of the areas that are troubling you. I really looked forward to these sessions, and I always felt much better afterwards: my headaches were gone and my mood was much improved. I can say with certainty that it was relaxing, and I could see it being very effective to help you relax your facial muscles. I'm sorry I don't have any recommendations for someone in your area. Good luck!
posted by butternut at 7:46 AM on November 18, 2006

I agree that any form of relaxation therapy that you do yourself will provide the results you're looking for. But, all due respect to Ynoxas, I disagree that it is a waste of money to try craniosacral therapy. I know about the placebo effect and all that; here is not the place to have that argument. Again, it's important to find someone reputable who will not do harm. This therapy may work for you, so decide for yourself.
posted by butternut at 7:52 AM on November 18, 2006

Wait.. wait... you say that "craniosacral therapy works with your energetic field as well as your physical body" and then you complain about knee-jerk reactions to it being quackery? Is this some sort of sarcasm?
posted by Justinian at 7:58 AM on November 18, 2006 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Apparently some of you misunderstood the question. I asked for first-hand experiences with craniosacral therapy. I am well aware of Western/mainstream medicine's stance on many alternative therapies. I have done the reading on craniosacral therapy - do not insult me. Additionally, Ynoxas, your presumption that my sister - a highly regarded oral surgeon, mind you - suggested craniosacral therapy for it's placebo effect and I might as well meditate at home is truly offensive.

For those of you who shared your first-hand experiences with craniosacral therapy, I thank you. I would love to hear from some more folks!
posted by peppermint22 at 8:49 AM on November 18, 2006

I've had it done twice (ie, 2 series of 4 treatments, 2 therapists). One time, it did nothing at all. The other time, it seemed to help quite a bit. I have some sort of mechanical shoulder-neck-ear problem on my right side. The work is very subtle. It doesn't feel 'big' like a massage. I think the most important thing is to find somebody that knows what they are doing. It is difficult to determine this, but after 2 sessions, you should be able to form an opinion of a therapist. Your problem does sound like something that this therapy can address.
posted by allelopath at 9:16 AM on November 18, 2006

I have done the reading on craniosacral therapy - do not insult me

I am very interested in what you read that convinced you this was anything other than a way to take advantage of not too smart, trusting people.
posted by Sirius at 10:46 AM on November 18, 2006

butternut: with all due respect to you, the placebo effect is not something to argue, its existence is unquestionable.

peppermint22: don't ask questions in public forums if you are afraid of the answers. I was under the mistaken impression you actually were looking for some kind of truth, as opposed to just seeking outside validation for your misplaced faith-healing. I will give you no such validation.

Your sister, if she truly is a "highly regarded oral surgeon" (I thought she was a dentist earlier?) would surely know this, and is likely suggesting this because of your bias towards the nontraditional.

I expect she has already suggested traditional treatments which you have declined.

AskMeFi serves as a reference to thousands of people beyond the person who made the initial inquiry. I will not, nor owe you any duty to, refrain from calling a duck a duck just because it doesn't suit you.
posted by Ynoxas at 2:07 PM on November 18, 2006

check out The Upledger Institute. This is a well-respected school of CST and provides a listing of CST practitioners. I have severe TMJ and also had my dentist (who is also an oral surgeon) suggest craniosacral therapy for relief. And it works excellently for me. I had a therapist who was both an LMT and a CST practitioner, so I usually had sessions where both modalities were used. Maybe it is a placebo effect - but it relieved my incessant headaches and jaw pain, so I don't really care. Feel free to e-mail me if you have sny specific questions. I think it certainly won't hurt you and if it has the same effect that it did for me, you'll be happy (and if it doesn't, you'll be out whatever it costs and you don't have to go back - but you'll know for yourself)! Good luck!
posted by jengineer at 7:05 PM on November 18, 2006

I had a few treatments a few years and found it deeply relaxing and pleasant. I was experiencing multiple sclerosis-related fatigue at the time, and it was quite helpful for that.

I've had similar results from other alternative health practitioners, including acupuncturists and one particular chiropractor. I think that finding a the right practitioner is key. Try them out; if it's not good, don't go back.
posted by alms at 8:45 PM on November 18, 2006

I had it done once, made the appointment after waking up with a feeling like one side of my jaw was cramped. I went in with no idea what they actually do. The first 45 minutes the therapist spent "listening" to different "listening centers" of my body, which involved holding her hands around different areas of my body. It was extremely relaxing, but also frustrating that I didn't know what was going on. She then put on latex gloves and applied pressure to different areas of my jaw from inside my mouth. The feeling was similar to having a painful knot in the back worked out - but a more acute kind of pain, I guess because it was in my mouth. I felt like I needed a nap afterwards because it was such a physically intense experience. But the pain was gone immediately afterwards.
posted by saffron at 6:36 AM on November 19, 2006

I had a GF who had graduated from a school for OT, which included coursework in CST - she subjected me to a CST session which entailed her pressing gently down on various body points and, apparently, trying to send "energy" into me via her hands. She was a nice kid, but this is sheerest bullcrap.

Auras and energy flows, phrenology and astrology. All dead wrong, all quackery. Save your money and invest in real treatment. Or don't, I really don't care.
posted by BigLankyBastard at 8:51 AM on November 20, 2006