One area in which Cranio-sacral therapy is most effective is in treating babies.

We think that babies don’t suffer from stress or strain; but actually, during the birth process, the baby’s head is forcefully compressed as it twists and turns through the narrow birth canal.

To allow that passage, the skull of a new-born is not a solid, bony structure but soft, membranes designed to adapt readily and pliably to the pressures of the birth process. In fact the soft membranes move and overlap called moulding.

However, intense compression over many hours pushes the bones of the skull up against each other and distorts the shape of the head, especially if ventose or forceps are used.
This is normal, but if any of the cranial bones remain distorted this could have associated effects to the baby’s health, e.g colic, glue ear, latching on, feeding, sleeping, hyper activity to name a few.

Colic is very common in new-borns, which not only causes the baby stress but parents also, as can involve prolongued, inconsolable screaming; generally in the early evening.
Accompanying symptoms include regurgitation of feeds, excessive wind, projectile vomit, unable to bring up wind and obvious pain.

To help aid colic in new-born’s, a cranio-sacral would concentrate on the cranial bone and solar plexus region.

The cranial bones (back of the head) is most susceptible to compression and distortion during the birth process.

It is also of vital importance to overall health and functioning of all individuals, as it is close to many other important structures. These include the jugular foramen (a hole in the base of the skull) between the occiput and the temporal bones through which passes the vagus nerve.

This provides the main parasympathetic nerve supply to most of the digestive system, its compression can lead to over stimulation of the nerve causing persistent spasm of the digestive organs and consequently colic.

Also located at the back of the skull is the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion, the largest ganglion which runs alongside the vertebral colomn providing sympathetic nerve supply to the viscera.

Compression or pressure to this ganglion may lead to over-stimulation, restlessness, tension and hyper-activity. This will manifest in the plexi, including solar plexus which may then create tension and spasm in the digestive system and therefore colic.

Because dealing with both parasympathetic and sympathetic of the nervous system is somewhat troublesome to the digestive system, as one increases digestive activity and one closes down digestive activity. The result is conflict, obstruction and spasm and the many manifestations of colic.

Cranial helps many ailments in new-borns as they go into childhood
and get the average child illnesses.
Mucous congestion, catarrh, glue ear, nose and throat problems, constipation, and diarrhoea, hyper-activity, tantrums!
All of these can be related to cranial base restrictions and by relaxing these restrictions and allowing the head bones to express in their correct pattern can relieve many of the above symptoms.

Claire Stiling – 1 hour (first appt) £65 Follow up 30 mins £40