Creating A Lifetime of Good Health

Childbirth is a journey like no other. For mother and father, it is one of wonder, excitement and the unknown. For the child, it can hold all the rewards and risks that a new life offers.

Thankfully, for babies and children today, there is a gentle form of therapeutic touch that can help them enjoy a lifetime of good health. It is called CranioSacral Therapy, and it can help your child overcome congenital and acquired health challenges and prevent new ones from occurring.

What Is CranioSacral Therapy?

CranioSacral Therapy is a light-touch therapy shown to be effective in supporting the central nervous system so that your child’s body can self-correct and heal naturally.

As the control centre of the body, the central nervous system influences every major body system and function. That is why problems here can cause a wide range of sensory, motor or neurological disabilities.

By supporting the central nervous system and releasing restrictions throughout the body, CranioSacral Therapy has been shown to bring about profound healing. And because it is so gentle, non-invasive and virtually risk-free, children of all ages can benefit from this essential therapy.

How is CraniSacral Therapy Performed?

A typical CranioSacral Therapy session takes place in a quiet setting with the child resting at ease on the parent’s lap (may even be nursing), on a treatment table or sitting on the floor engaged in play.

Using a light touch – generally no more than the weight of a 5 cent coin – the therapist monitors the rhythm of the fluid that is flowing around the central nervous system to detect potential problems.

Delicate hand-on techniques are then used to release any tensions that may be affecting your child’s brain and spinal cord.

A session can last from 15 minutes to more than an hour. The result is a central nervous system free of restrictions and a body that is able to return to its greatest level of health and performance.

How Did CranioSacral Therapy Begin?

CranioSacral Therapy was developed by Dr. John E. Upledger, an osteopathic physician featured in TIME magazine as one of America’s next wave of innovators.

From 1975-1983, Dr. Upledger was a professor of biomechanics at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. While he was there he led a team of anatomists, psychologists, biophysicists and bioengineers that performed and published the clinical research which formed the basis for the modality he named CranioSacral Therapy.

Dr. Upledger’s accomplishments soon caught the interest of local parents who had children with learning disabilities, autism, hyperactivity and dyslexia. The success rates for these children who received CranioSacral Therapy astounded even the researchers.

Today, some of this therapy’s most effective results continue to occur with children.

The Benefits of Early Intervention

It is widely recognised that in certain instances, the birth process can generate mild to severe central nervous system abnormalities. CranioSacral Therapy carried out in the delivery room or within the first few days of life can potentially reduce a wide spectrum of health challenges, many of which might not otherwise become apparent until the child is in school. It can even address problems with head shape and/or skull bone override.

Many congenital and acquired health challenges also respond well to CranioSacral Therapy. It is shown to be effective at improving and maintaining a healthy immune system and because of its gentle, non-invasive qualities; it seamlessly accommodates other therapies delivered by early-intervention medical teams.

Childhood Conditions That May be Avoided or Reduced

• Chronic Ear Infections
• Colic, Reflux and Digestive Disorders
• A.D.D. and A.D.H.D.
• Autism Spectrum and Sensory Processing Disorders
• Abnormal Muscle Tone
• Seizures
• Strabismus, Nystagmus and other Disorders
• Cerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy
• Foetal Alcohol Syndrome/’Drug Babies’ with Withdrawal Syndrome
• Torticollis and Plagiocephaly
• Learning Difficulties, Dyslexia
• Speech Disorders, Nursing Difficulties
• Hearing Problems
• Hydrocephalus
• Emotional Problems
• Failure-to-Thrive Syndrome
• Incoordination
• Impaired Immune System
• Down Syndrome and Genetic Disorders

The Hope for Children with Health Challenges

It is no wonder babies and children respond so favourably to CranioSacral Therapy. Because of the child’s still-developing physiology, the central nervous system is particularly accepting of this effective therapy.

Even a single session can help your child to priceless benefits, from calmness and greater focus to better integrated sensory facilities. Additional sessions can extend and strengthen these outcomes, often producing results unmatched by other therapies.

“I am thoroughly convinced that one of the best things we can do for children is to have them begin life with smoothly functioning craniosacral systems, removal of physical restrictions so that their body tissues are not burdened by destructive or traumatic memories. This can all be accomplished in a very short time within the first few days of life.” Dr John E. Upledger, DO, OMM, Developer of CranioSacral Therapy

In Adults CranioSacral Therapy Treats a wide range of conditions such as:

• Sensory Integration Disorders/ Learning Disabilities
• Dizziness
• Tinnitus
• Emotional Difficulties: Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Anxiety
• Digestive Issues including Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Sleep Disorders
• Unexplained (Tooth) pains
• Migraines and Headaches
• Chronic Neck and Back Pain
• Motor-Coordination Impairments
• Stress and Tension-Related Problems
• Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
• Chronic Fatigue/ Exhaustion
• Scoliosis
• Central Nervous System Disorders
• Temporo-mandibular Joint Syndrome(TMJ)

For more information visit:

Ashfield Physio
Dr. John Upledger

Revised on 29th November 2021