Introduction to CranioSacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle but very effective way of working with the body using a light touch through which the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system can be normalized.
The intricate and delicate central nervous system of the horse is protected by the craniosacral system, which consists of the skull/cranial vault, cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, sacral/coccygeal spine, and the pelvis.
Through this craniosacral system and the surrounding fascia, craniosacral therapy can help keep the central nervous system running smoothly by removing restrictions to the motion that is found within this system, supporting your horse’s body’s innate ability to balance, restore and heal itself as well as helping to reduce stress and increase energy levels in the body.
Application
Craniosacral Therapy is non invasive. It uses gentle pressure on the head, neck, and back, as well as other areas as required to relieve the stress and pain caused by compression.
The aim is to increase the activity in the parasympathetic or “rest and digest” part of your horse’s nervous system and decrease activity in the sympathetic or “fight or flight” part.
It is through this process that the body can allow healing to occur and relieve internal stressors.
Using gentle touch with finger tips or cupped hands on specific points, the therapy itself opens up restrictions in the fascial planes and restores motion to the cranial bones allowing the body to rebalance and restore normal function to the nervous system.
There are no physical manipulations to the soft tissue or bones during a craniosacral treatment. However following a manual massage treatment it can often be useful to conclude with some craniosacral work to complete a full balancing of the body.
As the therapy application is so gentle it can be especially suited for nervous and anxious horses that may not respond so well to massage and mobilisation techniques.
Benefits
There are many specific conditions that can benefit from Craniosacral therapy, these include:
Pull back injuries
Head shaking
Recovery from a slip or fall
Headaches
TMJ disfunction
Discomfort following dental work
Sinusitis
Blocked tear ducts
Facial Nerve issues
Sacroiliac issues
Lumbar issues
Unexplained behaviour (e.g spookiness)
Respiratory issues
