Cranial osteopathy is a highly sought-after speciality within the broader discipline of osteopathy. This practice, known for its gentle approach, has proven beneficial for a myriad of conditions and is particularly effective for treating babies and children. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at cranial osteopathy, its principles, how it works, and what conditions it can treat.
What Is Cranial Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a hands-on therapy, where healing is encouraged through stretching, massaging, and manipulating joints. Cranial osteopathy extends these principles to the skull, using gentle massage to release stress and tension in the body. This therapy can be applied to individuals of all ages, and due to its gentle nature, is particularly suitable for children, especially those who had a challenging birth.
Cranial osteopathy involves using soft manipulation techniques on the head and spine to promote balance in the body’s internal forces. The practitioner employs their hands to delicately mobilize the neck and skull, releasing and realigning the head and spine. This can provide great relief for patients, sometimes even for issues they were not consciously aware were problematic.
How Does Cranial Osteopathy Work?
In cranial osteopathy, practitioners use their expertise to identify subtle rhythmic movements in the body, referred to as ‘Cranial Rhythms.’ Any changes in these rhythms can indicate areas of stress, strain, or altered movement in the body.
With cranial osteopathy, massaging of the skull can help address problems throughout the body. This is because practitioners can feel a delicate rhythmic movement, known as the ‘Cranial Rhythm’ (or involuntary motion), which indicates the presence of blockages. By correcting these blockages, seemingly unrelated problems in other areas of the body can be relieved.
What Can It Treat?
Many patients who have undergone cranial osteopathy have reported improvements in their sleep patterns, quality of sleep, and overall well-being. While there is currently no definitive scientific evidence establishing a direct link between cranial osteopathy and the treatment of migraines or tinnitus in adults, some individuals find the therapy soothing, potentially leading to positive outcomes for these conditions.
In infants and very young children, the benefits of cranial osteopathy, particularly for sleep, are significant. A meta-study examining manipulative therapies in infants revealed that parents of infants receiving such therapies reported fewer hours of daily crying compared to parents of infants who did not receive such treatments.
Cranial osteopathy is known to help treat a wide range of conditions, such as:
- Headaches: Cranial osteopathy is often used to treat headaches, with many patients reporting relief after just one session.
- Poor sleep: Adults and children alike have reported improved sleep quality after undergoing cranial osteopathy sessions.
- Anxiety and stress: This therapy can help reduce anxiety and stress levels in patients of all ages.
- Tension: Chronic stress can build tension in tissues over time, potentially leading to disease and injury. Cranial osteopathy can help reduce this tension, promoting healing in the body.
What Training Is Required?
Osteopaths are highly skilled medical professionals who require a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Science, with courses typically lasting four or five years. The courses involve a combination of academic, research, and over 1,000 hours of hands-on patient training. Once trained, an osteopath must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council to practice in the UK.
What Does It Feel Like?
Due to its gentle nature, cranial osteopathy often feels soothing and calming. While some individuals may not feel strong sensations during the treatment, many report feeling noticeably improved afterwards.
Cranial osteopathy is a valuable non-invasive treatment method that can alleviate a variety of conditions without the need for medication. If you’re interested in this type of treatment, we recommend seeking a registered osteopath who specialises in cranial osteopathy.
