| There is no pushing, adjusting or manipulating. Using techniques, that are appropriate to small bodies, Craniosacral Therapists apply a subtle movement, gently working with the skull and its cranial sutures and fascia, to release restrictions on cranial nerves and generalized tightness of the dura mater.
Difficult births involving forceps, ventouse or cesarean section may involve the grasping and pulling of the child's head; in so doing, the head can be hyper-extended, creating a "jamming" of the skull's occipital bones, which may cause compression on the jugular foramena (located at the base of the skull), a delicate area as it allows passage of several important cranial nerves.
For example, the glossal pharyngeal and vague cranial nerves work jointly to help control swallowing, airway function, and the larynx, pharynx and esophagus. The glossal pharyngeal nerve works together with the hypoglossal cranial nerve to control the tongue and oropharynx. The vagus nerve helps maintain a normal heart rate and is involved in stomach and bowel function. The spinal accessory cranial nerve innervates some of the major muscles of the neck, when dysfunctional it may create spasm of the muscles of the neck; ongoing compression/irritation can result in possible torticollis. |
