Richard Evans BA MEd MAR RCST

Cranio-sacral therapy

What is cranio-sacral therapy?
Cranio-sacral therapy is based around the gentle and natural motion of fluids that surround the brain (inside the cranium)and spine (which ends at the sacrum). These fluids also affect the whole body. By making very light contact with the body, the cranio-sacral therapist can feel these fluids and release any constrictions which exist. The therapist has been trained to listen, via the hands, to what is going on in your body.

What happens in a treatment session?
The therapist begins by taking a case-history, asking questions about specific ailments and the genereal state of your health. You will then be asked to lie down on a couch, fully clothed with your shoes off. If you are unhappy lying down, you can remain seated. Your therapist will then start the treatment, by touching you very lightly on different parts of the body and head. At times it may seem as if nothing is going on, but the therapist needs to tune in to your system and that takes time. The beauty of the treatment is that it is so gentle,it allows the body to make its own adjustments. The patient is in control and the therapist works with what the system presents. The whole session lasts about an hour. You may feel heat, tingling, pulsing, a feeling of heaviness, or a sense of profound relaxation. Everyone is different , so the best way to find out is to try it yourself.


How does it work?
It is based on findings about the body's subtle physiology, made by osteopaths, nearly 100 years ago. They found that every cell in a healthy body expresses a rhythmic movement, which is fundamental to life. This is known as 'craniosacral motion'. Between the cranium (the skull) and the sacrum, at the base of the spine, there is a movement of cerebro-spinal fluid, which bathes the nervous system. The trained therapist can tune in to these rhythms and help the body to rebalance itself.

What kinds of people can it help?
Cranio-sacral therapy has been used all over the world to help sufferers with many different conditions. Many of my patients have reported significant changes in some of their underlying conditions and have experienced new vitality and joie de vivre after treatment.

What about treating babies and young children?
Cranio-sacral therapy is ideal for young babies, because of its gentleness.
Babies are often traumatised after birth. They may have been compressed in the birth canal for many hours, or had a difficult birth. Cranio-sacral therapy can restore balance and calm to a baby in shock,and parents of young babies who came to me have reported positive changes in digestion, wind and peacefulness. If these problems around birth are not resolved, they may persist into childhood and adolescence. There are testimonials on the 'CST and Babies' page.
The cost of a treatment for a baby is £25 for the first treatment in Alrewas and £16 for subsequent treatments, (45 and 30 minutes respectively). At Body Language , the cost is £30 and £20.

How many treatments should I have?
This is a subtle treatment, so it becomes profounder, the more you have it. I recommend that people have three to start with and then discuss the continuing treatment with me. Many patients do get benefit even from the first treatment. One patient said, 'It was like chiropractic without the pain.'

What does it cost?
You can have a free 15 minute consultation to ask any questions you may have and to meet me. The treatments last around an hour and the cost in Alrewas is £34 per session. In Allestree , the cost is £38 per session.