This approach links the talking therapies with what is being held in tissue memory in the body language.

It can help the system to let go of the patterns which are stimulated in tissue memory when the brain perceives a life-threatening event might be about to happen.

Our survival instincts are aroused and the body recalls how it has survived in the past. A pattern of survival has already been established the very first time a perceived threat is experienced and the body cycles in that survival pattern.

However, sometimes this is not helpful as in the past that threat was real, but not in present time, although the feelings are the same.

These conditions can be helped by re-educating the system to acknowledge the learned patterns are no longer needed and recognise the resources which are available in the system to help support healing.

Not all births are traumatic but if the baby has experienced a difficult or traumatic birth there might be some lingering issues which can cause distress.

The cranial bones are very malleable and designed to allow them to move and change shape with the force and pressure during birth. If the baby gets stuck it might be necessary to give a little extra help with the use of forceps or von tusse delivery or even caesarean section.

This might result in tissue contraction, compression and emotional disturbance which will affect the baby's ability to adjust to life outside the womb. Sometimes following a difficult birth the bones of the skull do not adjust properly.

These factors could often result in the baby becoming very unsettled, with problems related to feeding, colic, sleep, constipation, breathing, screaming and allergies.

Craniosacral Therapy often helps with these issues, allowing the system to come back into balance and settle the baby.

Craniosacral Therapy during pregnancy can be beneficial, having a very calming effect on the nervous systems of both mother and baby and giving the optimum opportunity for health to the baby.

Sometimes the mother will experience sickness in early pregnancy due to the transformation happening in the body. In the latter stages of pregnancy the mother could become uncomfortable due to the growing baby's position.

This is where CST can help both with the early symptoms and later to realign the pelvis and its muscular support system which might have had to compensate for the ever growing baby. This will allow more space for the baby to move, especially when he/she has been lying in a difficult position e.g. breach or transverse lie.

This treatment will sometimes encourage the baby to turn or move and find its way into a more comfortable position for an easier birth. CST can also help with indigestion, sickness and headaches.

Fertility problems are becoming a common factor in today's society and many couples seeking IVF also need to consider the preparation needed for the body to be able to sustain a pregnancy.

Preparing the body for conception and/or IVF is the first step in this delicate process and Craniosacral Therapy can help by supporting the system to find a better balance and therefore to function more efficiently.

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) is most commonly associated with pregnancy and childbirth. It is a condition that causes excessive movement of the pubic symphysis, either anterior or lateral, as well as associated pain, possibly because of a misalignment of the pelvis.

SPD is a dysfunction that is associated with pelvic girdle pain and can be treated with craniosacral therapy which helps the realignment of the pelvis. This would have to be monitored throughout the pregnancy due to the continuous changing shape of the abdomen as the foetus grows

Not all births are traumatic but if the baby has experienced a difficult or traumatic birth there might be some lingering issues which can cause distress.

Human beings are designed to pass through a narrow passage during birth. The cranial bones are very malleable to allow them to move and change shape with the force and pressure during birth. If the baby gets stuck it might be necessary to give a little extra help with the use of forceps or von tusse delivery or even a caesarean section.

Sometimes following a difficult birth there might be bones in the skull which do not adjust properly, resulting in compression and muscular contraction. There could also be lingering emotional issues relating to a difficult birth. This often leaves the baby very unsettled with feeding problems or suffering from colic.

CST can often help to resolve these issues, allowing the system to come back into balance and settle the baby.

Brain Injury, either acquired through accident, illness or birth can be treated by Craniosacral Therapy.

This is a gentle approach which engages the dural membrane system which surrounds the brain and spinal cord, thereby also treating the nervous system.

Brain injuries are very complex and can have strong emotional issues, including confusion, anger, depression and much more.

Cranial work can address some of these issues subtly, paying attention to the emotional issues with sensitivity and respect.

It might not repair damaged tissue but it can help with how people perceive themselves and manage their condition.

Given time, a positive approach and paying attention to what a person is able to do instead of what they cannot do can often have surprisingly positive results.

Mechanical problems can affect most of us at sometime in our lives and can cause pain and restriction of movement and stop us from carrying out everyday tasks. This might result in an emotional response such as anger, fear or even depression and confusion.

Craniosacral Therapy can often help to alleviate pain and restriction of movement by releasing muscle tension and spasm and calming the nervous system so that the body can discharge tension and find a new point of balance.

Injury - Neck/Whiplash/Skeletal Alignment

Injury to neck and skeletal alignment could cause weakness in posture and often amplify problems.

However the injury is sustained, there could also be an emotional element which will present in the body language. This is to do with how the body tries to protect itself when it perceives danger. CST will often help with releasing muscle tension and spasm and calming the nervous system so that the body can discharge tension and find a new point of balance.

Post Operative Recovery and Anaesthesia

Post operative recovery is often a slow process. Medical science believes that anaesthesia remains in the system for about 10 days, depending on the length of surgery, but In my experience, sometimes there is a residue of anaesthesia which is lodged in the tissue for much longer and can affect the longterm recovery if the patient.

Craniosacral Therapy can help the body to discharge any lingering affects of anaesthesia and support the system in its recovery.

The jaw and tempero-mandibular joint are finely balanced and can be displaced by traumatic events, accidents, anxiety and sometimes extensive dental work which can cause an imbalance in the jaw alignment.

This might create problems, e.g. headaches, postural and bite alignment, TMJ dysfunction and pain.

Craniosacral Therapy can help with the realignment of the jaw and facial structures and if dental procedures are necessary, might involve less invasive dental work

Headaches can be caused by many things, e.g. Neural Pain, Injury, Neck and Postural Related Problems, Hormonal, Sinus, Stress and Anxiety and much more. If there is a back pressure into the skull because of poor drainage, there is nowhere else for fluids to go. If the Neural Pathways of cranial nerves are compressed and restricted, this will cause pain and possible muscular weakness or palsy and inefficient neural responses.

Injury to Neck and Skeletal Alignment can cause weak posture and often amplify problems, which might contribute to headaches. Premenstrual and hormonal imbalances can be related to headaches and migraine. Sinuses can be blocked if there is an imbalance in the skull. Stress and Anxiety can cause soft tissue to contract and spasm.

The combination of emotional and physical response to stress and anxiety can create havoc in the system. It could contribute to many forms of pain symptoms which might become difficult to manage if left untreated.

Tinnitus is a constant or intermittent sound in the ears which will vary in pitch and intensity and can result in anxiety and distress. Tinnitus can be caused by infection or nerve damage or stress, or perhaps no apparent reason why this happens.

Craniosacral Therapy can help to alleviate pressure in the skull and realignment of the bones and related structures in a non-manipulative way. It is essential that this fine balance is maintained as there is very little scope for compensation or expansion in the skull and this could be a contributing factor. Many problems which are typically cranial in origin will often respond to CST when all else has failed.

If the neural pathways of the cranial nerves are compressed and restricted, this will cause pain and possible muscular weakness or palsy and inefficient neural responses.

This is often caused by cranial nerve involvement. Sometimes the neural pathway of one or more of the cranial nerves which control areas of the face and jaw might become inhibited or compressed, thereby affecting function and causing pain.

CST can often help to relieve and decompress these areas to allow the nerves to function more efficiently.