Chiropractic Corner: Impediments of a Clear Cranio-Sacral Rhythm

by Sylvia Skefich, D.C.

The cranio-sacral rhythm is the “heart beat” of the spine. The rhythm (or pulse) circulates spinal fluid, lymph, and is connected to fluid circulation in all systems in the body. The cranio-sacral pulse is very slow and very subtle, but is a true mechanical pulsation. There are various types of blockages that can interfere with the cranio-sacral rhythm.

TRAUMA PATTERNS:

Old, healed traumas can leave imprints of physical restriction on the cranio-sacral rhythm. Physical traumas heal with scarring. Even if you cannot see the scarring, microscopic buildup of collagen and fibrinogen fibers lay down wherever there was inflammation to tighten up and heal an injury. Now imagine that your tissues are like a complex spider web. Then imagine that a portion of that web was altered, let’s just say, by having Christmas tree flocking sprayed onto a portion of that web. The web would move differently there. In fact, the flocking may even strain other finer lines of the web that get stretched and pulled by moving against such resistance.

STRESS PATTERNS:

Think of stress patterns as habitual postural strains from mental windup. Whenever there is stress in the brain, the body follows by pulling up, winding up, and getting ready to spring. The body does not know the difference between mental/emotional stress versus physical stress (the kind where we run or fight). Some people have their shoulders up around their ears all the time. Other people get cold, painful or numb hands in response to shoulder girdle tension. Other people have a chronic ache in the hip or low back, from being mildly torqued all the time, like on a starting line.

SYSTEMIC PATTERNS:

Systemic (meaning, affecting the whole body) tension patterns can be caused from chronic food-caused chemical inflammation; The tension can come from a habit of too much salt causing tissue turgor; The tension can arise from hormonal imbalances; A one-time or chronic history of fevers, exposure to medications, or to vaccinations can also stiffen the whole body. This type of tension can be hard to diagnose as the exact cause.

EMOTIONAL  PATTERNS:

Although not officially a part of cranio-sacral technique (as developed at the turn of the century by an Osteopath and mechanical engineer  named William Sutherland), emotions can contribute to tension patterns, too.  Cranio-sacral technique is such a subtle mechanical technique that it can be easily merged with energetic techniques. Some of the most profound work can be done with attention to the physical and the emotional/energetic realms simultaneously. When the practitioner includes a listening-to of the emotional tone stored in the tissue, and then grounds the excess emotional energy, there can be an instantaneous improvement in the cranio-sacral rhythm that did not come from the mechanic work alone.

Sylvia Skefich is a Doctor of Chiropractic and has been practicing Osteopathic style Cranio-Sacral Technique and energy work for 17 years. Christine Bayless is her protégé. They work at 920 41^st Ave.., Suite G, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, (831) 475-1995, www.Vital-You.com “Like” Sylvia Skefich, D.C. professional Facebook page for posts inspirational to healthy living.