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Cranial Osteopathy
Cranial osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment that encourages the release of stresses and tensions throughout the body.
It is a gentle yet extremely effective approach and may be used in a wide range of conditions for people of all ages, from birth to old age.
Cranial osteopaths are trained to feel a very subtle, rhythmical shape change that is present in all body tissues. This is called Involuntary Motion or the Cranial Rhythm. The movement is of very small amplitude; therefore it takes practitioners with a very finely developed sense of touch to feel it. Recently, I was fortunate enough to watch Sara Scrivener, an Osteopath at The Luxton Clinic in Chinnor, giving cranial osteopathy to a 2 week old baby. The birth had been by caesarean section and baby J had been very restricted in the last few weeks of gestation.
Sara laid her hands on baby J’s head and gently felt his cranial rhythm. She told his mother there was tension in his right leg. Just a few seconds later baby J stretched his right leg out and eased the tension. Then Sara mentioned that his pelvis was tight. His mother described him as being “folded in half” when he was born. Again, baby J responded by pushing his pelvis forward and releasing the stress. I watched in awe as Sara described what she felt in his cranial rhythm and baby J reacted by moving his body and releasing the pressures and strains in his body.