Craneosacral Therapy, as a discipline in itself, has a relatively short history: it was born initially within the Osteopathy and then becomes, from the 70’s, an autonomous discipline. 
At the same time, it has very old roots, as it is based on knowledge and practices that are present, for example, in oriental traditions such as Buddhism, yoga, Taoism, as well as shamanic traditions.
Especially within the Biodynamic orientation, the Craneosacral discipline has rediscovered and revitalized a way of feeling, perceiving and caring for the totality of the human being that is very old and at the same time always current, present, available.

The holistic vision that pervades this technique is that by acting on some parts of the body benefits all organs and even the psyche.

How it works in practice

Craniosacral Treatment is based on the connection of all organs to each other and to the craniosacral system.

The treatment is carried out with light and delicate manipulations of the parts that make up the craniosacral system, which can suffer contractions in case of prolonged stress.  
The manipulations act with slight pressures on the compression of the bones of the skull, sacrum and spine (head, neck, back, pelvis).
The operator interacts on the membranes and the flow of cerebrospinal fluid within the central nervous system, that is to say, the fluid that nourishes and protects the brain and spinal cord, involving precisely organs, glands, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, brain and spinal cord.

Craniosacral therapy involves the movement of the limbs, the rib cage, palpation of hips and shoulders, contact with the skull, spine and sacrum to detect possible blockages that will then be treated with various techniques  (fascial strokes, compression and decompression techniques).

The treatment session lasts between 40 and 60 minutes.

Benefits

Craneosacral treatment benefits all the organs of the body, thanks to the connections between the systems that regulate the functioning of the organism.
The craniosacral system is connected to the musculoskeletal system through the vascular system and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system (see more details below).

The soft touch and fascial release act on neck, back, shoulder pain, muscle tension, relieving stress and inducing a deep feeling of relaxation. 
Improves the body’s ability to recover from pain and various dysfunctions,
Relieves pain and tension. 
Acts on the hormonal and immune system and psychological and emotional states.

Craneosacral Therapy is applied in the prevention and treatment of dysfunctions and pathologies such as:

chronic pain
headache
neck pain
back pain
gastrointestinal tract
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
disturbed sleep cycles and insomnia
mood disorders such as anxiety or depression
neuralgia
migraine
breath
posture (restores the natural position of the bones)
fibromyalgia
temporomandibular joint syndrome

Contraindications 

Its sweet and non-invasive feature makes it suitable for everyone.
Everyone can benefit, including the classic weaker groups: pregnant women, infants and the elderly.

It is better to avoid, instead, in the presence of brain injury, aneurysm, stroke, concussion or trauma, skull fractures, vertebrae and ribs.


ORIGINS AND FOUNDATIONS OF THERAPY

Craniosacral Biodynamics has its roots in osteopathy, beginning with its founder Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917). He was a physician and surgeon, who after a personal, spiritual and professional crisis due to the loss of his wife and several children, sought an alternative way to cure diseases. In 1891 he founded the American School of Osteopathy.
Changing the point of view of medicine at the time on disease, he said:
"Finding health should be the goal of the doctor. Anyone is able to discover the disease".
"All medicines necessary for our health are found in the human body".

The cranial approach to osteopathy began with William G. Sutherland (1873-1954), the most important student of Still, when he intuited that the cranial bones are not calcified, fixed, but they are endowed with a rhythmic movement of "respiratory" type, that is divided into two phases, inhalation and exhalation.
Deepening this intuition identified five interrelated aspects of this movement that he called Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM): they include the mobility of the cranial bones and the membranes of mutual tension, the motility of the Central Nervous System, the fluctuation of cerebrospinal fluid and involuntary movements of the sacrum between the iliac bones.
He introduced the concepts of Breath of Life and the power of the breath of life, defining it as the vital force that permeates the fluids, cells and tissues of the body and that maintains, regulates and regenerates the whole organism.
Sutherland was the first to speak of Tide that is, of that subtle rhythmic movement of respiratory type which is precisely similar to a tide, and which is perceptible as a slow and uniform movement going from the horizon to the middle line (exhalation) and therefore, from the midline, returns to the horizon (inspiration).
The osteopath Rollin E. Becker (1910-1996), a student and continuator of Sutherland’s work, first used the term Biodynamic (1963) to describe the kind of forces that create subtle movements in the body.
Emphasized an osteopathic treatment approach based on listening and trust in the body’s natural self-healing and self-regulation mechanisms.
He wrote: "Healing does not occur in movement, it occurs in stillness (stillness)."
and also "Trust the tide and don’t interfere! (Trust the tide and get out of the way!)"

It is also useful to mention the American osteopath Robert Fulford (1905 - 1997), who was also a meditator: he was a pioneer in the introduction of Energetic Medicine in the context of Osteopathy. 
Influenciado por William Sutherland,  usó la Terapia Craneal diciendo:
" Cranial Osteopathy is a spiritual activity". 
In his book Touch of Life he wrote: "When I am asked if I know any other secrets for maintaining good health, my answer is always this: a calm mind. 
Peace of mind implies a deeper understanding of the body and, consequently, health awareness. (...) Then I meditate for two and a half hours, about ten percent of a day. (...) 
Meditation is not an act, it is the willingness to let things flow."

The term Craneosacral Therapy was first used in the 1970s by the American osteopath and surgeon John E. Upledger (1932-2012): he was the first to spread the craniosacral approach outside of the osteopathic field.

PRIMARY BREATHING:

HOW THE CRANIOSACRAL SYSTEM WORKS IN THE BODY

Primary Respiration is the first and most important breath or instinct present when the sperm and egg come together to form the zygote.
Without Primary Breathing, there is no External (pulmonary) and Internal (cellular) Respiration.
Then the Primary Breath lays the foundation for Thoracic and Cellular Breathing, and the three breaths together form a central respiratory unit that coherently harmonizes structure, metabolism and psychology.
> At the structural level we can observe it in the oscillation between expansion and contraction of skeletal muscles, cardiac and smooth, in the flexion/extension of middle bones and unequal organs, in the external and internal rotation of bones and even organs.
> At metabolic level is expressed by the oscillation between anabolism and catabolism.
> On a psychological level it is expressed by the oscillation between the emotional condition of depression and excitement.
Therefore, Primary Respiration is closely involved in homeostasis, which is the ability to regulate biological conditions (structural and metabolic) so that the living organism can respond adequately to survival of itself and of the species.

Each physiological, nervous respiratory, circulatory, digestive, urogenital, endocrine and elimination system is a combination of anatomical parts integrated within a functional system, which plays a specific role in the preservation of the individual and the species.


THE CRANIOSACRAL SYSTEM : ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

It can be considered the eighth major physiological system: The System.
It consists of the following anatomical components that include the Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain
Intracranial membranes or meninges (duramadre, arachnoid and piamadre)
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Joint mobility of the cranial bones
Spinal Cord
Interspinal membranes
Joint mobility between the sacrum-iliac

The function of the craniosacral system is mainly involved in two essential actions:

- maintenance of the homeostatic qualities of the CNS by promoting functional efficiency, psychological and structural development, growth and recovery.

- Fundamental integration of all systems to generate a collective response. 

It is important to note that the control centers of the Internal Respiration or Cell are located in the area of the Third Ventricle where we find the Thalamus, Hypothalamus and Pituitary and those of the External Respiration or Lung in the area of the Fourth Ventricle (Bridge and Elongated Marrow).

Both centers are located in the walls of the ventricular system and are therefore sensitive to CSF fluctuation.
The LCR receives the power of Primary Breathing and tends to circulate around the solid core with movement that compares to that of a dynamo.
In this way, charged power influences the physiology of vital centers.

CSF contains ions, simple molecules (H2,Co2 glucose, etc.) and a variety of active biological macromolecules that function not only as endocrine messengers but also act as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators within the CSF.
The binding of neuromodulators to tissue receptors is facilitated or inhibited by the LCR’s ability to receive and transport electromagnetic energy, in other words, by the quality of its power.
Through this ability it can produce structural changes in the receptors and thus facilitate or inhibit these bonds.

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