Cranial Osteopathy

Cranial Osteopathy is a refined and subtle Osteopathic technique using gentle manipulative pressure to encourage the release of tensions throughout the head and body. The name is deceptive, as the rebalancing techniques can be applied to every part of the body not just to the head. It is particularly effective in the treatment of babies, children and adults where disharmony has been introduced by birth-trauma, accident trauma, dental or surgical treatment, illness or emotional trauma.

The gentle nature of the treatment makes it very suitable for treating babies and children, many of whom develop stresses within the head and body during birth and may carry those stresses for many years.

Babies are subjected to enormous forces during labour, as the uterus pushes to expel the baby. The ‘plates’ within the baby’s skull are quite soft and malleable, and are designed to overlap and glide over each other, thus allowing the head to pass through the birth canal. However, this pliability may mean that they are susceptible to strain and ‘moulding’, which is often evident after birth in babies that have asymmetrical, flattened or markedly pointed head shapes.

A degree of moulding is normal, and usually resolves within the first few days after birth. However, in some cases the moulding can be retained, and will need attention. Left untreated, the bony plates may remain overlapped, pulled apart, or under excessive strain. This in turn can cause tension or pinching in the delicate membranes that cover the brain and nervous system. Overstrain of tissues and compression of joints in the head, neck and upper back may also occur. This may affect the nerves that come from the base of the skull and impair functions as feeding, digestion and breathing, and may cause other imbalances in the rest of the body.