What is the Craniosacral System?
We all have responses from our internal organs (heart, lungs, viscera) and our nervous system (brain and spinal cord) which are known to be normal or, conversely, signal that something in our bodies “not quite right and requires more experienced attention”.
Do you remember the first time you took your own pulse? It might have seemed confusing at first but now you can probably find it easily. With some practice, we have learned to recognize a normal heart rate response under a variety of conditions. Our pulse gives us simple but important information about the state of our heart and circulation. Similarly, you can pay closer attention to the rate and the sounds of your own breathing. That is a basic assessment of the state of your lungs and respiratory system. Your physiotherapist knows how to find another type of pulse which gives her specific information about your nervous system.
Your nervous system has its own pulse called the craniosacral rhythm which is influenced by fluctuating pressure from your cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) as it protects your brain and spinal cord. This sterile fluid coats your nervous system from head (cranium) to tailbone (sacrum) allowing your body to move freely as you bend and twist.
There is a delicate balance between the alternating pressure from your CSF and your body’s ability to adapt to stressors, such as changes in air (sinus) and blood pressure. Note how pounding “Chinook Headaches” and throbbing or “pinching nerve pain” are commonly used expressions.
You are born with primitive reflex reactions to your environment that determine how well you function as you grow and thrive. Examples include our “startle response” vs. being in a state of calmness or alertness in “rest and digest” mode. Other autonomic (subconscious) reactions we have include balance reactions, fight or flight responses, autoimmune and hormonal responses, blinking, swallowing, sweating, yawning or breathing patterns for sleep cycles, temperature requlation, peristalsis (stomach growling) and muscle tone or muscle fasciculations (twitching).
