Craniosacral Therapy: a missing piece in the puzzle of chronic digestion problems
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle manual therapy technique that alleviates strain patterns in the body's connective tissues, also called the fascia. As a result of physical and emotional traumas, the fascia can become tight and malaligned. This can lead to a variety of symptoms on a physical and emotional level.
While the mechanism of action of craniosacral therapy can seem vague and non-specific, I am continually amazed at the depth and breadth of symptoms that craniosacral therapy can help address. One of the ways CST does this is through its ability to help calm and modulate our nervous system. We must feel safe to learn, heal, and experiment with new ways of being. CST can support individuals in making this shift in enduring ways.
A sense of calm and safety is also essential for our digestive process to work smoothly. Craniosacral therapy can be an excellent tool and often a missing link to help shift the trajectory of common digestive complaints.
I often see people in my practice who are plagued with chronic digestive issues - bloating, constipation, diarrhea, food intolerances, and more. The functional medicine approach has much to offer to diagnose and treat these conditions. However, I have found that the improvements people often experience with a functional medicine that includes testing, dietary modification, nutritional supplementation, and stress management may not endure, even when people continue to follow their program.
One reason is that the need to strictly adhere to a treatment program can become its own ongoing stressor. This is one reason that whenever possible, I emphasize the most manageable and least restrictive approaches to ongoing symptom management.
Another reason symptom improvement may not be maintained is that a fundamental aspect of the problem has not been addressed.
What is this missing piece?
The role that changes in the nervous system in the gut play in perpetuating chronic digestive issues.
We know that the digestive system has its nervous system, the enteric nervous system (ENS). This nervous system is so complex and can function semi-independently, leading it to be called a ‘second’ brain. We also know that the ENS is in constant communication with the brain in our head and plays a substantial role in influencing everything from mood to learning to our risk for chronic neurologic conditions.
Research shows that chronic stress shifts the functioning of our nervous system. These shifts in function can become ingrained patterns due to the capacity of our brain and nerve tissue to shift its function in enduring ways. This is called neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity has many positive asbestos. For instance, neuroplasticity explains how stroke survivors can relearn to walk or speak following the destruction of brain areas. Their brains literally rewire themselves around damaged areas and create new connections.
The nervous system in our gut is also neuroplastic. In the face of chronic stress, it may rewire itself to view everything as a threat, including foods that we previously tolerated without any issues. This gut brain rewiring for an overexuberant threat response. is one reason why someone may face an ever-growing list of food-sensitivity reactions.
These danger responses also get transmitted to our brain and can have significant impacts on our mood and energy levels. Fun fact: 80% of the communication between our gut and brain comes from the gut sending information to our brain.
Craniosacral therapy can aid the body in establishing a new baseline of calm in this second brain. With a series of treatments and ongoing support, these signals of calm and safety become more enduring. Space is created to shift the enteric nervous system's balance from threat to safety. The enteric nervous system will transmit this message to the central nervous system.
This creates coherence and alignment in the system and creates the necessary environment for sustained healing on both the physical and emotional levels.
If you want to learn more about craniosacral therapy, its origins, and what a treatment entails. You can read this article.
If you want to schedule an appointment to experience craniosacral therapy firsthand, schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicole.
To your health,
Dr. Nicole 🌿
