Whether you suffer from migraines, cluster headaches, or headaches caused by stress and tension, you want relief. Chronic headaches can seriously affect your physical energy levels and comfort as well as interfere with your ability to focus on work or everyday tasks.

Medications may relieve your symptoms temporarily, but they can be addictive, have unpleasant side effects, and fail to get at the root cause of your issues. At Chicago Chiropractic Center, we offer craniosacral therapy (CST) to complement chiropractic and physical therapy treatments to help relieve your pain and discourage headaches in the future.

Craniosacral therapy is noninvasive and gentle, but it’s incredibly effective. Read on to learn why.

What is the craniosacral system?

The craniosacral system extends from the cranium (skull) to the sacrum (tailbone) and coccyx. It holds the central nervous system and is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes the nervous system, delivers nutrients, and washes away waste products.

A rhythmic flow of this fluid maintains health and energy in your body. Disturbances in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid can lead to neurological effects, including migraines. If the flow of cerebrospinal fluid is blocked, you may experience increased pressure around the nerves that control vision and affect vision loss, too.

How does craniosacral therapy work?

CST is touch therapy and has been used since its development in the 1970s to address migraines and other chronic pain conditions. During a session, we lightly touch your spine, skull, and pelvis to help redirect the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

This gentle cranial therapy is an effective complement to chiropractic adjustments. Through gentle manipulation, chiropractic adjustments help restore your joint function and mobility. The adjustments relieve subluxations, or misalignments, in the spine, which can impair movement in other parts of your body by irritating nerves and causing muscle tightening.

Craniosacral therapy helps the body reset following chiropractic adjustments and hold the improved function. This helps eliminate headaches and pain.

By manipulating the bones of your skull and the dura mater that is a membrane just below the skull, craniosacral therapy also relieves arterial pressure to ease pain. Research on the effects of craniosacral therapy on migraine pain have shown promise, although studies have been small.

What should I expect during CST?

CST is related to massage, but isn’t like a full-body, luxury massage you receive at a spa. During a craniosacral therapy session, your CST uses a gentle touch around your head and spine. You may feel mild pulsating movements, light pressure, strokes on your face, and gentle tugs on your ears. The contact is light and soothing.

You may experience a variety of sensations during your treatment session, such as heat, cold, pulsing, and vibrations. You may also feel none of these and still experience benefit from the technique. You may have distinct memories arise during treatment or increased pain or sensation. Your body’s responses during CST are signs that you’re returning to a state of balance or homeostasis.

You’re fully clothed for a craniosacral therapy session. It lasts about 15-20 minutes and is usually coupled with chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy. We develop your treatment protocol depending on your body and condition.

When are results noticeable?

Results typically don’t show up right away, and you may need several treatments to experience notable change. When you do notice the effects of CST, it may present as feeling looser in your body, more relaxed, and able to breathe easier. As your body gradually readjusts to a sense of normal, you should also experience a reduced frequency and intensity of headaches.

At Chicago Chiropractic Center, we provide craniosacral therapy to ease the frustration and discomfort of recurring headaches or migraines. To learn more about this safe and effective alternative to prescription medications, call our office or schedule an appointment using this website.