What is Cranial Chiropractic?
"Cranial":
relating to the head or skull
How?
Cranial
adjusting works with similar principles to spinal
adjusting, only on more subtle levels.
The chiropractor gently contacts the head at specific
points. Either specific directional forces are given
(adjustments), or rhythmic variances in finger pressures
are applied.
The overall effect is thought to change skull, brain, blood
vessel, fluid flow and/or nervous system function, which
results in a normalisation of, or removal of, the cause of
symptoms.
There is research on the topic, but very little is known
about the mechanisms of this procedure.
Why?
The
skull houses most of the nervous system. It is made up of
over 20 bones.
The brain can be affected by problems which interfere with
the structure of the skull joints (as do the spinal
joints), and the motion of the bones.
Motion
is life...For
instance, in any body function, there is a normal rhythm of
motion, such as heart beat, lungs, digestive peristalsis,
cerebro spinal fluid, blood flow, menstrual cycles,
biorhythms, and emotional moods. We are usually unaware of
any of these.
The goal of the cranial chiropractor is to normalise rhythm
and symmetry across the skull. The principle remains for
spinal correction too.
When?
When
should I be checked for cranial problems?
The first cranial injuries are possible during or after
birth. So checking a baby is common for the cranial
chiropractor. See birth for
details on injuries.
Sometimes, when response to other therapies is not
successful, people also consult cranial chiropractors. This
includes other types of chiropractic techniques, too.
As we have stated, no one doctor can help everybody, so
other forms of care such as cranial chiropractic are always
an option.
Cranial chiropractic is a specialty that should be
considered. Especially for:
- learning difficulties
- tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
- history of head or neck trauma
- difficulty hearing
- head ache
- migraine
- poor health
