I met Jacques, a cranio-sacral therapist in mid September 2010. I had been referred by my physiotherapist to try and sort out 1 of the causes for my recurrent migraines, jaw grinding.
At this time in my life I was 36 years old, had 3 chronic diseases, was on 13 medications and weighed in at a very heavy 87kg!
I suffered from an immune disorder (CVID) and had been told by my immunologist that I had around 5 years to live. I had very serious asthma, for which I was a study at JHB hospital for “difficult to treat asthmatics”.
My name is Belinda Rae, I run a school for children with special needs, including children with autism.
I have fairly recently started to have a cranio sacral therapist, Jacques Venter, treat some of the children at the school.
I have noticed that children with autistic spectrum have shown the most changes to their daily behaviour.
One little boy in particular has made an incredible turn around after only two 20 minute cranio sessions.
Fundamentally Cranio Sacral Therapy helps remove trauma from the body.
This can be physical trauma, like a car accident, a fall on the back steps or a difficult birth. Trauma can also be emotional like a deep shock, prolonged unhappiness or witnessing violence.
Trauma leaves an imprint in the body, which over time can inhibit normal function and cause pain.
In the example of a car accident, the broken bones and lacerations caused by the accident will heal within a matter of months, but the physical after-effects can go on for years.
This is because the crash leaves a deep but subtle imprint in the body. Over time these imprinted patterns of restriction can inhibit the body’s natural function causing an array of symptoms, which progressively worsen.
Some children are more sensitive than others, and a similar incident, such as a change in routine, could deeply upset one child while not affecting another child at all. Adults need to be aware of each child’s thought processes, feelings and needs so as to reduce stress in their children’s lives.
Things that affect a child’s homeostasis are called stressors. Stressors cause children to feel terrified, anxious, confused, frustrated, angry, betrayed, sad or disappointed.
Symbolic playing begins around about two years of age.
Crying is also a possible indication of severe stress. Crying and raging are important stress-release mechanisms that are available from birth on.
My name is Belinda Rae and I own and run The Maple Tree early Intervention Centre for children with special learning needs.
I have taught children with learning and emotional difficulties for 10 years and have vast experience in working in conjunction with various therapists to benefit the child in all areas.
The emerging global awareness in the healing profession is that professionals cannot cure their clients.
The professionals’ function is to facilitate a space where-in spontaneous healing patterns with-in clients are stimulated in order that clients’ systems may on their own accord move towards balance.
CranioSacral Therapy sets out to create such a space which facilitates the internal healing mechanism.
Birth trauma is one area to which CranioSacral therapy is particularly relevant.
Common childhood conditions such as colic, pore sleep, regurgitation, inconsolable screaming, personality disorders and tantrums, to much more severe disabilities such as spasticity, may be treated successfully through the gentle, non-invasive methods of Craniosacral therapy.
During the birth process, the baby’s head is forcefully compressed as it twists through the narrow birth canal.
How can traumatic experiences from our past influence our health?
Trauma refers to certain procedures organisms executes when exposed to overwhelming stress, threat and injury.
The failure to neutralize these implicit procedures and restore homeostasis is at the basis for the maladaptive and debilitating symptoms of trauma.
Some examples of these symptoms are:
| *Emotional fluctuations | *Depression | *Anxiety | *Behavioural changes |
| *Nightmares | *Headaches | *Back pain | *Repetitive strain syndromes |
Migraine Headache!
An estimated 8 million Americans suffer from migraines, which are commonly known as “sick headache.”
Although some people experience headaches only rarely, others have symptoms that can last several days several times a month, or even per week, making it difficult for them to keep jobs!
