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Craniosacral therapy for Endocrine Disorders & Hormonal imbalance: Diabetes, PCOD, Thyroid disorders
- Niyati Nath
- Jan 25
- 5 min read
Hormones are chemicals secreted by our endocrine glands – such as the pituitary, thyroid and adrenals. Hormones travel through our bloodstream to control and co-ordinate the following essential bodily functions:
· Homeostasis – the human body has the remarkable ability to maintain a stable balanced internal environment (with reference to markers like temperature, blood pressure and blood sugar), despite changes in the external environment. Homeostasis ensures that all body systems function optimally by continuously adjusting and self-regulating our internal environment. For instance, body temperature is regulated by sweating to reduce it, or by shivering to increase it. Homeostasis ensures survival and failure to self-regulate eventually leads to illness or disease. Hormones facilitate homeostasis. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis or HPA axis directly affects homeostasis, through the hormones released into the blood stream.
· Metabolism – manages how the body burns calories to generate energy for activity. Insulin regulates blood sugar. Thyroxine regulates metabolism.
· Mood and sleep – influence emotions and sleep-wake cycles. Adrenaline regulates the fight or flight response to perceived danger or stress.
· Growth and physical development – Cortisol has a huge global effect on the system, which affects physical development and growth. For instance, high cortisol levels adversely affect bone density. The pituitary gland plays an important role as it secretes growth hormones.
· Reproduction and sexual function – estrogen and testosterone are sex hormones
Craniosacral therapy is a particularly effective treatment for hormonal imbalance and disorders.
· It is a functional therapy that supports homeostasis. When a variable (like blood pressure, for instance) is high, the body secretes a hormone (in this case, insulin) that signals the body to reduce it, and vice versa – this is termed a negative feedback loop, which helps the body to maintain a level consistently over a period of time. Craniosacral therapy is a balancing therapy that supports self-regulation – such as the feedback loops which are the natural response of the body.
· Craniosacral therapy works directly with the central nervous system (CNS), which lies between the cranium and the sacrum (from which the term “Craniosacral” is derived). The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the seat of the neuroendocrine system – which controls the secretion and release of hormones through the body. The HPA axis is a part of this neuroendocrine system, within the ANS. The HPA axis mediates the body’s response to stress by triggering the release of cortisol throughout the body. Research studies confirm that Craniosacral therapy reduces cortisol levels in the body, helping to regulate a chronic stress response.
· Craniosacral therapy works directly with all types of tissue, ranging from fascia, visceral organs, muscle and bone to the glands that secrete hormones, enhancing blood circulation, reducing tightness and compression and restoring function where it is compromised. By releasing tightness in the head, neck and sacrum where the HPA axis is located, it can improve the vital function of the same.
· It helps with hormone modulation. Recent clinical studies have shown that Craniosacral therapy can significantly increase the levels of oxytocin, a hormone that alleviates stress and anxiety and has a calming effect on the body.
· Craniosacral therapy supports hormonal stability during pregnancy to reduce mood swings and alleviate post-partum depression.
· Craniosacral therapy helps to shift the body from a fight-or-flight response (mediated by an activated sympathetic nervous system), to a rest-and-digest state (mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system). The regulation of the autonomic nervous system by parasympathetic shift is crucial as chronic stress elevates cortisol through the HPA axis, which slows down digestion, increases heart rate and respiration and adversely impacts bone density and growth processes. For individuals in high stress professions, like fire-fighters, Craniosacral therapy actually reduces baseline stress hormones.
We work with the following endocrine disorders, amongst others:
Diabetes – Craniosacral therapy can help with managing blood sugar levels as it promotes homeostasis. Hormones work slowly over time to manage complex long-term processes, operating through feedback loops to maintain balance. Craniosacral therapy stabilises insulin levels when sessions are received adequately spaced over a period of time. Each session has a cumulative effect. Craniosacral therapy also helps to alleviate some of the ill effects of diabetes such as neuropathy and chronic pain. It is used as a complementary therapy in the treatment of diabetes.
PCOD/ PCMM – Polycystic Ovarian disorder can be caused by an imbalance of hormones secreted by either the ovaries or the adrenals. Craniosacral can help with both kinds. It can correct misalignment of the sacrum or pelvic bone and improve blood circulation to the pelvic area, resulting in better functioning of organs and structures located there.
The feedback loop for sex hormones is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis or the HPG Axis that is a part of the neuroendocrine system. In addition to the negative feedback loop that generally regulates hormone production, menstruating females also have a positive feedback loop that stimulates periodic ovulation. Both positive and negative feedback loops facilitate processes like menstruation and ovulation that contribute to the reproductive capacity of females. Craniosacral therapy helps the body to achieve and sustain the complex self-regulation required to facilitate these processes.
Levels of sex hormones are directly affected by stress levels. Those who suffer from PCOD, PCMM and similar disorders know that when their stress levels are up, their hormone levels are further disrupted and their symptoms are exacerbated. Chronic stress activates the HPA Axis, releasing cortisol, which can disrupt the HPG feedback loop, leading to suppressed ovulation and impaired mood regulation. Since Craniosacral therapy works directly with the CNS to reduce cortisol levels and anxiety and helps to build the nervous system’s capacity to tolerate stress, it has shown promising results for PCOD/ PCMM patients.
Thyroid function – Craniosacral therapy helps to regulate metabolism, as mediated by the thyroid gland. The neck is thickly muscled and susceptible to areas of tightness and compression of the structures that lie within - including the carotid sheath, the thyroid gland and the parathymus, which are suspended by long strings of fascia. Craniosacral therapy also works with the hyoid bone, which is connected to the thyroid cartilage via the thyrohyoid membrane.
Craniosacral therapy helps with hormone modulation by regulating the neuroendocrine system. Chronic stress and anxiety are a common feature of thyroid disorders and Craniosacral therapy can help with this. Most patients receive Craniosacral therapy to support their medical treatment with thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Medication may be reduced over time in consultation with the prescribing doctor.
The following scientific research studies have been referred to in this post.
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