.png){kind=tracking}
Finding Your Calm with Craniosacral Therapy: relief from anxiety and depression
- Niyati Nath
- Mar 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 20
Craniosacral therapy is an extremely effective therapeutic intervention for anxiety. The first thing that happens when receiving Craniosacral therapy is that the patient’s system starts to relax and let go of stress. The central nervous system is the command centre of the human body, orchestrating important physiological processes and regulating our emotions. Craniosacral therapy regulates the nervous system, moving it out of fight or flight mode to rest and digest mode. It reduces sympathetic overload and brings the parasympathetic nervous system online, which results in a reduction of stress and overwhelm.
Once the nervous system has slowed down, patients usually experience a state of deep relaxation during the session, which they often describe as a reset for the mind and body. Many of them fall asleep or manage to access a calm, still and meditative state. Craniosacral therapy has a restorative effect on the nervous system, reducing anxiety and creating capacity and resilience. Consequently, it facilitates clarity of thought and better decision-making.
Craniosacral therapy is so calming and relaxing that many leading spas and international wellness retreats such as the Six Senses (in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Maldives and Switzerland), the Como Shambhala (London), the Four Seasons (Costa Rica) and boutique hotels in schlosses in Europe offer Craniosacral therapy to help their clients to experience a sense of deep relaxation and well-being. However, Craniosacral therapy is much more than a feel-good therapy.
Craniosacral therapy helps the body achieve homeostasis – a state of balanced functioning that facilitates optimal function. It balances neurotransmitter and hormone levels – these contribute to our emotions and our state of mind. For this reason, Craniosacral therapy helps patients who suffer from depression and emotional dysregulation. It works on nerve pathways and neurotransmitters to reduce inflammation and chronic pain, which are often both a source and a consequence of chronic anxiety. It helps alleviate insomnia, chronic fatigue, tinnitus, vertigo and stress-related or psychosomatic conditions that are linked to anxiety.
Craniosacral therapy helps to release tension stored in the fascia or connective tissue of the body. Chronic anxiety often leads to bracing of the body, particularly the head, neck and shoulders, which can become tight and painful - craniosacral therapy provides welcome relief.
Some people experience an emotional release after receiving Craniosacral therapy, and this can help them to release or process pent-up emotion, and to feel less anxious and overwhelmed. Craniosacral therapy works with conditions resulting from trauma like PTSD.
Craniosacral therapy is a natural and holistic treatment for anxiety – it is completely safe with no risk of side-effects. It works as a complementary therapy for patients who are on medication to treat anxiety or depression. It alleviates both, the physiological and the emotional effects of anxiety and provides gentle and effective support to the patient to facilitate a smooth recovery.
The following scientific papers record the findings of studies that indicate that Craniosacral therapy alleviates anxiety.
This study found that a series of 5 sessions of Craniosacral therapy reduced stress hormones cortisol and CRH in male firefighters.
The following study finds that Craniosacral therapy reduces anxiety and depression and improves the quality of life for fibromyalgia patients.
Comments