What is CST?

Craniosacral therapy first developed in the US over 70 years ago when a surgeon and an osteopath made a fascinating discovery. In the operating theatre they noticed to their surprise, that when they cut through membranes surrounding the spinal chord, cerebro-spinal fluid started to squirt out in a very organised, rhythmic way. They compared it to the rate of the heart beat and breathing and realised this fluid pulse seemed to work completely indedependently of other systems in the body. Neither of them could understand what mechanism or force was driving the cerebrospinal fluid in such a specific way.

On further investigation they discovered that fluid flows around the brain and spinal chord between 4 and 14 times a minute. Most surprisingly of all, they realised that they could influence the flow of this fluid with a gentle hand contact. If they were able to tune into this highly sensitive system, they could free up the flow of this fluid, radically improving a person's state health.

Today science still cannot explain what drives cerebrospinal fluid, or where this force comes from. Nonetheless tuning into cerebrospinal fluid and freeing up the fluid that nourishes the central nervous system has had such a benefit on people, that it has become the mainstay of craniosacral therapy today.

Craniosacral therapy clearly has osteopathy to thank for its roots. However, because it has evolved in a more sensitive direction working with more subtle systems in the body, it has developed a clear awareness of the body as a bundle of energy, as well as a container of bones and muscles etc. Craniosacral therapy uses similar techniques found in Psychotherapy, Shamanism and Healing. The result is an all-round form of treatment that is based on a firm understanding of Anatomy and Physiology, and yet enjoys an added depth of wisdom and sensitivity essential for dealing with the deeper needs of the body.

The broad platform of Craniosacral therapy creates a space where profound changes in your health can take place. Rather than temporarily fix symptoms which then creep back at a later date, Cranial work can help you move through a more thorough process of letting go on a much more long-term basis. This takes time, but accumulatively adds up to a powerful and dynamic force moving you back towards health!

Julian Cowan Hill took an extraordinary route to becoming a craniosacral therapist himself. Previously he pursued his love of different cultures working as a language teacher in Venezuela, Japan, France, Spain, Italy and Hungary. It was while he worked as a wine guide, leading people on wine holidays in Europe that his tinnitus (ringing in the ears) became unbearable. After 16 years of noises in his head, and a year of severe and deafening tinnitus, you can imagine how he reacted when Craniosacral therapy left him feeling more relaxed than he could remember, and after a course of treatment experienced something approaching silence in his head. He quickly enrolled on an introductory course and then settled into full-time study. Since he qualified, Julian has worked full-time as a therapist.