Suffering with on-going headaches and migraines can be debilitating, dramatically affecting your quality of life as your emotions, work, health and general well being can suffer immensely.
Everyone experiences headaches and migraines in different ways and is forced to manage their headaches often without much support from their doctors.
This can be because they're not contagious, they’re mostly episodic and because often doctors find it really difficult to treat this on-going pain because there is never a clear cause.
This is where I, as well as studies, have found Craniosacral Therapy to be really useful for people who suffer with this relentless and confusing pain.
Craniosacral Therapy works with the different structures of the cranium and the spine where muscle and bone restrictions can be causing tension, putting pressure on the vascular system and preventing the free flow of cerebrospinal fluid which cushions and supports our central nervous system.
CST can therefore locate the restrictions, whether that’s coming from your shoulder, your lower back, your cervical spine or your occiput and offer the system the opportunity to reorganise itself by releasing some of that tension which is causing that tightness which to you feels like an overwhelming experience of a headache.
Headaches, especially migraines, can also be caused by autonomic system overwhelm, so considering the stresses and pressures of today’s society it's no surprise that over 30% of the population have reported suffering from a migraine this year.
One of the most profound and supportive qualities of Craniosacral Therapy is that it can regulate and balance the autonomic nervous system, supporting you both anatomically and psychologically.
As well as the anatomical causes behind headaches, CST, by engaging with the health and resources of the whole system, supports a shift into a more balanced and cohesive state which can provide a long term and sustained relief.
Attempting to treat your headaches can feel overwhelming and as the causes of headaches and migraines are complex, if you're looking for some quick relief you could try inducing a still point or acupressure.
Induce a still point - Place two tennis balls tightly in a sock so it looks like this then put them under the back of the neck whilst you are lying down for about ten minutes can help induce a still point which will reset and reboot your Craniosacral Rhythm which can relieve pain.
Acupressure - you can try applying pressure to a point on the hand between the thumb and index finger. Squeeze the indentation between the two digits with your opposite hand's thumb and index finger and massage in a circular motion for five minutes, then switch hands.
However, if you feel like it's time to try something different and more long term, Craniosacral Therapy really could bring you pain relief and a greater sense of ease into your life.
If you want to explore more about how CST can support pain relief from migraines this article here is very useful.
I am available in Bristol and Exeter for Craniosacral Therapy. If you would like to know more about how CST can support you please get in touch here or via email at mindandbodyfulness@gmail.com.