(A) BIO DYNAMIC CRANIO SACRAL THERAPY

What does the term BIO DYNAMIC mean? BIO means LIFE and DYNAMIC means CHANGE/MOVEMENT. So the term BIODYNAMIC means the ability of the living body to change, move and adapt, with the goal of healing and self correction. CRANIO SACRAL refers to the two ends of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that we work with conventionally - the head and the lower end of the spine.

The Central Nervous System consists of the brain, spinal cord, the spinal nerves and the related membranes and fluids that surround the nervous system. Working with and through the Central Nervous System allows the therapy to affect every body system - the skeletal (bones), respiratory, muscular and even the endocrine (glands) systems.

Biodynamic Cranio Sacral Therapy is the result of the experiments and experiences of American Osteopaths who practised in the early part of the 20th century. In the latter part of the 20th century, the therapy become more widely recognised and began to be practised all over the Western world.

In the Western world, it is often used as an adjunct to conventional therapies and many dentists in the USA highly recommend its use alongside their work. People have regular sessions to relieve stress, for the treatment of syndromes and chronic conditions, and in the short term, for the treatment of acute conditions or injuries. It is a very popular therapy in Japan , Australia and Europe. In India the therapy is still in a very nascent stage.

In the United Kingdom alone there are about 350 registered BIO DYNAMIC CRANIO practitioners and about 80 new practitioners graduate each year. In the USA, the numbers are obviously much higher.

BIO DYNAMIC CRANIO SACRAL THREAPY is a gentle, subtle yet profound approach to treating the whole person. It is a journey undertaken with a trained therapist to uncover the inherent health that underlies all pathology.

Evaluation:

Evaluation happens through a very gentle contact made with the hands, usually at the head but can be made on any other part of the body like the feet or shoulders of the patient. The therapist then begins to evaluate the inherent health present in the body by monitoring the motion of fluids, tissues and bones through sensitive palpation for which extensive clinical training is required.

Treatment:

The treatment unfolds with the patient lying or sitting, fully clothed and the therapist making very gentle contact on a mutually agreed place on the body. Once contact has been made with the patient, the therapist facilitates a non-manipulative, non-invasive process to begin, through listening and attending to the needs of the patient's system. This process allows for supported self regulation and deep healing at all levels.

Conditions helped by Bio Dynamic Cranio Sacral Therapy:

Relief offered for:

• Headaches (all types)

• Issues with head, face,jaws,ears,eyes

• Post dental and post surgery trauma

• Anxiety , depression , trauma , PSTD , insomnia and stress

• Hormonal imbalance

• Systemic disorders

• Autism, cerebral palsy, hyperactivity

• Auto immune conditions.

(B) SOMATIC EXPERIENCING - ADDRESSING TRAUMA

The definition of Trauma is not restricted to dramatic events like earthquakes or tsunamis but also to accidents, operations, life threatening illness and situations of overwhelm and stress. It refers to any situation that is overwhelming, that happens too fast and causes the individual to feel helpless, hopeless and of control.

In the words of Peter Levine, Founder of the Foundation for Human Enrichment, Trauma Healing Training Centers (USA) :
"Trauma is not a disease but rather a human experience rooted in survival instincts. It is a fact of life but does not have to be a life sentence." Peter Levine

"Traumatic symptoms are not caused by the event itself. They arise when residual energy from the experience is not discharged from the body. This energy remains trapped in the nervous system where it can wreck havoc on our bodies and minds." Peter Levine

Trauma is not just about the experience but about how it affects the body. It is what we cannot shake off ; what keeps us stuck. What happens primarily in the body affects the mind. Where the body leads,the mind follows. Trauma affects the nervous system.

Evaluation:

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or conditions that can be caused by trauma/ stress/ overwhelm result in dis-regulation of the nervous and endocrine systems. They can manifest as tightness in the chest, a pounding heart, an inability to eat, sleep, urinate, defecate, a lack of concentration, being weepy, as outbursts of uncontrollable rage, depression, as addictive behaviours and flashbacks to name just a few. Auto-immune system dis-regulation is another manifestation of stress.

Treatment:

This is a body oriented therapy. It is based on listening to "the unspoken voice" of the body. In order to re-establish a healthy, dynamic two way connection between body and mind, which has been disrupted by trauma, we work through becoming aware of bodily sensations.

Conditions helped by Somantic Experiencing

The obvious ones are all the stress related medical conditions mentioned under evaluation.

Conditions like Attention Deficit Syndrome and some learning disabilities can be a result of trauma or stress and Somatic Experiencing therapy offers relief/ reversal for such conditions. Teams from the Foundation For Human Enrichment have gone out and helped people in war zones, areas that have been affected by tsunamis, hurricanes and other natural disasters with great effectiveness using this modality of work.