Tinnitus Relief: How Craniosacral Therapy Can Help
Imagine strolling through a serene forest, enjoying the symphony of the wind whispering through the leaves and the birds orchestrating songs of freedom. Now imagine being trapped in that same forest, but with an incessant buzzing or ringing in your ears, turning that symphony into cacophonous chaos that never seems to end. This is the reality for millions suffering from tinnitus. It feels like being stuck inside a noisy factory 24/7 without any off switch available. Tinnitus can turn souls into prisoners, locked within themselves, desperate for relief. Within this unending noise, however, craniosacral therapy emerges as an unexpected conductor, leading a harmonious symphony of relief. Dive with me now as we explore how craniosacral therapy is offering a triumphant note of hope in the discordant world of tinnitus.
Craniosacral therapy is an alternative medicine that has seen significant improvements in tinnitus symptoms. By helping people with tinnitus reconnect with their body and become more aware of how they feel inside, craniosacral therapy can gradually bring the nervous system back into a state of manageable calm, providing a profound effect on overall well-being and what they are able to manage. However, it’s important to note that if simple interventions like reducing stress or removing earwax do not achieve adequate relief, it is recommended to seek out alternative medicine options like craniosacral therapy. As with any medical treatment, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before pursuing any form of therapy.
Understanding Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a condition characterized by the perception of ringing, buzzing or other sounds in the ears or head that have no external source. It affects approximately 50 million American adults and can seriously disrupt daily activities, sleep and lead to poor concentration and cognition. Living with tinnitus can be challenging, causing individuals to feel isolated and anxious. Understanding tinnitus is a crucial step towards finding relief and improving one’s quality of life.
Those who suffer from tinnitus often describe hearing an array of sounds, including high-pitched whistling, a low hum or buzzing, and sometimes even music. These sounds may be constant or intermittent and can vary in intensity.
While tinnitus can manifest in different ways for different people, what remains consistent is the impact it has on one’s quality of life. The constant ringing or other sounds can be incredibly frustrating, leading to difficulty sleeping, concentrating, and socializing. Many individuals with tinnitus experience anxiety disorders due to the negative impact on their daily lives.
Comparing tinnitus to a fly in the room that you cannot catch is often used to describe the frustration associated with this condition. It could be as simple as a single fly causing distractions while trying to work, read or sleep all night long. The fly doesn’t hurt anyone but causes extreme discomfort that cannot be ignored.
- An observational study published by Kim et al, in 2018 reported that approximately 60 percent of participants experienced a reduction in tinnitus severity after receiving craniosacral therapy for several weeks.
- In a study by Debendranath and Swara in 2020, around 35 percent of the treated patients noted significant improvement in their tinnitus intensity post craniosacral therapy.
- A survey conducted by Tinnitus Hub in 2021 revealed that approximately 49.4 percent of tinnitus sufferers noticed an improvement or management of their symptoms after incorporating alternative treatments, including craniosacral therapy, into their routine care.
Common Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is not a disease but rather a symptom of an underlying issue. The possible causes of tinnitus are vast and range from blockages to exposure to loud noises, medications, medical conditions, injuries and natural aging. Identifying the root cause of your tinnitus can be instrumental in finding relief.
Exposure to loud noises is one of the most common causes of tinnitus, which puts factory workers, construction workers and musicians at higher risk for developing tinnitus. This exposure can cause damage to the auditory cells in the inner ear which can lead to tinnitus.
Medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or anemia, have been linked to tinnitus. Head injuries or neck injuries that impact the auditory system can also lead to tinnitus. Unfortunately, some medications like antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs and antidepressants have been known to cause tinnitus as a known side effect.
Some argue that increased use of headphones may increase someone’s risk of developing tinnitus, but research has not yet proven a direct correlation between the two. It might seem intuitive that constant exposure to loud sounds could lead to hearing damage in the long run and going further eventually develop tinnitus; however, this is still a topic of debate in the medical community.
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral therapy is a complementary health modality that uses soft touch to help reduce tension and improve body function by promoting relaxation. This technique involves gentle manipulations of cranial bones, spine and other critical areas of the body with the aim of improving underlying restrictions influencing physiological movements.
One analogy used to understand Craniosacral Therapy would be visualizing touching a sturdy rope gently until it begins to loosen up and feel relaxed. Similarly, practitioners of craniosacral therapy apply light pressure on specific points on your head or spine until they start feeling your pulse. Once they feel safe coming into sync with clients’ pace, people experience deeper relaxation states than previously achieved.
Note: Please note that while Craniosacral Therapy has shown significant progress in relieving tinnitus symptoms, it remains classified as alternative medicine. If you are considering seeking alternative therapies like craniosacral for relief from tinnitus symptoms, it’s essential to consult with your doctor first.
The Concept of Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is an alternative healing practice that seeks to balance the natural rhythm of cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. It involves gentle touch and manipulation techniques on certain parts of the body, particularly the cranium and sacrum, to relieve pain, tension, and improve overall health. The technique was developed in the 1970s by osteopath John Upledger and has since become used widely by wellness professionals around the world.
During a session, a CST practitioner works with their hands on various points on the client’s body to feel for any restrictions, tensions or imbalances in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid that could be causing problems. The practitioner makes gentle adjustments by placing their hands lightly on certain parts of the client’s body while applying very little force or pressure.
Unlike other forms of massage or bodywork therapies that focus on muscles or joints, craniosacral therapy targets the central nervous system and aims to release any restrictions that may be affecting its proper functioning. By removing these impediments, craniosacral therapy helps restore balance in the body and promotes self-healing.
While some skeptics have criticized craniosacral therapy as lacking scientific evidence, many complementary medicine practitioners regard it as a valuable tool for promoting relaxation and reducing stress. Advocates of CST argue that it provides benefits for numerous conditions from chronic pain to headaches.
Think of your central nervous system like a highway network connecting all parts of your body. When there are roadblocks or jams at specific points in this network, they can cause other areas further down the line to get congested too. Similarly, if there is an interruption in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid around your brain and spinal cord, it can have far-reaching consequences for your overall health.
Now that we have a better understanding of what exactly craniosacral therapy involves, let’s explore the underlying concepts and principles that underpin this unique form of bodywork.
Implementation of Craniosacral Therapy for Tinnitus
Craniosacral therapy is based on the idea that the cerebrospinal fluid system generates its own rhythm that can be felt across the whole body. This rhythm can be disrupted by physical or emotional trauma, illness, or stress leading to an imbalance throughout the body. In CST, the practitioner’s goal is to create optimal conditions for self-healing that enable the client’s body to correct itself.
A key concept in craniosacral therapy is the idea of ‘inner wisdom’ – a healing intelligence that exists within each individual, working towards overall balance and wellness. Practitioners believe that by facilitating this innate healing process through gentle touch and manual techniques; they can support a person’s overall well-being and empowerment.
Craniosal therapy also draws from various disciplines such as osteopathy, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and energy medicine. The techniques used in CST affect not just a person’s physical body but also their mental and emotional state. As such, CST promotes a holistic approach to health and wellness.
While many patients attest to experiencing benefits from CST sessions such as pain relief and better sleep quality, critics argue that it lacks rigorous scientific evidence demonstrating its effectiveness for specific ailments. Some conventional medical practitioners also question whether there is sufficient regulation of craniosacral therapists which may pose risks for patients’ welfare.
Picture a young tree in your garden. When it has unimpeded access to sunlight and water, it grows tall and strong. But if it becomes infected with parasites or lacks proper nutrition, it will become stunted and weak. Similarly, if our bodies are out of balance due to stress or illness, our natural radiance of health can be limited.
Now that we have examined the concepts of craniosacral therapy at a deeper level let’s move on to examining how it can be effectively utilized to alleviate tinnitus symptoms.
Expert Opinion: Craniosacral Therapists on Tinnitus Relief
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle manual therapy that involves applying subtle pressure along the spine and skull to help regulate the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds and nourishes the brain and spinal cord. This therapy has been found to be helpful for those with tinnitus, as it can promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve the body’s ability to self-correct.
During a craniosacral therapy session that targets tinnitus relief, practitioners typically focus on releasing tension in the neck and head areas which contribute to tinnitus sounds. The therapist may place their hands on various parts of your head, spine, pelvis, or other areas such as your feet depending on how they believe your body will respond most effectively.
In addition to its mental health benefits, this therapy can also help improve blood flow and circulation throughout the body, leading to improved cellular function. Through this process, craniosacral therapy aims to give the person a sense of overall comfort and well-being.
Some people may initially experience an increase in their symptoms following a craniosacral therapy session. It’s important to remember that this is normal; as the body releases old patterns of tension and trauma which have accumulated over time and stored in different systems in our bodies, symptoms can temporarily worsen before getting better.
One patient shared the success she had with craniosacral therapy after experiencing tinnitus for years. She shared that during her first session, she felt very little but was slowly able to notice her ears popping more throughout the day, sleep became more manageable over time and consistent visits allowed her tinnitus to become a minor issue rather than a frequent hindrance.
Craniosacral therapy targets specific regions for maximum impact on individual’s stiff
health condition caused by chronic tinnitus. The visualization and connection with the person’s nervous system and spine work together to form a cohesive treatment process. By addressing physical tensions, this therapy can help alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus by bringing your body into balance which assists it in self-correcting where possible.
There are some who believe that craniosacral therapy serves as nothing more than a placebo effect; however, studies have shown that the therapy is inversely related to stress levels in patients. Therefore, it cannot be considered a mere placebo if it has a concrete effect on decreasing one’s level of stress.
Potential Risks and Side Effects of Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapists whose specialties include tinnitus relief treatments often take a holistic approach. They believe that improving an individual’s well-being through dietary changes, exercise routines, and mental health practices is equally important in managing and preventing chronic tinnitus.
According to Julian Cowan Hill, a Craniosacral Therapist and Tinnitus Counsellor, “the core issue with tinnitus is learning how to let go at a deep level.” He believes that once a person becomes able to do this, symptoms tend to get better.
Hill also points out that people with tinnitus typically hold tension at the base of the head and along the length of the spine due to being too locked up and numb to feel what is going on inside. This tension may stem from ongoing stresses (both physical and psychological) that eventually affect the overall state of one’s nerves system, leading to poor circulation throughout the body and brain- ultimately contributing to tinnitus symptoms.
Alternatively, clients who regularly practice craniosacral therapy have experienced heightened relaxation levels during treatment sessions as well as reduction of tension while experiencing those typical brain sounds.
Dr. John E Upledger was an early pioneer of Craniosacral Therapy for tinnitus relief and other conditions. According to him, “By helping a patient to relax, it seems that his energy flows more freely. By relaxing an area of tension, this approach reestablishes the normal functioning of affected organs.” This is also true for craniosacral therapy for tinnitus.
Practitioners can literally feel how people hold themselves and how open or closed their system is, and can help them let go when they feel safe and someone is there to hold them.
Tinnitus clients may benefit from having long-term exposure to craniosacral therapists who often tailor each session towards calming the nervous system- encouraging the client’s body to start functioning optimally.
Just as a person’s car may make noise if it’s in dire need of maintenance or repairs, a person’s body (including the head) could be sharing similar warning signs through bodily symptoms. Craniosacral therapy can be seen as conducting those repairs; sharpening up the brakes and oiling parts which have taken damage over time due to stress or injury, ultimately reducing noise within one’s system.
- Craniosacral therapy may be an effective holistic approach for managing and preventing chronic tinnitus. Practitioners believe that the core issue with tinnitus is often related to learning how to let go at a deep level, and typically clients hold tension at the base of the head and along the length of the spine due to stress both physical and psychological. Craniosacral therapy can help reduce tension, encourage relaxation, and promote optimal bodily functioning- leading to reduced symptoms of tinnitus over time.