Migraine headaches and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) can occur when bones of the skull or their associated fascia are under tension. Cranial sacral therapy may be an option for relief.
There are twenty-two cranial bones in the human skull. Two temporal bones hug the brain on the right and left sides, and tension in this temporal area is an area of focus for manual therapists when addressing complaints of tinnitus and migraines. Gentle pressure applied to the cranial bones and connecting tissues may help ease temporal tension and provide relief of tinnitus and migraines.
What Is Cranial Sacral Therapy?
Cranial sacral therapy is a non-invasive treatment combining massage and osteopathic techniques. Light fascial-release maneuvers are utilized to reduce sympathetic arousal (activation of the sympathetic nervous system) and treat the bones and tissues of the cranium.Balancing the Autonomic Nervous System With Cranial Sacral Therapy
Secondary pressure reaching the dura membrane (one of the layers of connective tissue around the brain) through the surrounding skull is thought to affect the rhythmic flow of the cranial system and subsequently activate a therapeutic effect by employing the famous parasympathetic rescue response.
Migraines and tinnitus are two conditions that are related to the imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, either as a cause or a consequence of the parasympathetic nervous response becoming overpowered by the sympathetic response.
