Fight fire with fire.
Four simple words that seemingly apply to almost any situation, from a fundamental military strategy to advice on dealing with a neighbour who listens to music way too loud. But perhaps no circumstance seems quite as appropriate for this approach as a health concern. The examples are endless: When we’re in pain, we take a pain reliever. When we’re in serious pain, we opt for extra-strength (some people bypass the lighter measures, and jump straight for maximum power to obliterate any level of pain). It is human nature to put our faith in remedies designed to match (or exceed) the intensity of the problem. From sleep medication to cancer treatment—there is a direct correlation between the level of dysfunction and the strength of its treatment (such as, in the above examples, powerful sedatives and often traumatic combinations of surgery/radiation/chemotherapy, respectively).
Now, I’m not saying that such treatments are inappropriate—far from it. Rather, my point is that it’s all too easy to overlook alternative/adjunctive treatment options that are much safer and gentler merely on the misconception that doing so could only be ineffective, analogous to trying to stop a charging rhinoceros with a peashooter (I apologize to all rhinos and rhino-aficionados for the analogy). My point? Safe, non-invasive treatment approaches such as craniosacral therapy have been clinically shown to reduce pain levels and improve quality of life.
Developed in the 1970’s by osteopath Dr. John Upledger, craniosacral therapy is a relaxing, gentle therapy that seeks to restore proper circulation in the body. During a session, the practitioner applies a light touch along specific areas, often where one bone meets another (such as along the fused bones of the skull), and works to “release” tension or other dysfunctions, leading to improvement in concerns as diverse as anxiety, migraines, TMJ/jaw dysfunction, digestive discomfort, joint pain and overall well-being. When combined with another gentle, restorative therapy like acupuncture, craniosacral therapy can offer significant, long-lasting relief—without the laundry list of side-effects associated with many other treatment approaches.
For more information regarding craniosacral therapy and/or acupuncture, please contact Dr. Erik Boudreau, ND at Integrated Health Clinic, 604-888-8325.
Haller H, Lauche R, Cramer H, et al. Craniosacral Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Sham-controlled Trial. Clin J Pain. 2016;32(5):441-9.
Jäkel A, Von hauenschild P. A systematic review to evaluate the clinical benefits of craniosacral therapy. Complement Ther Med. 2012;20(6):456-65.
